Tuesday 1 December 2009

Early season may be at an end

Today, Big Tim, Andy Turner, Dave Evans and I bailed upto Grib Goch area. Tim and I were going to look at at new route, but getting too it might be an issue. You have to climb slabby and broken ground and with v little neve or frozen turf it might be tricky. This was the case, and again not wishing to trash the turf retreat was the order of the day, even though we were not far off the meat of the route.

Andy and Dave climbed Reades Route on Grib Goch. This is a classic route and goes at V-5/6. It has good gear, goods hooks etc and outstanding position, in particular stepping off the pinnacle ( see below ) get it done. Tim and I followed with Tim taking the lead as I had led the route last winter.

Dave and Andy tried a new route but again conditions stopped play. From our vantage point Trinity Face was plastered in little black dots of climbers.

There is a lot of snow and it is real winter up there. Loads of ice on the Pyg Track and elsewhere, just not on the routes as of yet. Weather looks warm for the next three days and after that, not realistic to believe forecast. Have to wait and see what happens.

Always the same, not so good over the weekend, good mid week and then rubbish the next weekend. Hold in there it will come good again, how do know ? I have no idea !!!


Tim starting 2nd pitch of Reades Route



Me seconding top pitch of Reades Route today




Adam Harmer steeping off the pinnacle, what a position to be in ( Feb 08 )




Andy Turner high up on 2nd Pitch



A view of 2nd pitch




Dave new routing



Snowdon Area under its winter grab today



Gaz Davies went up to the Trinity Face today. The route he tried was not really in so they bailed off wishing not to trash the turf etc. However, he reported it was a great day to be out, full on winter and lots a teams around

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