Glyder Fawr 1001m

West face of Tryfan and Llyn Bochlwyd from Y Gribbin

On Monday 15/6, the first day of our Welsh trip, Pete, Lyn and Bella set off in fine weather from the Ogwen valley to climb Glyder Fawr 1001m by the rocky ridge of Y Gribbin. The picture is from the lower slopes of Y Gribbin with Llyn Bochlwyd below and Llyn Ogwen further beyond to the left. The west face of Tryfan 915m forms a backdrop to the scene.

Upper section of Y Gribbin.

The upper crags of Y Gribbin reared above us presenting a forbidding aspect as we climbed higher up the ridge, mist swirled in on us adding a touch of drama to the adventure.

Watery reflections of Y Gribbin 

Looking down Y Gribbin, Llyn Idwal far below

You can see the tiny pool of water where Pete caught the reflections of Y Gribbin far below here just to the right of the path. The mist thickened for a while as we picked our way carefully up the scree and tumbled boulders of the ridge.

Y Gribbin's upper rocky section

Bella having fun scrambling on Y Gribbin.

Mist clearing on Castell y Gwynt

As we topped out onto the summit plateau of Glyder Fawr the mist began to clear revealing the dramatic rock formation known as Castell y Gwynt or Castle of the Winds to the West, beyond which rose the boulder strewn summit of Glyder Fach 994m.

Pete and Bella on the summit of Glyder Fawr

Descent from Glyder Fawr

 

The descent from Glyder Fawr as far as the tiny lake of Llyn Cwn which lies in the col between Y Garn and Glyder Fawr was on unpleasant scree. After that the going improved and we descended into Cwm Idwal by a steep path to the west of the forbidding crags of the Devil's Kitchen.