Had a fantastic day today, didn’t expect to go out, and only on Friday evening was the excursion planned by SMS whilst attending my little Sister’s wedding reception.

I arrived at Smith HQ for 07:00 as instructed but our departure was delayed until 08:00. We arrived at PYP at approximately 10:30 after a swift dunny stop in Llangollen. On arrival we were somewhat lucky to get onto the car park, which was swarming with 3 Peakers.

Todays excursion was slightly exploratory, insofar as that I wanted my first encounter with Crib Goch not to be on my attempt to traverse the 3Ks on July 9th. Unfortunately I will still meet Tryfan for the first time, although I am assured that I am descending an insanely steep scree path rather than it’s North Ridge.

I also wanted to test out my right hand which I had sprained about 10 days previous – injury sufficient to exclaim “I’m incapacitated” whenever any of my colleagues requested a cup of tea at work throughout the interim period!!!!

We set off from PYP up the Pyg Track, which I had ascended in November. We ascended rapidly to Bwlch y Moch where I had previously turned from Crib Goch and dawdled up the Pyg Track. I have to say though that the reasonance behind that was not so much that I didn’t want to go up Crib Goch, but more to do with the amount of crap that I was carrying that day, and the new winter boots. Believe it or not I was 12 stone at that time, and eight months on I am exactly 10 stone, and flying in comparison!

At Bwlch y Moch we turned right, bearing up towards Crib Goch. Arriving at the foot of the East Ridge we bore right to avoid being showered in scree, and scrambled up scree slopes onto the ridge further West.

I was aware that if my wrist played up on the first move, then I would have to turn again, and take to the Pyg. It was with some relief (and after copious amounts of Ibuprofen) that one incurred no pain on this move, or during the remainder of the scramble for that matter.

I seem to enjoy scrambling more each time I go, and particularly since my visit to Stanage in May.

The scrambling on Crib Goch is easy all the way, and I suppose the first ‘difficult’ move as such is the initial step up onto Crib y Ddysgl. I think the crux of the scramble is the exposure rather than technicality, and being in the cloud exposure simply didnt come into the equation today.

I particularly enjoyed the scramble, the holds are solid and obvious all the way. I could describe the traverse in just 3 words – better than sex.

Having arrived at Crib y Ddysgl we descended to Bwlch Glas, and then nipped up to the cafe for a cup of tea. I preferred Snowdon in November when the cafe and train were shut, and there were less people about, and the descent along the Pyg Track was little better than the summit with scores of 3 peakers and fell runners. But it didn’t take the shine off traversing Crib Goch.

Weather:Warm, Heavy Cloud
Accompanied by:Team Smith
Distance:6 miles
Ascent:700m
Total Time:Not timed