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Venue: Wales
Date: 5th April 2002
Who: Tony Saunders , Steve Marshall , Andy Longyear, Huw Jones
Camping £2.50 each

Description: A two day trip to Wales ostensibly to climb Tryfan by one or more of it's routes. Myself and Andy were camping at the site at the foot of Tryfan. Steve and Huw were only down for the day. Weather was bright, warm in the sun but cold on belays and hazy at height. Steve and Huw climbed Pinnacle Rib. Andy and myself climbed Gashed Crag (VDiff) 600 foot. Multi-pitch experience essential of course.
In terms of the nature of the climb, it has a nice mountaineering feel (as described in the guide book) . Airy and with a nice feeling of exposure right from the start.
Hello to Jo, Jason and Robert - whom we met at the base of Little Tryfan.
Huw - keep at the bouldering and hope to see you soon.

<<< Andy belaying me after third pitch. Climbing seems harder than VDiff and the climb is quite committing. Good holds and plenty of placement opportunities.

Tryfan:
Gashed Crag (550ft) VD / S

Little Tryfan:
Slab 2 (190ft) Severe
Central Slab Route (200ft) VD

The climb took us quite some time because we stopped for food on ledges and took lots of photographs. The walk up to the base of the climb and prep took about 2 hours. The walk off took about 1.5 hours approx. So you need to ensure you have plenty of daylight and good weather for climbing on Tryfan. The last pitch was cold and I (Tony) had been belaying Andy for some time prior to climbing this last pitch. My fingers were almost numb and it made the climb harder than it would otherwise have been.
Absolutely do not forget to take boots to walk off and plenty of water and (unless fair weather is looking sure) plenty of layers.

<<< Here, Andy leading to the left of the Gash. The overhanging boulder (top right) conceals the entrance to the cave belay. The green route was the severe alternative (which we did accidentally). The yellow route shows the normal VDiff route. Remember - if you end in the cave - you took the harder route

Tony on the severe alternative on the second pitch. Andy lead to the left of the triangular gash thinking it was easier than bearing right and up the chimney. We quickly found it getting harder. Belaying from a cave, here as Tony seconds the pitch. >>>

Steve (smiling as usual!)

The view down from the top of the route. The walk off is the longish slog down the mountain from near Adam and Eve. We used Heather Terrace. >>

Saturday - Andy and myself decided to play about on little tryfan for a while before going gear shopping and to get some food before heading home. I have a pulled ligament in my arm and the climb on Tryfan had awakened it. onsequently climbing was painful. We did however do a couple of routes.