Amphitheatre buttress, Craig yr Ysfa Sunday 13/12/09

[Rick Riding]

300m - Grade V Diff
Weather was -1 degrees in the Valley. Low cloud but dry.
Approach - from Cwm Eigiau 1 - 1.5 hrs

Derek, Will., Mark Davies and Rick

Up and away by 6.30am, it was always going to be a biggish day, but events conspired to make it even longer, with our early start rubbed out by a patch of ice.

The day didn't start well with Marks car sliding backwards down a very iced up single track road and ending up in a ditch. About 1 hour later and with the help of another 5 delayed walkers, we managed to manhandle the car back on the road and get to the road head.

An easy flattish walk in brought us to the base of the buttress and the fun began. Though cold the rock was dry and the climbing of the highest quality. The kind of ground which is hard enough to be interesting, well protected and of a consistent grade. I haven't enjoyed a climb quite as much for a long time. Never too committing but long enough and absorbing enough to hold your attention for the best part of 4 hours.

Will got straight in there and swung the leads with Derek, impressive considering its only his 2nd multipitch route and conditions where such you could easily add a grade or two to the guide book V Diff its given. By the top pitch we were climbing through Hore frost covered rock with gloves on, big boots and sacks, quite an initiation for a relative novice on the big routes.

I would defiantly recommend the route for those looking for a quality mountain day on an easy but long route.