Cwm Silyn - Craig Fawr Rib

The first day of Autumn today and the first time we've seen rain in a while! Climbed up in Cwm Silyn today. There is a 'two star' Grade 3 scramble that I'd not done on a buttress called Craig Fawr. We've climbed on the neighbouring Craig yr Ogof plenty of times, but never really paid attention to the 'cliffs around the corner'. 

That's probably because getting to the 'cliffs around the corner' involves a hellish battle through steep heather, ferns and bogs. In fact, having just been there, I'm not sure that anyone has ever visited the 'crags around the corner' since the guidebook was written back in 1982... At least the route description did actually match up with the ground eventually, proving that we weren't new routing!

Cwm Silyn - Craig Fawr is the left hand buttress 

It took a staggering 1hour 50mins to get to the bottom of the route (including a few food stops, and a few discussions about whether to abort or continue). By the time we'd reached the base of the buttress, neither of us fancied re-tracing our steps, so the quickest way out, seemed to be to climb the route! By now, the clouds had rolled in and there was a drop or two of rain in the air, which did at least increase the speed of the ascent, as neither of us fancied climbing in the rain.

We soloed at first, then pitched, then moved together, and were at the top in a mere 28 minutes, and before the weather had really turned. 

Finally on the rib...

It was actually an ok climb, but the approach probably doesn't make it feel worth the effort - (unless you like that heather bashing sort of thing). From the top, it's a steady walk around the rim of the cwm, and back down easy(ish) grassy slopes to meet the track that we'd walked in on. The drizzly rain had set in by now, but luckily we were safely back in the car before it really kicked off. Currently very happy to be fire side at The Cottage as the rain continues to pour down...

On top, just as the cloud rolls in!