Tryfan, Glyder Fach and Glyder Fawr

The weather was perfect for a day in the hills; clear blue skies, not a hint of wind and a little snow from 650m to add a little interest to the walk.

Rich S and Kev set off from the car park for the north ridge of Tryfan; an easy, if a little exposed, grade 1 scramble. Route finding at first was easy as there is a good path, but the terrain soon turns vertical and easy walking turns into a lot of scrambling. The height gain is incredible, no gentle walk in on this route!

When we reached the snow, all traces of a path quickly disappeared so a direct approach to the ridge was taken. As we got within a couple of hundred metres of the summit we moved around to the left of the ridge and followed a gully to the summit as the rocks we were scrambling on had zero grip due to the levels of ice cover.

Just before the route had turned vertical we had past a young lad having a breather on the path. During the ascent he had stayed around 10 metres behind us, never letting us get out of sight but just far enough away so no conversation could take place. When we reached the summit we finally concertinaed and we asked if he could take our photo. As we chatted he admitted to us that this was his first winter climb and only his fourth ever mountain. He had been into a shop in Betws-y-coed, bought his ice axe and crampons, and decided to go for it. However, when he reached the first vertical step on the ridge scramble he was pleased someone had turned up so he could follow as it looked a little daunting! His initially plan was to descend the south ridge and head back to his car but when he found out our plan to go on to Glyder Fach and Fawr he asked if he could follow some more!

I have to say it was one of the noisiest walks I have been on and I think this was due to the good weather. We had two Hawk trainers doing laps through the valley at around 500m and a rescue helicopter came and dropped a signal flare on a ridge just above us for a little practice.

We decided to avoid the ridge scramble up to Glyder Fach and follow the snow line as the face had seen no sun and was very icy. The route we took was up a scree slope but was easy due to the snow cover.

Once on top we had a relatively easy walk to Glyder Fawr and with all three summits bagged it was time to descend via Devil’s Kitchen. The route down followed a steep snow covered slope with no rocks protruding, which meant only one thing to me… time for some ice axe arrests!! Not only do you get to practice an essential winter mountain skill, you also get down the hill in rapid time. When I suggested we go back up to have another go all I got were funny looks and mumbled obscenities. Looks like it’s just me that’s a big kid then!!

Once down to the tarn we had the opportunity to check out some long classic climbs at Idwal. A very gentle slope of a slab with a 200m VDiff climb called ‘Hope’. Once the weather improves we will be back to give that one a go!

The final leg of the route is back along the road to the car park where we had the pleasure of the Hawks racing down the valley again.

An excellent day out.

Rich S

Slipstone Revisited - 9th January 2009

We had such good fun at Slipstone this week, we decided to go back.

Davie, Rich S and Rachael all headed over to the crags again to try some lead climbing and to practice gear placement.

Weather was a little milder but the rock was still very cold from a week of near zero temperatures.

After an initial go at 'Overhanging Crack' (VDiff) and failing miserably on the initial bouldering type move, Davie moved over to have a shot at leading 'Mantelshelf Crack' (VDiff). Again, this needs arms like a gorilla to gain the second step and it proved just out of reach for the poor dispirited Davie.

However, having thrown and recovered his teddy bear, Davie swapped places with Rich to give him a try at it.

Although simean in his demeanour, Rich too lacked the arm length to gain sufficient purchase for the next steps.

This was getting depressing. We moved back around to tackle 'Overhanging Crack' with Davie belaying Rich on lead. The stubby legs of Rich proved to be tailor made for jamming into the large crack and having cracked this first move, he swiftly made progress to the top.

Top rope set up and Rich on belay, Rachael had a go and, after struggling like her old dad, managed to crack the initial problem to gain the easier line. She abseiled back down to take pictures of the frustrated 'silverback', warming up for a try at 'Roofed Corner' (Diff).

The route is straightforward with an awkward overhanging block at the top and it was swiftly negotiated - well, more swiftly than my earlier fiascos.

Rachael took the same route and then dropped back down for a traverse from this to the next door Overhanging Crack. Davie completed the same traverse from ground up and as the valley fog was coming in we decided to head for home.

Slipstone proved today that it is essentially a bouldering area with some specific climbs thrown in. Most of the difficulty ratings are obviously awarded on the basis of the initial moves requiired to get going.

The routes are bloody difficult and, in boots and cold rock, very tricky.

Unless, of course, you're an 18yr old, 5 ft 10 ex-ballerina or a short, squat, walking muscle who can peel bananas with his feet.

Maybe, just maybe, I'm too old for this s**t.

Slipstone is going to be a regular occurence as there are still plenty of routes to try out, so come along.

Davie

1st Verdes day of 2009 - Slipstone Crags, Masham, North Yorkshire. 6th January 2009

To break in the new year, Rich S, Rachael T and Davie headed over to Slipstone Crags for some climbing.

The weather was clear and sunny, which sounds great until you realise that the temperature at Davie's was -5 degrees and at 300m, near the crags, it was a little cooler in the breeze.

We tackled two routes starting with 'Staircase' - a 'Moderate' as the name would suggest. However, with the breeze being channeled up the gorge we were in, even if it had been a staircase, it was so cold that grip was iffy to say the least.

Rich lead climbed and tried to use up his entire rack in order to cut the weight carried and to give Davie something to do, removing it all on his ascent.

We moved across the crags to another route, this time a 'Difficult' called 'Heather Crack'. Slipstone is known as a bouldering area and some of the initial moves on the climbing routes are more akin to boulder problems.

Heather Crack is no different. Rachael struggled with some boot placement on the first two moves but soon got into the groove and made a hasty ascent despite being frozen. Davie, being longer in the leg, completed the intial moves a little quicker and progressed 'smoothly' to the end funnel - only to find his 54" inch wide frame being confronted with a 42" gap.

Giving birth must be just like this, except less painful.

A quick mantelshelf move and a bouncing 17 stone baby Dave was deposited beside a startled and bewildered Rich on the belay.

Slipstone is great for those wanting to get into climbing, with something for everyone. Today the weather was against us, but in the summer it will be excellent fun.

We even finished the day with a spot of caving...

Davie

Last climb of 2008 - Haystacks, 29th December

Monday saw a band of intrepid Verdes Adventurers heading into the Lakes for a post Christmas relaxing walk.

After some thought we decided on Haystacks again and the team comprised of Davie, Rich S, Rich M, Paul B, Sharon and Davie's daughter Rachael, a Verdes newcomer.

The weather was superb, but cold, and the low sun meant that views over to the Gables and Scafell Range were a little prohibited.

As always, Rich S felt it necessary to move vertically and naturally Davie had to give it a try too, if at least to remove bragging rights from Slaney.

All that remained was a leisurely descent to the cars and a retail therapy session (as usual) in Keswick. Obviously, tea, cake and paninis were addressed too!

A great day out and thanks to the team for an excellent end to 2008.

Davie

Winter is here! Skiddaw, 6th December 2008

Well, it's time to get the crampons out. After a week of good snow the Lakes are again covered in acres of fun.

Paul B, John D and Davie headed up to Skiddaw to try and take advantage and to bag another first for Dicko.

The drive across was ok, the A66 having been closed earlier in the week, but the fun really started as we drove up the track to the Latrigg car park. As we ascended in Davie's apparently un -eco, Chelsea tractor (see earlier post for rant) we started to pass more and more cars parked in various states of abandon by the road side.

Sure, the road is very steep and sure, it was covered in ice but why were they abandoned so low down?

After a period of passing no cars and wondering if perhaps we had bitten off more than we could chew, we spotted 4 or 5 cars at the car park, windscreens reflecting in the sun.

Phew... 'the remainder of the road can't be that bad' we thought as we crossed another frozen stream across the road.

When we did finally arrive at the car park, to the amazement and wonder of the struggling pedestrians, we realised why they were so perplexed; the cars had been frozen in from the night before (or days before!) and had been abandoned by their drivers. The car park was pure ice and empty (see pic below.. zoom in and see the ice and the walkers avoiding it.)

Moral of the story is: ignore the assholes who put dumbass stickers on your windscreen - Discovery wins every time.

To prove a point, we turned the car on the ice rink and parked up in pride of place.

The rest was easy:

Yomp to the top of Skiddaw, through good quantities of snow, piccys on top, slippy and treacherous descent, with Paul using Davie's poles and Davie falling on his arse in the mud because he didn't have poles.

Round trip: 2 hours to the top and 1 hr 20 back. Forgot how fast Bolt-on moves with his hi capacity bumbag and travelling light.

Back to Keswick for some Verdes retail therapy, coffee and a cake and then home in time for tea.

Mission accomplished!

Davie

2008 Motorcycle show at the NEC Birmingham

Our latest outing to the Motorcycle show definitely came under the heading of ‘Therapy’, although it started off quite adventurous when I foolishly decided to take advantage of the free parking and go there on my bike. I should have realised it wasn’t a great idea when I went outside to move the car from in front of the garage and had to scrape the ice off the windscreen. The digital display inside the car happily informed me there was ‘risk of ice’ and the outside temperature was -3 degrees… hmmm, better get back inside and put another couple of layers on. The first couple of miles were OK out of the village and towards the M1 but as soon as I got to the first stretch of fast road the trip became a little cold and challenging. Trying to put some 150+ horse power through a cold tyre onto very cold and wet roads using a completely numb (from the cold) throttle hand was bordering on impossible. First gear, wheel spin, second gear, wheel spin, third gear, wheel spin plus slight forward motion and 120mph on the speedo. I knew, however, that I wasn’t actually breaking the speed limit as a cyclist managed to overtake me. This continued unit I got to the motorway and was able to stay at a constant speed.

Once at the show, I met up with Paul (Bolt-on) another Verdes biker plus Alex, Steve and Pete. Our plan was to do our own thing in the morning, meet up for lunch and then have a look around together in the afternoon.

I had two objectives in the morning 1. find some warm gloves for the trip back and 2. select a new bike to replace the R1 (Shhh, don’t tell the wife). The gloves were easy but the new bike was proving difficult. There are several new bikes for 2009 and the one I most wanted to see wasn’t at the show…doh!

After lunch (courtesy of Paul) we got together to revisit some of the show highlights. Paul took us to the Ducati stand to meet his latest acquisition. A Ducati Street Fighter, the latest lunatic bike from the Bologna factory. Basically a 1098 superbike without a fairing, it looks amazing and will probably induce involuntary bowel movements from anyone who dares to ride the thing. By coincidence the model I most wanted to ride was also on the Ducati stand and I managed to get a photo of Paul’s and mine together (below)

After a little retail therapy, I prepared myself for the freezing conditions and the madness that is M42 rush hour traffic on the way home. Fortunately the weather had improved and the temperature was a healthy 4 degrees.

Bring on the summer!

Rich S