Cyfrwy Arete, Table Direct Route Scrambling Grade 3*** (V.Diff ) 14th July 2011
Pronounced: Cuv-roo-wee. Meaning: Ridge between two summits (saddle)
Weather Perfect. Cool, Low humidity, Cloud free skies, light haze, light breeze.
Participants: Mayaculpa, Webb72, Al
From: car park at Ty Nant GR: 698152
Start: 09:00 Finish: 16:15
Distance: 5.2 miles 8.4k
Height: 770 metres
Timings for the route. (taking it easy)
09:00 Start at Ty Nant
10:00 at Llyn y Gadair
10:20 looking for start of arete
11:00 found start
11:20 started to climb
13:45 finished climb
14:00 finished scramble
14:30 Penygadair summit
14:45 descending
16:15 finished
Is this the best scramble in Wales ? Well, we have the best day possible to find out.
We know already it's a serious scramble, with no obvious means of retreat, requiring a rope and protection
Out of the Car Park we turned right and followed the road west for 200m before joining the Pony Path.
The view of CA had been with us from the start and as we got further along it just got better.
After about 1k we left the Pony Path and followed a fainter path East heading straight for CA.
It was about this time that the RAF started having fun. Three Tornados/Eurofighters entertained us with a dog-fight.
Very, very noisy.
We continued up to Llyn y Gadair. Now in full sight of the arete we stopped for a bite. The temptation was to swim rather than climb. To relax in the warm sun, do some fishing, but we had other fish to fry.
First thing was to locate the start, and we made a complete @rse of this. Basically it's half way round the Llyn. head off up the screes.
Don't go too far right, but head on up you will see letters CA drawn on the rock and this marks the start.
Here we put on harnesses, and roped up. The rock is sharp and abrasive, some holds are a bit polished but way better than the Glyderau.
We did it in 4 major pitches with me leading the odd numbers, with Stewie leading the evens.
We stopped for a bite to eat on the most exclusive Table in Wales, with the sun shining and perfect stillnes on our airy platform.
Sounds of another team approaching, brough us back to the reality we had a hill to climb.
The rock, though grippy is in many places loose, so extra care is needed, testing well before use and attempting where possible to use/habitualise the practice of downward pressure rather than swinging like monkeys on big jugs.
The last pitch saw Stewie clambering over a block the size of a piana, which from below, looks about ready to topple.
Finally scrambling out onto the plateau above we followed the cliff round South to meet the Pony path following it then on up to Penygadair summit.
Is it the best scramble in Snowdonia, well it is the hardest, more fun, more exposure, more sustained climbing in a susperb aspect, so to answer my own question,
Yes it is
We met a young woman on the way (sounds like the start of a Limerick). She was laying out in the sun, and our wlaking by disturbed/awoke her. She told us she was tired having spent an atmospheric night on the mountain and been rewarded with the best dawning you can imagine.
Rumour has it if you stay over night on Cadair you awake either a fool or a poet.
10 to 20 people up there enjoying a beautiful mountain day. I'm particulary fond of Cadair It's got the lot.
The descent was back down the Pony Path. with stunning views over to Snowdonia, The LLeyn Peninsula, Arenings,
Arans and Cardigan Bay. What more could you want ?
Here are some pics of our day.
View from the road at Ty Nant
Getting closer
View from Llyn y Gadair
View of Llyn y Gadair from start of Cyfrwy Arete
Marks the start of Cyfrwy Arete
Stewie on the section above the Table
The Table. getting off it (3 meters) is by the left hand block
Looking back down, a climber is approaching the Table
another view back, down Al preparing to climb
Going Alpine style. Stewie bringing up Al
Stewie tackles "the piano"
View over to Barmouth
View of Arete, and Llyn y Gadair from the Pony Path
View towards Snowdonia from the Pony Path
Last view of Cyfrwy Arete
Route
