A Quiet Day in the Pass

It had rained heavily in North Wales during Friday night, but we woke up to a reasonably bright morning. Dave and I looked up and down the Llanberis Pass, trying to guess where the best weather would be, and in the end decided to stay put. There seemed to be no one else around which gave us the opportunity to take our time and enjoy the day on the great classics.

The clouds were grey and sometimes heavy, but occasionally the wind picked up and the sun came out. We warmed up on Wrinkle. It was slightly damp at the top requiring Dave to take a little diversion, and as we topped out and looked up the valley we saw a wall of rain coming towards us. We thought that was going to end our climbing in the valley, but we seemed to stay right on the edge of it, the rain settling mostly over Ynys, and only giving us a slight soaking.

I told Dave that his clothes were too camouflaged, so we tried to use Ynys Ettws as a contrast!

By the time we’d descended, the sun was out again and the rock was dry, so we headed across to Crackstone Rib. There was another team already on it – the only other climbers in the valley that we could see – so we had our lunch in the sun while they finished the first pitch.

Dave easily managed the traverse and as he stepped around the arret the heavens opened again. This was very heavy rain, but Dave simply put an extra bit of protection in and continued up. The team in front had a little trouble on the top wet and slippery pitch, but by the time I got there the rain had stopped, the wind had picked up and the rock was dry again.

Dave easily tackles the traverse of Crackstone Rib

When we descended back to our packs, there was another team just starting Crackstone Rib – perhaps only the third climbing team in the valley that day.

We finished the day by walking up the Pass to take on the classic Flying Buttress, where we met another climbing team just descending. I’ve never seen the Pass so quiet, apart from when it really is lashing it down.

Flying Buttress is super polished, but still a fantastic route. Dave guaranteed it wouldn’t rain by wearing his waterproof. The awkward start of the final chimney pitch is indeed very awkward, requiring either great skill, or great thrutching technique – you can guess which we used!

We’d had a fantastic day of climbing the great classics of the Pass. The day was ended in style – hot shower at Ynys and a wonderful meal at the Vaynol Arms. :yum: :yum: