Another long week at school and kelly going to see some friends in Yorkshire for a few days meant a lie in was in order followed by a leisurely breakfast on poached eggs on toast. Amazing. Realising Kelly was leaving fairly early I decided to have a day on the hills. It was 10.45 by now and the sun is setting by 4.30 so I didn't have long. I thought of going to Cwm Cneifion (Nameless Cwm) but I have bad memories of being marched up there last year so opted for Cwm Fynnon Lloer. Visit here for more info but the topo in Welsh Winter Climbs is better.
I got the layby by 11.30, set of by 11.35 and seemed to have much smaller bags than everyone else (<10 people) on the 'slog' up. The ascent into the cwm went well, I had a chat with a few of the people as I passed but didn't want to waste time as I knew I didn't have much of it. I was thinking that some of their ideas were ambitious, especially at the pace they were walking. As I was heading to the base of the gully I passed a route I had done last year, Broad Gully, which was no where near in condition, not looking good for my route either.
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| Cwm Ffynnon Lloer - Broad Gully |
From a little feature I could see a red jacket on the summit of North Arete, I hadn't realised this was a route until today as I had only looked at the Welsh Winter Climbs guide for this area.
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| View into Cwm Ffynnon Lloer from a smal rise just inside the cwm |
I was hoping to do Right Hand Y-Gully and then if Left Hand Y-Gully was looking good and time permitting. When I got to the base the red jacket climber appeared with the news I kind of already knew. Right hand was 'snow on ledges with on interesting step' and left hand was obviously too bare. Moongroves, was also bare.
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| Right Hand Y Gully, Left Hand Y Gulley - Looking up, left hand looking empty, right hand looking poor. |
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| Right Hand Y Gulley - Looking back down |
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| Looking up towards Eastern Buttress, Y Gullys and North Arete. Looking bare. |
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| Me at the top of Right Hand Y Gully |
As I decided to head up Right Hand and then come back down via Pen Yr Ole Wen.
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| Tryfan from Pen Yr Ole Wen |
Here is a picture for my Grandparents, Thank you.
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| DMM Rebel Ice Axes - Xmas Present 2009 |
