SCRAMBLING


BEST FOR: off the beaten track


SCRAMBLES IN SNOWDONIA £14.95


£13.45 BMC MEMBERS R High above Llyn Hywel.


SOUTH RIDGE VARIANT AKA HYWEL RIDGE,


T


RHINOG FACH GRADE: 3- Grade: 3-


he Rhinogs are the real wilds of Snowdonia and see a fraction of the visitors of Snowdon and the Glyders. The South Ridge of Rhinog Fach saw its first recorded ascent in 1935. At that time it was known as the Hywel Ridge and given


the now obsolete grade of Mild Difficult. Over the years, two short difficult sections were added and the route eventually became a rather contrived Severe rock climb. For us, the ridge is far better approached as a scramble: its exposure is limited and its difficulties are short-lived and always escapable. The scrambling line follows the spirit of the original ascent; a fine outing claimed in 1935 to be “the best mountaineering route between Snowdon and Cadair Idris on the N-S line”. The route climbs straight up from sparkling Llyn Hywel and gives expansive views of Cardigan Bay, the Llyn Peninsula and a tapestry of interlocking hills and mountains across a wide swathe of Snowdonia.


Scrambles in Snowdonia by Steve Ashton was a legendary guidebook which introduced modern scrambling grades. Now, 40 years after it was first written, Carl McKeating and Rachel Crolla have given it a long-overdue update. It features 80 of the best scrambles in the Snowdonia National Park, from the popular classics of Snowdon Horseshoe, North Ridge of Tryfan, Bristly Ridge, Cneifion Arête and Cyfrwy Arête, to a range of lesser-known outstanding scrambles. As well as new colour photo topos, OS mapping and new photographs, the guide also contains 16 newly selected mountain adventures.


Buy from www.bmcshop.co.uk


STAY SAFE:


SCRAMBLE SKILLS Scrambling covers the middle ground between walking and climbing. It’s essentially easy rock climbing, travelling through some stunning mountain scenery, but such terrain can be very serious and a full range of mountaineering skills can be called on, especially when outside of the summer season. Take time to understand the grading system and consider hiring a mountain instructor for your first adventures.


68 | CLIMB. WALK. JOIN.


HOW TO START SCRAMBLING


www.thebmc.co.uk/how-to-go-from-walking-to-scrambling


[Scrambling grades www.thebmc.co.uk/understanding-scrambling-grades


[Learn scrambling ropework on BMC TV tv.thebmc.co.uk/videos/?channel=scrambling


[Find an instructor www.mountain-training.org/associations/ami/find-an-instructor


Words: Carl McKeating and Rachel Crolla. Carl and Rachel live at the edge of the Yorkshire Dales and have hiked, scrambled and climbed all over Europe. Rachel was the first woman to climb to the highest point of every country in Europe in 2007, and in 2010 they both climbed all the routes in Classic Rock.


PHOTO: CROLLA & MCKEATING.


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