Snowdonia is a spectacular place. The scenery and climbs are all unique, and it gives you a sense of accomplishment when you get to the top. While planning our Snowdonia trip, we read an article about how to climb not just one peak, but also four in Snowdonia. We were up to the challenge, even though it seemed difficult. All of these mountains are part of Glyderau. The 8-mile route has a grade of hard, but we couldn’t resist the scramble. The views were also amazing.
We parked in the A5 layby, just below Llyn Ogwen – a lake beneath the Glyderau mountain range. We were eager to see the north face, with its rugged crags. We decided that we would just find our own way up to the top of the North Ridge after walking up to it. It was exciting to not know what we would face.
This climb was great because you need to use both hands a lot! It was a brilliant scramble, as the slopes were steep. We had to navigate carefully up the mountain because there were so many gullies. The fact that the mountain had so many gradients made it exciting. Although it wasn’t difficult, I can imagine the rocks becoming slippery in wet and icy weather. Be careful when you try this hike during these conditions. The weather was very kind to us. Although the forecast called for rain, it turned out that we were able to enjoy a dry day. We even saw jets fly through the valley beneath us half way up, which I will never forget!
Mike, I’m just dropping in to let you know about the pants that I wore during the day. These new Helikon outdoor tactical trousers were from military 1st . These trousers are great because of the fit. The trousers have a design that is ergonomic and articulated, which allows them to move in. The pants were perfect for climbing a mountain, as they allowed me to move freely and stretch without feeling constrained. They are pleated, which allows for a lot of flexibility when walking or climbing.
The elasticated waist made them very comfortable. They also had a velcro-adjustable strap, so they could be worn as tight as desired. They have a lot of pockets, but they’re cleverly designed. The pockets are anatomically designed on the Helikon trousers, unlike old-fashioned cargo pants. The pockets are easy to reach, but don’t get annoying or get in the way.
Fabrics are stunning. The fabric kept me warm in the ice and snow with no thermal underwear, but also cool in the sunshine. They are not waterproof but they dry super fast and wick moisture. It is also very breathable, so they are perfect for any activity that requires you to exert yourself. This includes cycling, fishing, and climbing. These trousers are perfect for outdoor use.
Tryfan, a mountain that is much more interesting than Snowdon (and in my opinion, even better! ), has a very steep climb. It’s Vicky again – anyhow, back to the mountain… Tryfan is a really interesting climb (much, much better than Snowdon! It’s definitely not. There are at least 3 “false summits”, before you reach the actual top. There is a “Cannon Stone”, which appears to be halfway up. It is a large, splintered stone that protrudes at an angle of 45 degrees. Unfortunately, we didn’t notice this because we forgot to search for it once we got to the Cairn-covered plateau. But we will make sure to take a photo of this next time. We then headed to the North Ridge. The traversing gullies were a little more difficult, but the fun part was scrambling up the rocks.
It was spectacular to reach the top. It was amazing to be at this height and enjoy the views. The huge monoliths that Adam and Eve, which we’d read about, were what we looked for. They were easy to spot. The two are about four feet apart, and several feet tall. You stand atop one of them and then take a “Leap of Faith”, or a big step, to get on top of the other.
It didn’t seem too hard in the pictures we saw before. It was not easy to get up to the top of one. I would think it would be easier if it were on a flat surface. We were both put off by the sheer drop and exposure on one side. So we chose to sit on top of one and take this photo instead.
We took advantage of all the photo opportunities, and had a picnic with some tasty snacks. Then we slid down the rocks, heading to the south-west, skirting Far South Peak. The col between Tryfan & Glyder Fach is our next destination.
The obvious route led us up and along the wall, and we climbed the stile. The best way for us to get to the top of Glyder Fach is to scramble on the Bristly Ridge. The views of Tryfan from the top were breathtaking. This last section of the scramble is probably the most difficult, with sheer drops from both sides. But it was so thrilling. The snow had accumulated so much and temperatures were dropping when we reached the summit.
Each of us was very happy to own a Quechua hiking Merino wool base layer tops. These were an absolute blessing. The base layer is perfect for the climate. Cold air gets trapped between the fibers, and you are insulated. These tops helped keep us warm even though temperatures dropped below zero at 800 feet. Both tops are natural air conditioners, which means we can wear them even in summer. The moisture from the skin is quickly absorbed by the fabric and evaporated, allowing you to feel fresh, cool, and comfortable.
The women’s and men’s tops were not bulky, which allowed us to layer mid-layers on them without any issues. Although it is a baselayer, I don’t think either top looks anything like one. They look great on their own. The material feels super-soft and, despite being made of merino fibres it does not feel scratchy. It’s three times finer than hair. This explains how soft they are to wear and touch.
You can only imagine the heat and sweat we were experiencing after scrambling for hours and hiking. Both base layers are equipped with some amazing technology that helps reduce odours. We didn’t have to worry that we would smell after a long hike. We both really like our base layers. They are warm and breathable, which is just what we needed!
The Rohan Guardian Jacket kept me warm despite its light weight, despite the cold conditions at the summit.
Back to the ascent. The popular Cantilever Stone is a large flat stone that appears to be precariously balance. We both managed to climb up, and the photo was amazing. It was only natural that I had to take a photo at the top. Although the weather was cold and snowy we decided it would be perfect to have a lunch break and some tea. Unfortunately, all the mist obstructed the view, but we were so impressed by the Cantilever stone as a background, that it didn’t matter.
It was a great feeling to wear my brand new Salomon Ellipse Ladies Hiking Boots from . These are mid-height leather walking shoes that you will love. They are my favorite pair of hiking shoes. They look fantastic and, because the GORE-TEX Extended Comfort Footwear Membrane is lining them, they didn’t cause any pain to my feet during our many hours of hiking in Snowdonia. As I had not worn them as much as they should be, I was worried about discomfort and pain during my scrambles and hikes. It was a total surprise that I did not get a single blister and no rubbing at all over the four-day trip.
The ankle support was excellent, even though I had slightly weaker legs. I especially appreciated it when we scrambled. These mid-height boots protected my ankles very well. It would have been difficult to climb up Tryfan or the Glyders without such comfortable footwear. The grip was excellent, and the shoes were very comfortable. Contagrip is a great product. The incline and parts of the trail were icy and snowy, but I trusted the boot to hold me up.
We took a break of 20 minutes and then continued our journey through snow, rocky outcrops to Glyder Fawr. We reached the Castle of the Wind (Castle of the Wind) on the mountain ridge. The dramatic tower between Glyder Fach & Glyder Fawr offered us another chance to scramble. The scramble was not too difficult, and the view from the top would have been amazing on a sunny day. On this occasion, there were no views except for the Castell which was really creepy, a dark figure looming in the mist, but it was an amazing scramble.As we followed the cairns, we made our way to the summit of Glyder Fawr. The mist would occasionally clear and we could enjoy the stunning views of the valley. The weather is much more pleasant in the summer. Glyder Fawr was descended towards “Llyn Y Cwn”, the lake. It was an extremely steep descent down a mountainside of scree. The experience was almost as fun as skiing. It was almost like skiing. You had to go diagonally in one direction, then the other. We finally reached Llyn Y Cwn, and were ready to climb up to the summit of Y Garn. We climbed the summit via a clear, easy-to-follow footpath. We were beginning to feel our legs burn at this stage, but knew we still had a short distance to travel before we achieved the goal we set for ourselves.
The mist again obscured the view, so we continued on our journey until we reached summit. We then followed the cairns back down. We missed the trail down to Llyn Ogwen initially, as it was completely covered with snow. Finally, we found it. Phew. We wouldn’t have wanted it to get lost under those conditions. We discussed the amazing experience ….we had on our way down and back up out of mist and clouds. We could clearly see all of the Glyderau mountains we just climbed. We would like to do it again.