while up on the Glyders at the weekend, we considered a route down along Y Gribin. From all the books I've got it's a recognised path and its's shown on the OS 1:25k. However, despite being on the mark (according to my tracklog) we couldn't work out how to get down onto the ridge. There didn't seem to be an obvious start point other than a direct down-climb and then hoping to finds something below. For a marked path this didn't seem right.
Anyone done it and got any advice ready for next time?
"Darren G" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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while up on the Glyders at the weekend, we considered a route down along Y Gribin. From all the books I've got it's a recognised path and its's shown on the OS 1:25k. However, despite being on the mark (according to my tracklog) we couldn't work out how to get down onto the ridge. There didn't seem to be an obvious start point other than a direct down-climb and then hoping to finds something below. For a marked path this didn't seem right.
I've climbed Y Gribin a few times, but never descended it. Last time I climbed it was in September, so hopefully the memory is reasonably fresh.
The route is not at all obvious for about 50m (vertical) from the top, after that, you will find it easily (you know when you are at the point as it is the flattish part at the bottom of the first descent (way before the lake). To get there, I suggest finding the furthest cairn and then just throwing yourself (not literally) over the top and scramble down. It is not as hard getting up as it looks (I have done it with a 20kg pack), so I guess you can get down without too much drama.
In short, it looks worse than it is. I find it easier in poor weather as you can't see how far it is down either side of you.
while up on the Glyders at the weekend, we considered a route down along Y Gribin. From all the books I've got it's a recognised path and its's shown on the OS 1:25k. However, despite being on the mark (according to my tracklog) we couldn't work out how to get down onto the ridge. There didn't seem to be an obvious start point other than a direct down-climb and then hoping to finds something below. For a marked path this didn't seem right.
Anyone done it and got any advice ready for next time?
I've been up it, down it and indeed camped on it a couple of times but not for a few years now. Going up would be easier to find your way for a first visit. A cairn used to mark the point where it comes out on to the Glyder plateau. There are rocky bits you can scramble on and peer down a large drop or take an easier parallel route a bit lower down. I think the top bit of the easier version gets steep rough and loose towards the top though so probably does look a bit iffy from above. I remember the first time we descended it we tried to go straight down over the steeper rocks down at the bottom end (marked Gribin Facet on the map think) which wasn't a good idea. You ought to head off to the left or right before that. I expect the path shown on the map goes the right way.
In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...
Quoted message said:
"Darren G" <[email hidden]> wrote
Quoted message said:
while up on the Glyders at the weekend, we considered a route down along Y Gribin. From all the books I've got it's a recognised path and its's shown on the OS 1:25k. However, despite being on the mark (according to my tracklog) we couldn't work out how to get down onto the ridge. There didn't seem to be an obvious start point other than a direct down-climb and then hoping to finds something below. For a marked path this didn't seem right.
Anyone done it and got any advice ready for next time?
I've been up it, down it and indeed camped on it a couple of times but not for a few years now. Going up would be easier to find your way for a first visit. A cairn used to mark the point where it comes out on to the Glyder plateau. There are rocky bits you can scramble on and peer down a large drop or take an easier parallel route a bit lower down. I think the top bit of the easier version gets steep rough and loose towards the top though so probably does look a bit iffy from above. I remember the first time we descended it we tried to go straight down over the steeper rocks down at the bottom end (marked Gribin Facet on the map think) which wasn't a good idea. You ought to head off to the left or right before that. I expect the path shown on the map goes the right way.
Thanks. Will try it as a route up onto the glyders next time I'm in the area.
