Page 21 - AMA Summer 2024

NORTH WALES (ERYRI) MEET
IJames Brudenell
t was late Friday afternoon as I drove along the winding A5 through Betws-y-Coed, past Capel Curig before the Ogwen Valley opened in front of me. The scene was a very moody one; dark grey clouds
shrouded the mountain summits and a light but persistent rain fell across the valley. As I arrived at Idwal Cottage, I wondered if the conditions would improve as I casted my mind back to the same meet last year which was cancelled due to the atrocious weather!
The accommodation for the weekend was the YHA Idwal Cottage in Eryri (Snowdonia). A former Quarry Manager’s residence, it was the first youth hostel to open in Great Britain in 1931. It has all the basic amenities required including a good size kitchen and substantial gathering area to eat, drink and chat about plans for the weekend. By Friday evening, eleven members had arrived, stashed their food in the fridges and settled into their rooms. The following morning, people got to know one another over breakfast and discussed ideas, with one eye on the rain drops snaking down the windows – would the rain abate?
With safety briefs completed, the plan was for everyone to make the best of the ‘dryish’ morning before the impending rain arrived in the afternoon. The scramblers, composed of Toby, Padam, Daz and Mel, set off for Tryfan. The climbers paired up, with Arthur, Jill, Pete and Katie headed for Idwal Slabs. Chris, Scott and I walked over to Milestone Buttress, the rain still holding back! The rock was still wet from the previous day, dictating which routes we would climb. Chris decided on Rowan Route (Diff) which was a great climb for Scott getting back into trad climbing and for me looking at stacked abseils. As we topped out, the rain, which had been tempting us all morning, eventually made an appearance. We short roped and traversed across to the abseil point set above a gully, now with rain cascading down the flanking dark, mossy
The scene was a very moody one; dark grey clouds shrouded the mountain summits and a
light but persistent rain fell across the valley
walls. Chris descended the 50m first followed by Scott and I, before returning to our daysacks; gear and ropes packed away we walked off towards the warmth of the cottage with the rain preventing any further climbing for the day.
Toby and the scramblers had set off up the North Ridge of Tryfan (Grade 1), descending the South Ridge (Grade 1) before then ascending Bristly Ridge (Grade 1) via Sinister Gully, followed by a lap of Glyder Fach and then down Y Gribin. They had covered 9km and ascended 1074m in not the most pleasant of conditions but had a fun outing. By mid-af- ternoon, and with all teams safely off the mountains, a trip into Betws- y-Coed was on the cards to refuel with tea and cake, and of course the obligatory visit to the numerous outdoor shops!
The weather on Sunday morning was not looking too impressive to say the least; still grey skies and still wet. Some of the group opted to head for the nearest climbing wall and some called it quits for the weekend. However, Arthur and Pete braved a climb on Tryfan Fach, whilst Toby and Jill went for an eventful scramble on Idwal Buttress (Grade 2) and Continuation (Grade 2) with the return journey resulting in Toby injuring his knee. After assessing the situation, Toby was made comfortable as he waited for the arrival of the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organi- sation (OVMRO). Eleven members arrived and administered pain relief before extracting Toby to the Idwal car park, where he was subse- quently taken to hospital. The following day, an MRI scan confirmed the full extent of the injury – a ruptured patella tendon. Many thanks to Jill, to the OVMRO and a speedy recovery for Toby!
Finally, a big shout out to Arthur for organising the meet and despite the weather, a nice venue with fantastic people made it a great weekend.
Mel on the famous Cannon Stone (Tryfan North Ridge)
Toby being extracted by OVMRO
Arthur abseiling ‘The Easy Way’ off Idwal Slabs
ARMY MOUNTAINEER › 21