Ty Powdwr - Big Bank Holiday Meet

Members Present: Jim Symon, Rob Clark, Lucie Crouch, Dave Wylie, James Williams, Steve Graham, Andy Stratford, Jo Stratford, Emily Pitts, Colin Maddison, Bob Kelly, Kevin Anderson, Al Metelko, Trish Cranston, Mark Ashley

Guests: Lou Tully, Alice Bowes, Pablo Lozano

Saturday

Excellent weather and a great turnout at Ty Powdwr. After an evening of rain, Emily, Lucie and Jo had a fairly decent day of it on Saturday on their Navigation course with Instructor Lou Tully.

Big mountain days beckoned for others with Jim and Rob opting for Cwm Silyn – it was still wet and very windy so after a walk to the top via Great Stone Shoot Gully they bailed to Tremadog climbing Shadrac and One Step in the Clouds (this was Rob’s first ever VS lead back in 1986).

James and Steve headed for the East Face of Tryfan, climbing the first four of the five pitch Crackerjack HS 4c up the central part of South Buttress then finishing up Bubbly Wall HS 4b – it was a long day with the return to TP being close to 10pm.

Andy and Colin had an early start climbing Charity – the first pitch running with water much to Colin’s delight and amusement.  Piton Route at VS was next up followed by The Groove Above – both led by Colin.  A ½ hour scramble led up to The Grey Group and Grey Rib and Grey Slab combination – a fine 2 pitch VS.  Back at TP by 7pm.

Bob decided on an ‘easy 20 mile walk’ taking the Bus to Capel and heading back over Pen LLithrig Y Wrath, Pen yr Helgi Du, Bwlch Erly Farchog to Carnedd Llewellyn then Carnedd Dafydd and Pen yr Ole Wen descending by the East Spur to Llyn Ogwen, then up through the Devils Kitchen, traversing round Y Garn and coming back through the quarries.

Reinforcements arrived to help scoff the many salads and tarts made by Jo Stratford and a three pudding option by Queen of Desserts Lucie.

Sunday (dawned fair again)

The Navigators were on the Carnedds today sometimes with their heads in the clouds.  Bob opted for another ‘short walk’ - up Snowdon via the Llanberis path, down the Pyg track to Pen-Y-Pass, heading up past LLyn Cwmfynon to  Castell-Y-Gwynt then down to Devils Kitchen, Nant Peris and the Slate Quarries where Mark Ashley and Dave Wylie had ambled up eight or so sport routes.

Al, Kevin and Alice headed for Gogarth to climb as a three – opting for Castell Helen and Pel – but it was very cold and windy so an early exit ensued.  Higher up on Holyhead mountain there was more KMC action with Rob leading Bruvers HVS 5a and Cursing VS 4c... which is exactly what Jim did a lot of on Pleasant Surprise HS 4b, Tension VS 4b and Tempest S 4a.  Steve Graham & James had a fine time on Thread S 4a and Sump Direct HS 4b, got their Teenage Kicks at S 4a then had their asses whupped on The Grip VS 4c with each in turn beating a retreat!

Over in Ogwen Colin and Andy had taken Pablo, keen new young potential member from Espana on his first proper Mountain Route – Direct Route (V Diff) on the Milestone.  Andy had decided to do the day in boots as Alpine training but take rock shoes as back up – then discovered on opening his sack that his rock shoes never made it... oh well.  Andy led off and leads swung until we reached P4 – the infamous corner chimney and star of the video ‘’a little trip up tryfan’’ available to view on the club website.  But it was dry today. Colin ascended the polished, slippery, tricky corner in fine style in big boots, watched with a little trepidation by Pablo.

‘’What technical grade would you give the route so far Pablo?’’ asked Andy, innocently.

‘’5b’’.

‘’Try the Chimney then.’’

Pablo thrusted, grunted, thrutched, bridged, slumped... and was finally winched up the chimney, rock shoes and all - a few minutes later.

‘’at least 5b’’

Colin coughed.  ‘’Actually Pablo, it isn’t graded.  It’s what’s known as ‘’traditional’’.

We were in the sun, it was a lovely day.  We headed round to the East Face of Tryfan and climbed First Pinnacle Rib a classic 200 metre Diff, Colin and I swinging leads.  At the top you can scramble off – or you can try something harder in your big boots...

Colin ambled over to Thompson’s Chimney HS 4b.  20 minutes later it was all over.  Pablo gave a very good account of himself but resorted to the rope in the end.  I was determined to follow it clean in my boots, which I did manage – but not a chance of leading it.  A fine day out.

Monday

I’m not sure exactly what happened on Monday other than getting stuck in a massive traffic jam on the way home!

Thanks to all who came, climbed and ate - and especially Lou Tully for running the course – great feedback from the Navigators.