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| Morning light from the cottage |
The weather was looking bleak for Snowdonia as we sat in the pub on Saturday night in Llanberis pouring over the map. But me, Steve and Dan set our sights on the summit of Y Garn via the ice climbers haven of Devil's Kitchen, and hopefully a decent covering of snow.
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| Me and Steve walking into Llyn Idwal (Photo by Dan Jackson) |
The path to Llyn Idwal being clear of snow was not what we were hoping for as we marched our up from Idwal cottage on the A5. But soon we reached the snow line and clipped into our crampons to make the jump across the fast flowing and treacherously slippery Idwal stream.
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| Llyn Idwal |
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| Steve starring out over Llyn Idwal |
The slog up now took us steeply through a path littered with boulders and scree, and above us hung huge sheets of ice clinging to the rock faces forming some of North Wales famous winter climbing routes. Me and Dan chatted away about how attractive a female Plas Y Brenin instructor was, who was leading a group from the National Mountain Centre. Unfortunately Dan hadn't realised how close she was standing to us, as he made his comment!
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| Ice formation in the Devil's Kitchen (Photo by Dan Jackson) |
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| Us ugly mugs high in the Devil's Kitchen |
The wind picked up as we made our way up onto the col between Y Garn and the Glyders Fach, so we hunkered down behind a large boulder that acted as the idea wind break. As I tucked into my sandwich and a cup of foul tasting hot orange squash, I stared out across the frozen surface of the small mountain tarn.
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| Awesome Dan |
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| A long way down from the summit of Y Garn |
Progress towards the summit of Y Garn seemed to be slow as low cloud concealed the view around us. The whiteness only broken by several jet black raven circling looking for scraps. Once on the summit the light began to break through the cloud across the horizon, illuminating an incredible vista of the Snowdon Massif.
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| Me and Dan on the summit of Y Garn |
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| View over to the Snowdon Massif |
Out of nowhere two climbers appeared behind us from the top of Banana Gully, jangling a rack of hexes, ice screws and warthogs. After chatting briefly, we followed their line of descent kicking our way down a steep snow bank with ice axe in hand. Following the ridge line down with the sun breaking through behind us lighting up the Ogwen Valley.
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| Steve looking down on our descent route |
The trudge back along the path had to be taken with really care, and ensuring no crampon points snagged on my trouser legs. We strolled back into the car park and brushed off any loose snow from our boots and ankles before boarding my car for the journey home. Via the pub and a big Sunday lunch of course!
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