Читать книгу Ridges of Snowdonia. The best ridge walking онлайн
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Rock climbing takes a back seat. There are many little cliffs dotted about the southern slopes – pleasantly secluded places for sunny afternoons – but nothing of real significance. The few big cliffs are tucked close under the north faces, secure in their shadows yet unbelittled by the vastness of their setting. Craig yr Ysfa, on the Cwm Eigiau shoulder of Carnedd Llewelyn, is the best of them. There are many hard routes here, up the vertical Amphitheatre Walls so well seen from the ridge path above, but also a splendid easy one – Amphitheatre Buttress – on the opposing flank. An early start in full sunshine on this climb out of Cwm Eigiau can be an exhilarating way to begin a walk over the summits.
The north-west ridge of Pen yr Helgi Du from Bwlch Eryl Farchog
Winter transforms the Carneddau into a bleak and hostile wasteland. North winds blow unceasingly over the ridge crests during bad weather, so that a seemingly innocent walk becomes a struggle against time and tiredness. Fresh snow piles deep in intervening hollows, trebling approach times to the gaunt cliffs of Black Ladders and Craig yr Ysfa, now seamed with ice falls and snow gullies. A waiting game begins. Then, after the storm, when the winds have blown the ridges clear of powder, the Carneddau will offer uncomplicated winter traverses across miles of glistening uplands.