Page 29 - 2021 AMA Summer

we had to come back to Bethesda we had decided that the optimum solution was to split the Glyderau into two - out via Tryfan, Glyder Fach (994m) and Glyder Fawr (1001m) and come back over Y Garn (947m) and Elidir Fawr.
On getting to the base of Tryfan, we both decided that a sporting ascent would take in Milestone Scramble and Continuation two good value Grade 3 scrambles which wouldputusontotheNorthRidgeofTryfan (Grade 1) halfway up. We were above the clouds now and what a fantastic place it was to be. We took Bristly Ridge (Grade 1) which brings you out on Glyder Fach at the Cantilever Stone and the summit. We completed the first half of the Glyderau by descending the “red dot” path (there are actually painted dots to show the way just like in the Alps!).
The normal hustle and bustle of Pen y Pass was absent. The car park was empty and the Youth Hostel shut. In fading light we set off along the PYG track to reach the start of the East Ridge of Crib Goch (Grade 1). It was November the 5th so we traversed Crib Goch by moonlight, above the clouds with the fireworks in Bangor and the surrounding area making a distracting sideshow.
Having completed the peaks of the Snowdon Massif we kept the scrambling theme going by descending into Nant Peris by the Cyrn Las (Grade 1). Now the tough work of heading home over the last two peaks of Y Garn and Elidir Fawr had to be done. This would complete not only the Glyderau but the entire traverse. It was now 2200hrs and we had been on the go for about 18hrs. The 800m pull up Y Garn through bog, pea soup mist and darkness
was probably the hardest bit of the trip but we knew we would emerge into the clear moonlit sky before we hit the summit of Y Garn. The memory is vague of when we reached the final peak of Elidir Fawr but all that was left was the home leg across the moor of Machlyn Mawr and through the quiet lanes of Mynydd Llandegai.
I said my goodbyes to Rusty and walked down my driveway a day after I had set off with the satisfaction of a rather rare unsupported traverse of the Welsh 3000s being in the bag.
Looking towards Yr Wyddfa from the Carneddau
Yr Wyddfa
ARMY MOUNTAINEER / 29