My second weekend of celebration of the coming of the new season was a more solitary affair than the first. I spent a couple of nights camping in Idwal Cottage Hostel's lovely woods, hiking in the Glyderau and Carneddau with an evening visit to Conwy Feast.
I arrived in the dark on Friday evening having been held up by hefty traffic, and checked in and pitched up in the dark and rain. It does seem to have a fair habit of raining on and off at Pont Pen-y-benglog, nevertheless, I enjoyed a restful evening with the wind in the trees and the waterfalls in the distance.
I awoke to find what I had hoped for based on the forecast; a light dusting of snow on the tops. How befitting for Halloween and the welcoming in of the new season. I set off into Cwm Idwal and decided I might have a crack at Senior's Gully and Ridge. At least the top part of Senior's Gully.
looking across Llyn Idwal to Y Garn
I missed my turning for the path I knew that leads up to the upper portion of Senior's Gully. I chatted to a couple of fellas who had camped in the cwm and were prospecting on heading up the Cneifion Arete. They mentioned that there is a path at the very bottom of the gully, so I headed for this and up into ground which I don't know. It was cold and the rock was all damp and greasy in places. I was unsure of my exact route and decided to trailblaze up to where hopefully the path I do know is. A heaving going pathless traipse up steep ground ensued. Finally, much higher up than I thought, I caught up with the path I wanted to be on in the first place, which leads to the upper portion of the gully and ground that I knew well enough to approach with confidence even in the cold conditions.
The rocks were so cold I had to stop and put gloves on before I exited the gully, but it was in workable condition and despite Ashton's '1-' grading there's enough to provide a bit of excitement not least when everything is a bit damp.
Llyn Idwal
Pen Yr Ole Wen chilling on the right there...
A rather beautiful Cwm Cneifion
some icicles already!
Y Gribin with Tryfan in the distance there
I enjoyed making my way up Senior's Ridge. I think it's a bit of an unsung route, nothing stressful but some interesting bits and bobs if you look for them but if I'm honest given the conditions I stuck to the more obvious path and lines for some of it. I did get a bit off-piste and had to retreat on a couple of occasions near the top where there are some very large rocky bits with limited holds.
Interesting rock formation at the head of Cwm Cneifion
Glyder Fawr, the top of the Glyderau and just over 1000m
looking over to Y Garn, my next objective
The Snowdon Range
Llyn y Cwn
looking back to Glyder Fawr whilst on the way up Y Garn
Pen Yr Ole Wen from Y Garn
There were a few other people heading up Y Garn, typically I decided I had to go at 1.5x my usual pace so as not to look fat and slow, and I was fair panting by the top of the steady climb. Y Garn is an exceptionally popular mountain and there were a fair number at the top. This was my second visit to the summit and the first whilst not in cloud. Given the opportunity to witness the views I understood why it is such a popular peak.
In the back of my mind, I had considered heading out further along the ridge to cap Carnedd y Filiast or Elidir Fawr, but it looked far and the wind was ridiculous. For another day then.
Cwm Clyd
I made my way down the Idwal Cottage and had a little chill in the lounge in the hostel before heading over to the festival at Conwy where there was a lovely atmosphere. It's a nice part of the world by all accounts.
I awoke early the next day to pack up the tent and was underway around dawn. Today's objective was the traditional Southern Ridge circuit of the Carneddau but with the direct ascent up Pen-yr-ole-Wen from Pont Pen-y-Benglog.
I have never hit this climb before and I really enjoyed it. It's steep from the off with a few scrambly bits here and there, enough to make it interesting. There are some sections of steep scree, so I guess it might not be everyone's cup of tea. I fancy trying this route in descent at some point.
Looking back towards the hostel
Cwm Idwal with Snowdon peaking over the col
Foel Goch with Y Garn on the left and Elidir Fawr on the right there
Looking North-West across Nant Ffrancon to Ynys Mon
Cwm Lloer
Looking back toward Pen-yr-ole-Wen
The wind was harsh and I layered up near reaching the summit of Pen-yr-ole-Wen. At Carnedd Dafydd summit I met a nice fellow who turned out to be an outdoors instructor who was training for his Mountain Leader qualification. Ian if you're reading I hope your assessment has gone well for you. Ian joined me on the way over to Carnedd Llewelyn and on to Bwlch Eryl Farchog, and it was interesting to discuss in depth the ins and outs of the Mountain Leader qualification amongst other things for the most part mountain related.
It felt very wintery on Carnedd Llewelyn summit
Sadly there were no views to be had from the top of the Carneddau on this day. We headed down towards Bwlch Eryl Farchog, a magnificent ridge with brilliant views and features, the path is punctuated by some straightforward scrambling. My new acquaintance headed back down as he had a lengthy drive ahead, whilst I pressed on for Pen-yr-Helgi-Du.
awesome crags on the North-East side of the ridge with Cwm Eigiau beyond
Looking along the ridge to my next objective, Pen-yr-Helgi-Du
Ffynnon Llugwy with the Eastern Glyderau beyond
Cwm Llugwy
Looking back toward the awesome features on the ridge
Wild Ponies on the slopes near Pen-yr-Helgi-Du summit
Carnedd Llewelyn summit still having a cloud issue...
The route down
A delightfully easy-going grassy ramp winds things back down to valley level from Pen-yr-Helgi-Du. It made a nice contrast to the steeper bits from the previous day's efforts in the Glyderau.
Gallt yr Ogof
The path crosses a leat, which feeds water around into Llyn Colwyd Reservoir
The magnificent Tryfan
a proper old-school bridge
On arrival in the valley a lengthy but flat walk back to Pont-pen-y-Benglog along the route of the old A5 awaited me. I never realised how lovely the valley is, I've blasted through in the car on many occasions but never realised how delightful a place it was.
All in all a magnificent weekend!
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