Parked at the end of Llyn Ogwen (Idwal Cottage) and started a steady slog up towards Y Garn. The snow line started just below the summit
I deliberately left my roach pole in the car, it was just too windy but I was confident of making at least some QSO’s with the wire antenna strewn on the rocky summit which I have done in the past.
Alas my trusty KOSS ear buds which I’ve had for several years let me down. The inline mute button was permanently muted unless I pressed the button slightly. This made keying and logging very difficult so apologies to those who were calling me. I was pleased to get a S2S with OM1AX and after a handful of contacts I packed up. Not bad for a bit of wire resting on rocks!
Above Llyn y Cwn on the higher slopes to Glyder Fawr there was quite a lot of snow. I was met on the summit with a shower of hailstones which really stung my face. I decided that I’d leave HF for this summit, sorry if anyone was waiting for me there but it was just too windy and cold.
I did a brief activation on 2m FM, and thanks to Mike BLH for the spot I managed to qualify the summit.
Between Glyder Fawr and Glyder Fach I took a wrong turn which meant a half hour detour. What was annoying was that I did exactly the same thing last year. Visibility wasn’t great, in and out of the clouds, of course I had my map and compass with me put me back on track but it was frustrating nonetheless. I think I’ll invest in one of those GPS thingies!
On the steep descent down to Bwlch Tryfan (very loose rock and snow) I met two guys heading up in wellies, mad!
In the past I would normally finish with Tryfan but with the high winds, tired legs and getting late I reluctantly dropped down to Llyn Bochlwyd and back to the car.
In reply to MW0IDX:
Nice report and pictures Roger.
Snow has rather been stripped since I was up there on Sunday!
That “30 minute detour between Glyder Fawr and Glyder Fach” story did have me smiling. That bit around Castell y Gwynt causes more misplaced people than any other bit of the major hills in Snowdonia. When I was there on Sunday I was super careful as I have had that experience myself.
In reply to MW0IDX:
Very well done Roger. Quite an undertaking at this time of year, especially with this generally poor WX! Thanks for the report.
73, John.
I can thoroughly sympathise here. I’m not sure how many times I’ve been from Glyder Fawr to Glyder Fach (you’d think I’d recognise every rock by now) but I get it wrong every time. Last time I warned my walking companion not to stray to the right as we’ll end up too low but we still did!
If I’m trying to do NW-003/004/005 and 006 in one day, the time taken on this section is one of the major factors in success or failure. I’ll try again next year and I bet it goes wrong again.
I am also looking at activating these 4 summits in one day at some point, not to soon, but at sometime in the future with my Dad M1EYP and someone who is experienced with these hill so as we get off Tryfan GW/NW-006 and to ensure that is a car at start and end parking spots.
In reply to M0HGY:
Hi Jimmy, I have a GPS track log (in GPX format) which will keep you right on track for Tryfan and Glyder Fawr. It then goes down the Devils Kitchen.
This is a recorded log from an actual ascent a couple of weeks back in the snow, rather than one plotted off the map.
It is based on ascending Tryfan via the West Gully which is a very fast/short route up from the A5, then down Tryfan south ridge following the easiest route down. You can’t avoid all of the scrambling either up or down, but it is fairly easy, well easy for me - “your gas mileage may vary” as our US cousins sometimes say.
Next it goes up the gully alongside Bristly Ridge onto Glyder Fach, then around the south side of Castell y Gwynt (Castle of the Winds) and a direct route across to Glyder Fawr. Then down the slope to Llyn y Cwn.
If you are going on to Y Garn you would now deviate from this route as I went down The Devils Kitchen and on to Llyn Idwal.
If you want a copy I can email it to you if you provide an address. I will put it up on the SOTA Mapping Project page later.
It is based on ascending Tryfan via the West Gully which is a very
fast/short route up from the A5, then down Tryfan south ridge
following the easiest route down. You can’t avoid all of the
scrambling either up or down, but it is fairly easy, well easy for me
“your gas mileage may vary” as our US cousins sometimes say.
Is the West Gully the route up from Cwm Bochlwyd? I would have recommended going up by the North Ridge via the open gully by the roadside parking. This ridge is broad and rocky but there is only one place where you may have to put hand to rock. The “Heather Terrace” is easier to the south col but the route becomes a bit indeterminate towards the end - unless the mad stepmakers have struck since I was up there last!
The West Gully is definitely easier that the North Ridge, which I would suggest has some areas of proper grade 1 scrambling. I love the North Ridge, definitely my personal favourite way up Tryfan, but it can be a bit intimidating for some folks.
I’ve uploaded the track log to the SOTA Mapping Tracks page for Tryfan and Glyder Fawr. So you can look at it there. Not sure if you have used this feature so this is the way to access it. http://sotamaps.wsstvc.org/tracks.php Look up Tryfan and click “load tracks”.
Tick the box against my track and click “display”.
The route starts from the A5 at the small car park west of the Milestone Buttress layby. It ascends steeply south before eventually turning east and reaching the rocks on the west side of Tryfan. Here it enters a well defined gully which is followed fairly easily to just north of the summit of Tryfan. Then turn south for a few metres and you are on the top. It is “traditionally” the quick way up and down people use if they are doing the Welsh 3000’s. It’s the way I go when in a hurry. When my legs were less than 50% of the age they are now I once got up there in just under half an hour. Many have done it much quicker. It takes me more like an hour and a quarter now!
I believe the fell running record for descent via this route is 8 minutes from summit to A5… search for Tryfan Downhill Dash. Edit: I should point out that the fell race route is even shorter and goes pretty much down to Milestone Buttress layby. But it follows the same route I suggest in the Western Gully near the top.
For what it’s worth, I do Elidir Fawr first then Y Garn, Glyder Fawr and finally Tryfan. I stay at Idwal Youth Hostel so that’s where the car is parked. I walk down the minor road to the cottage at Yr Hafod (SH644604). There is a faint path heading up from behind the house at the right, you can see gaps in the walls to the left of the gully, aim for these. Cross the stream at the top of the gully and make your way up the buttress (the Mushroom Garden). This will bring you out on the ridge between Y Garn and Foel Goch at approximately SH628607. You can ignore Foel Goch and go straight for Elidir Fawr then back to Y Garn.
After Glyder Fawr I head for Glyder Fach and the steep slope to the east of the Bristly ridge, beware of navigation as previously mentioned. Once at the col at the base of Tryfan’s South Peak this gives the option of a go/no-go decision here, if no-go then descend to Idwal via the Miner’s Track. I have made the no-go at least three times at this point. Tryfan will always be there the next time, make sure you are. There is no “easy” way up Tryfan.
It is possible to do Y Garn first but it’s not worth trying to contour around the southern slopes on the way back from Elidir Fawr as the boulder field is quite uncomfortable
It’s a long day but REALLY satisfying when you finally achieve it. Above all, do it safely
PS If any of you stay at Idwal Youth Hostel can you please own up to what you do as the wardens are convinced that I am the only person mad enough to do this.
In reply to MW0WML:
I’ve never tried that way, Gerald, I’ll give it a try sometime - perhaps soon as I have a return to Tryfan in my sights! I only remember one unavoidable short scramble on the north ridge, where you have to go down into a transverse groove cutting across the ridge and then scramble out of it the other side, a real mauvais pas, all other obstructions can be avoided if you have a good eye for a route.
These fell runners can do some extraordinary feats, can’t they? I preferred to take my time and enjoy my surroundings even before the years slowed me down!
In reply to M3MCV:
Great route Mick. I know exactly what you mean.
I usually start with Tryfan as I prefer to get the trickier one out of the way first. Also it is short and steep so you feel like you have one “under your belt” quickly.
You are making me keen to have a go at the whole lot - been ages since I combined all of those hills in one day, usually only on a full Welsh 3000’ day, which I haven’t done for 20 years!
One for the summer months though I think - need the daylight.
Good route suggestions. However I feel the easiest route for me and my Dad Tom M1EYP to activate all 4 summits successfully would be to stay at Idwal Cottage Youth Hostel the night before and then the following day to walk up the Miners Track from there to the col between Tryfan GW/NW-006 and Glyder Fach. From here walk up to the summit of Tryfan GW/NW-006, walk back down from this summit to the col and then walk up the Miners Track to the col between Glyder Fach and Y Foel Goch. After this follow the ridge over Glyder Fach, Glyder Fawr GW/NW-003, Y Garn GW/NW-004 and then Elidir Fawr GW/NW-005 (bypassing Foel Goch) and then following the track from Elidir Fawr GW/NW-005 to Nant Peris.
I feel that Tryfan GW/NW-006 is the summit to activate first as this is the most difficult summit and both me and Dad feel we would be best activating this summit first while we have the energy and we not tired and also having someone who is experienced with these SOTA, I feel would help make the expedition successful. We are not planning to do this for a while yet, but I looking at activating these 4 summits in one walk at some point in the future.
In reply to M0HGY:
I’ve done it a couple of times with two cars, one parked at Nant Peris then heading up to Elidir Fawr the start. The other car left at the finish near Ogwen cottage. The first time was with MW0YLS in mid winter, climbing Tryfan at the end was done during during a snow blizzard which I’ll never forget. The other time was with GW0VMW. Great fun!
I’d like to do the Welsh 3,000 one day, but I’d have to get myself a lot fitter first!
