Although we are all desperate for a bit of snow in the hills you've got to make the most of what you've got - and you can always have an adventure - and today was perfect for a bit of scrambling. Mac was keen to try something harder so we headed for Clogwyn Y Person Arete on Crib y Ddysgl. A steep grade 3 it has some good tricky moves and some good exposure and set amidst the impressive scenery of Cwm Glas. It also ties in nicely with a traverse across Crib Goch, for a full d

Winter climbing on Snowdon

Winter hillwalking skills in Snowdonia

Winter skills and climbing in Snowdonia

Winter mountaineering in Snowdonia

Guided day around the Snowdon Horseshoe

Scrambling for beginners course in Snowdonia

Today I was joined by a super keen family for their daughters first go at outdoor climbing. We went to the lovely Tryfan Bach crag, in the shadow of the larger Tryfan it has some great lower grade climbing and is set amongst the impressive Ogwen Valley. Both girls did an amazing job and managed loads of climbing and some abseiling - hopefully they're hooked! #RockClimbing #Tryfan #Ogwen #Snowdonia #Family

Today I was out with 5 gents for their first trip along Crib Goch. To get ahead of the crowds and get a parking space we went for an early start, although even at 6am the car park at Pen Y Pass was nearly full. The hills were shrouded in mist but the forecast was promising. The ascent of the East Ridge gave us no views but at east it was dry with good scrambling conditions. At the top we took a break, the clouds threatening to break. Soon they did, revealing a a fantastic vis

Advanced scrambling skills - ropes and climbing gear.

2 day Mountain Skills course covering the skills required to get about the UK mountains

Scrambling in Snowdonia - Tryfan and Cneifion Arete

Week in the Snowdonia mountains

Last weekend I was running a Mountain Training Mountain Skills course, a 2 day course covering all the basics to get you out enjoying more c

Advanced scrambling weekend with Bremex Mountaineering Club

Sun was shining for my day out with Mike, working for Seren Ventures. He wanted to have a go at multi pitch climbing and no better venue to have your first day than Idwal Slabs in the Ogwen Valley. The slabs offer some excellent lower grade routes and several can be linked together. We started on Tennis Shoe, graded Hard Severe. This is one of the harder climbs on the main slabs and has 4 -5 pitches of brilliant climbing with an exhilarating finish. After that we climbed Laza

I was out with fellow Munro Compleater (all the Scottish mountains over 3000 feet) Humphrey today for a traverse of the classic grade 1 scramble, Crib Goch. The route is actually 2 scrambles and starts with the steep and often exposed East Ridge of Crib Goch before continuing along the ridge to Crib y Ddysgl. This is a route on nearly every aspiring scramblers to do list and is rightly popular. It should, however, not be underestimated. It is in places extremely exposed and t

The last few weeks I've been fortunate enough to introduce a few people to scrambling and no better place to give it a go for the first time than the Ogwen Valley. So here is a brief round up of 3 excellent Grade 1 scrambles to cut your teeth on. Y Gribin Ridge The upper part of the ridge that divides Glyder Fawr and Glyder Fach provides an excellent and easy to find and follow scramble. Best tackled right along it's crest. There are numerous worn paths on it's western flank

Last week I had the pleasure of 4 days rock climbing with Sharna. We started last Sunday - in the rain so we opted for some 'big boot' mountain routes, kicking off with a mix of Rowan Route and Milestone Buttress scramble. Although a bit wet and slippery the routes have plentiful big holds and are well protected. At the top the rain had stopped and we made our way round to the East Face of Tryfan via the Heather Terrace. Our next route was a lovely Difficult graded climb call

Back out with Rebecca and Chris yesterday, week 3 of their Tim Harrop Mountain Activities Mountain Month. We were after some climbing and with a pretty poor forecast we opted for a 'Big Boots' mountain day. Rebecca wanted to do Clogwyn Y Person Arete on the Snowdon massive, so we decided that would be our goal of the day. It's a grade 3 scramble that rises out of Cwm Glas and finishes on Crib y Ddysgl - the ridge that links up with Crib Goch. It's a pretty serious scramble wi