Another early start today. The plan for this day was for me to do the North ridge of Tryfan, with Andy and Ray meeting me on top after doing their ascent from the Idwal cottage car park (SH649603).

Andy dropped me at the car park next to Llyn Ogwen (SH663603).

He then drove to the car park by Idwal cottage. (The car park has about 6 parking spaces next to the telephone box; these are free to park in, as we found out last year).

This was Andy and Ray’s starting point and the finish point for us all.

 

I started by crossing the road and going through the swing gate by the car park opposite (SH664602), then heading up the steps to the left of the stone wall going past a step stile, carrying on up to the base of the Milestone Buttress, next to another step stile (SH664601).

I then turned left and up, following a well trodden rocky path. I just try to pick the most difficult scramble route up, depending on the weather conditions.

Today was a very dry day and very warm, this made for some very interesting scrambling, I had to retrace my steps once or twice for safety reasons, i.e. I chickened out!

I got in contact with Andy to find out how they were doing! They had reached Llyn Bochlwyd (SH656593).

From almost any height on Tryfan you get some great views of the Ogwen Valley, as you get nearer to the summit you can also see Llyn Idwal and Y Garn Summit.

I eventually got to the Cannon, which is a piece of rock which sticks out from the side of Tryfan just like a cannon, it’s very safe to climb onto. This was the first time, since climbing Tryfan that I have appeared directly under the cannon, normally approaching from the East. There was a number of people clambering over the cannon, so after taking a few minutes breather, I continued up. Just after leaving the Cannon a helicopter started to circle overhead, which is normal around this area, but then it started to hover about one hundred feet away from me I then noticed that the guy hanging out of the side door was waving at me! After what seemed like an eternity before this sunk in, I waved back.

I then carried on my way, going over the North summit at this point I got in touch with Andy via the walkie talkie to find out where they were!

I then dropped down between the North summit and the main summit of Tryfan, after reaching the summit I made my way over to the two Monoliths known as Adam and Eve (it is said if you do the jump from one to the other you gain the freedom of Tryfan), as I have done the jump so many times before and there were quite a few people waiting to do the jump, I decided not to do it this time.

I then made my way towards the South summit, knowing Andy and Ray would be over that side of the mountain.

On meeting up with Andy and Ray, who had according to them had not been there that long themselves; I found myself a comfortable rock, and had my lunch, I also helped Ray finish his water melon salad which was just what the doctor ordered after the climb. Andy did some video footage at this point.

We spent about 15 to 20 minutes just chatting about the days exploits, at which point we started to chat about the helicopter.  They too had had the same sort of encounter with this helicopter.

On the way down we had the normal meetings with other walkers, a friendly "Hi how you doing?", "What’s it like up top?" That sort of thing, when Ray said hello to someone, had the normal chat, but after the couple had carried on up, Ray says I’m sure that bloke lives in Andover, and drinks in one of the pubs I go in!!! What a small world!

The walk down was quite pleasant; we stopped for a breather near to Llyn Bochlwyd (SH656593.

When we got going again, Andy started to do some video footage of Ray and me. That was until we got to the final stretch, and I took over the camcorder to capture Andy for a change, filming them both walking through what we have named the Elven gate! 

To finish off we had a cold drink and another ice pop from the shop by Idwal cottage.