I was over in North Wales for an SPA training with Phil George, despite being certain of rain it was actually great weather and we had a great couple of days. Phil is a great teacher, he’s an IFMGA guide and really knowledgeable and enthusiastic on all everything mountaineering and climbing. After the first day out me and the other two guys decided to go climbing up in Bus Stop Quarry, this is on the HVS Solstice which I think Phil did the first ascent of in the mid-eighties, my old guide has that I repeated in 1987 which sounds about right.


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I don’t think I’ve done this in it’s entirety before, I’ve certainly not done a circuit including Gallt y Wenallt although I’ve done pretty much all the sections before eith the possible exception of ascending Lliwedd. I’d met some guys from the Walking Forum as per plan and we really couldn’t have picked a better day. It started fine and sunny and some cloud rolled in later, to me that’s the best of all worlds, you get a real added atmosphere with some cloud swirling around.

The Horseshoe might be the most famous circular day route in the UK, it takes in one of the most famous ridge traverses along Crib Goch. A lot of the route is scrambling on rock ridges in airy positions with some significant exposure at times and it’s not a placer to be if you get concerned by heights. Along the way you gain nearly a 1000m of height and take in the two highest mountains in Snowdonia.

I think on any list of classic European hiking routes the Snowdon Horseshoe would be right up there with anything other ranges have to offer. I was really exceptionally lucky to be able to do Tryfan and the it’s North Ridge one day followed by the extended version of the Horseshoe next in such great weather.

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I’d got a new pair of boots (Scarpa Charmoz) as my old ones are beginning to wear a little in the lining and I was concerned they’d not last the summer. So, my plan was to park at Capel Curig and just have a stroll to see how the new boots fitted. But, once I’d got onto the Glyders the weather was so excellent and Tryfan looked so inviting that I thought I’d take the summit in and make a descent via the North Ridge.


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Another day staying in the Oread hut and this time a shorter route around the local area, originally I’d thought about Moel Elio and a return on the train but the times didn’t really work although this was still an option as we left but it meant a fairly lengthy walk out along the valley and the route was going to be a bit vague. In the end it made sense to cut back across to Rhydd Ddu by a shorter route.

Another fairly clear day and some great views around the area, this is looking at Mynydd Mawr where I’d been on a recent trip in rather worse weather.