A Surprise In The Glyderau 30-6-13

A few weeks back, I had penciled in a trip up to the lake District with my daughter to go up Scafell Pike from Borrowdale but the weather had put paid to that. We had to wait until Sunday 30th June before we could both get out again and had also hoped to make the journey North but had a get out clause with a trip to Snowdonia if the weather was going to be playing up. All week the weather forecast seemed to change by the day and it was looking to be a bit dodgy in the lakes while more promising across at Snowdonia so plan B was put into action. Our intended route was to go up the Y Gribin Ridge and visit the main summits of Glyder Fach & Glyder Fawr and then descend by the Devils Kitchen. All this changed as the day went on!
Terri had been on call all weekend and was due to end at 8am Sunday morning so that was the time we set off in cool but dry conditions. The drive down the motorway went without hiccups and we were parked up and ready for the off about 9.45am. The sun was shining and it was all pleasent as we made our way up the easy to follow path that would take us to the waterfalls on the Nant Bochlwyd which is the outflow of Llyn Bochlwyd

 The way up provided excellent views of the surrounding area as the sun was warming us up nicely. Across to the mighty Tryfan

And back towards the bulky Pen yr Ole Wen rising high above Llyn Ogwen and the Ogwen Valley

 there was also time for a game of stepping stones on this most relaxing of mornings

We picked up the main path that bought us out at Llyn Bochlwyd that has the nick name of Oz Lake as from above it is almost the same shape of Australia. We reached the shore line to see that Glyder Fach was shrouded in mist

After a ten minute break we headed along the path that would take us up and onto Y Gribin Ridge that would bring us out between the two main summits of the Glyderau. It's a fairy straight forward walk up along the grassy/rocky track offering some great views down the Ogwen Valley, across to Tryfan and Llyn Bochlwyd and down to Llyn Idwal and Y Garn

 Although the sun was out the wind had picked up at this point but it was still quite warm and clear. The only summits in cloud were the Glyders but the wind did seem to be blowing it away at points so we were hopeful of at least a few views from the tops. We were making good progress and soon found ourselves at the start of the scrambly bits which provided some good entertainment.

We had a rest on a ledge as we were being treated to an exercise by the Ogwen Mountain Rescue and their helicopter. We watched them for about twenty minutes as it flew low and dropped a team of rescuers off

A short walk up to the col between the two summits saw us head off to the highest of the Glyderau summit's, Glyder Fawr @ 1,001 m (3,284 ft). Although it was misty it was clear enough to see most of the rocky plateau that most say resemble a moonscape scene. It certainly has it's fair share of rock.

There is no trigpoint here so the true summit marker is a rocky outcrop that also provided some good shelter from the now strong wind. Now this is where my surprise was to be had in the shape of a great late fathers day gift off Terri. It should of been on the summit of Scafell Pike but as I said earlier, that was put off due to bad weather and so I am now the proud owner of a very nice pair of silver cuff links in the shape of a mountain that will be a great pleasure to wear at Terri's forthcoming wedding and thereafter :-)

I had decided to change plans when we got to the top of Y Gribin so we went to Glyer Fawr first and then we backtracked to Glyder Fach @ 994 m (3,261 ft) and the Cantilever Stone and then down to Bwlch Tryfan. Well that was to be the plan but with the wind and mist and a small off piste route we went to far below Glyder Fach and missed the stone as we joined the main path a hundred metres or so after it on the way down towards Llyn Caseg Fraith. Oops. Not quite sure how that happened but we had a good hour scrambling over plenty of rocks and it made for a bit of extra fun. We will have to go back in more favourable conditions to get on the Stone.
We picked up the path that takes us to the wall at Bwlch Tryfan where we had another rest before deciding that we would visit the summit of Tryfan @ 917.5 m (3,010 ft) and the twin stones of Adam & Eve from the south ridge. I have been up here a few times by way of the North Face but this would be a first for Terri. We had time and the mist wasn't as bad here so we again went for some more entertaining scrambling

By this time there was a bit of drizzle mixed in with the mist and wind so we didn't hang around and made our way back down the main track that would eventually take us back to the car.

There was certainly a change in the weather from the morning and it was now quite grey. It was dry as the drizzly rain was only at the tops and not in the valley and the wind was still blowing as we approached the car park and was whipping over Llyn Ogwen. Tryfan however was now clear of cloud.

All what was left now was to go to the local pub, Tyn y Coed, have a meal and pudding to celebrate Terri's University exam results and thank her for my great pressie. :-) This had been another fantastic day in this fantastic place with my lovely daughter.