My Salewa adjustable crampons, which had seen service since 1976, were finally replaced today as I purchased a lovely pair of yellow crampons from the Cotswold Store in Betws Y Coed. It was clear that there was snow on the mountains but the weather forecast was just abysmal. It was one of those days when an afternoon with a good book by the fire was preferable to struggling up a wind blasted Welsh mountain side.
Amazingly though the torrential rain, which had been a pouring down for the last couple of hours, stopped as I walked out of the shop and so the reasons for not going on the hill were rapidly disappearing.
I decided to follow the path into Cwm Tryfan, hoping that I would get some shelter from the wind and if at any time the conditions deteriorated too much it would be relatively easy to retrace my steps. As it turned out I had an interesting few hours and didn't see anybody else all the time I was walking.
Sadly though I didn't get to use the new crampons.
Sadly though I didn't get to use the new crampons.
Leaving the A5, conditions were really wet under foot but it was clear that there was snow higher up.
The east face of Tryfan, disappearing into the cloud.
Looking up towards Glyder Fach
I headed up this slope to Bwlch Tryfan. On the way up I has considered crossing the col and heading back to the car by Cwm Bochlwyd but the gusts of wind were so strong I preferred the shelter of my ascent route.
Just starting the descent, back into the relative quiet of Cwm Tryfan, trying to seek some shelter from the strongest gusts of wind.
It almost appeared as if there was some sunshine in the Ogwen Valley but it had certainly disappeared by the time I got there. Replaced by heavy rain and a howling wind. It was just past this point that I was blown off my feet by a particularly strong gust. Time for coffee and cake in Capel Curig.
