Tryfan & Glyder Fawr, Ogwen Valley, Gwynedd, Wales

It may seem level in this scene, but steep gradients have to be ascended before you get to the field-like saddle between the Glyder Fawr and Y Garn. From the north, the exposure of the Devil's Kitchen path needs negotiating but the grassier slopes up from Gwastadnant are a tough climb too as I was to find on the last Sunday in July 2004. An otherwise grey month had me gagging for an outing and the sun stayed in its station to ensure well lit surroundings whenever cloud got out of the way. Ironically given the mention of Glyder Fawr, it is the rocky head of Tryfan that sits very proud with a rocky crag echo its much larger counterpart. The way down to Cwm Idwal was ahead of me, but steady progress on occasionally unsteady limbs was punctuated by stops to take in any pleasing vistas that lay before me. Patience and courage were very much in evidence on that descent, and it helped that I had ascended that way on a previous walk in the area.