Andy Howell said:I found that this route was - seemingly - not accessible
from the quarry which meant a rather steep and tedious
climb up from the track that runs from Bethesda to Ogwen.
I can't see an easier alternative at the moment. Is this
route now not available or am I missing something?
I last did a linear route of this sort around six months ago
and don't recall any particular problems. The quarry road we
used runs from near Ogwen Bank (SH 626 654), where there is
limited parking on the A5, and allows you to veer off left
at a suitable point (SH 623 646 approx? I could be wrong on
this.) to pick up the steep ridge leading to Carnedd y
Filiast. The quarry road is marked clearly on a recent
1:50,000 map but not on my more battered 1:25,000 OL map.
As I recall it the point of departure from the quarry road
was cairned and the upwards route fairly obvious (signs of
previous passage), if a bit messy in places. Once on the
ridge there isn't much chance of losing the way. In descent
I recall it being straightforward.
As the quarry road is not marked as a right of way, and
since the quarry is active, I'm not sure about using it
during the week. Maybe someone else knows more?
Having done the traverse in both directions I have to say I
prefer starting at Capel Curig, mainly because some of the
very soggy ground you are liable to find at the Capel end is
tempered by the prospect of better going over the main parts
of the Glyders.
--
Pete Bland
