Tryfan's North Ridge: The Most Dangerous Section

Рет қаралды 13,833

8 ай бұрын

First time on Tryfan's North Ridge? Here's my writeup, including a map and route description: thebaldscrambler.co.uk/snowdo...
Watch me tackle the notorious North Tower on Tryfan's North Ridge scramble. Here I explore the main direct route and a side gully.
The North Tower is an accident hotspot as it's steep, and occasionally, those that bailout get lost on the way back down Tryfan's North Ridge as much of the terrain off-route is dangerous and requires rope.
This video isn't instructional but contains information about the main hazards, and I've included plenty of footage so you can see what the terrain looks like.
Watch related videos:
North Ridge of Tryfan: • How to Climb Up The No...
South Ridge of Tryfan: • The Easiest Route Up T...
This route is in the book; Scrambles in Snowdonia by Steve Ashton. Buy on Amazon: amzn.to/3QQAWNb
Filmed on my GoPro 11: amzn.to/3OBb594
I use a DJI Mini 3 Pro drone: amzn.to/3R2CiVd
I'm wearing La Sportiva TX4 footwear: amzn.to/47vJ6QK
My bag is an Osprey Mutant 38: amzn.to/45ztZ73
I'm wearing a Black Diamond Half Dome helmet: amzn.to/45wJo8c
thebaldscrambler.co.uk/
/ @thebaldscrambler
Disclosure:
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from purchases made via links on KZfaq and my website.
Disclaimer:
I am not a mountain guide, just an individual with an interest in scrambling and hiking routes. If you try this route, you do so at your own risk; scrambling is a dangerous sport and this video does not contain step-by-step instructions.

Пікірлер: 40

@thebaldscrambler 8 ай бұрын

Just to add: The gully is steep in the mid and lower sections and shouldn't be attempted unless you have rope, it's not a viable escape route for most people. Take extra care if doing the NR in reverse or backtracking as it's easy to go too far down that gully by mistake.

@jeffbrumby3442 Ай бұрын

The lack of NT footage has always been a problem. This is probably the best NT footage I've seen, well done!

@thebaldscrambler Ай бұрын

Thank you, I've seen a few people struggle at the NT so I thought a video would at least show folks what to expect should they attempt this route.

@robertgordon5150 8 ай бұрын

Really useful vid for first timers on Tryfan. Wish I’d seen this before my first attempt.

@thebaldscrambler 8 ай бұрын

Thank you. The first time I did Tryfan, I went all the way along the East Traverse Path by mistake, I didn't realise one could go up directly the North Tower or the gully on its side.

@charlesrobert9527 3 ай бұрын

Great advice and useful options detailed. I am sure many would find this a helpful video to watch.

@MrZlot Ай бұрын

Awesome video, very informative and super useful. I struggled with the Tower so kinda ended up half hitting it head on then climbing left and into the gully half way through. Love Tryfan, definitely going back

@shanefanon 3 ай бұрын

Probably never going to make this hike in the UK but thank you so much for this excellent video presenting me what options are available to keep this a safer and simpler hike.

@ohforfxcksake Ай бұрын

Great video, i spent 8 hours on that beautiful mountain trying the north face. I couldn't get the route right and had to climb down three times, after that my bottle went and i called it a day. I'll give it another go one day

@stigfloberghagenphotography 4 ай бұрын

Great video and views. Cheers from Norway 🙂👍

@AlexanderBratt 8 ай бұрын

amazing video!

@thebaldscrambler 8 ай бұрын

Thanks!

@specialblorb 2 ай бұрын

Nice video explaining. I went up on Sunday in poor visibility. Tried the direct first as I'd previously done that gully. I found it hard to pick a good line so backtracked then took the gully again. I had forgot how precarious that rock at the top looks. There's only a few inches of support on the left but it doesn't seem to have moved all these years!

@thebaldscrambler 2 ай бұрын

Had 3 of us on that rock for a photo a few years ago so I think it should be okay for a few more years ;-). Hope you had a great day on one of my fav scrambles.

@davidpagett7978 3 ай бұрын

I would agree the direct route looks intimidating. In my opinion, it is less exposed than traversing. The gully. The scrambling on the final section is no more difficult than what you have already climbed . Hey steady head will get you safely to the top .

@Slademarkable 8 ай бұрын

Great video, in his book, The Welsh Peaks, Walter Poucher refered to the gully by-pass. I first went up the North Ridge, in my late teens - attempted the direct ascent and found the initial step too high, had I scouted around, would have probably found an "easier" line, I went via the upper section of Nor Nor Gully, that time and have always gone this way, since. I'd be interested in the continuation of the eastern traverse path, I think this will bring you out at Adam and Eve, though there are a couple of awkward steps, I've read about?? May be a good route for a future video...?

@thebaldscrambler 8 ай бұрын

Yes, there is a steep step further along the ETP, making it more difficult than the direct or gully routes. I haven't done that route for a while but it would make for an interesting vid.

@gretskycompton 8 ай бұрын

❤❤❤ thank you

@redalert2834 8 ай бұрын

Was that the top of the NOR NOR gully you used on your second route? Also, I thought the North Tower was that steep section ascending onto the North Peak. I agree there's a section lower down (the one you took on the first route) which is also steep, rocky and might be considered to be a tower of rock,

@thebaldscrambler 8 ай бұрын

Yes, the top of Nor Nor Gully on my second route. As far as I know this is the North Tower and from the Ogwen incident reports I've seen, is where lots of poeple get cold feet and turn back, often getting lost in the process. I believe the section you refer to is the North Summit/Peak - it's further up and close to the true summit. There is a scrambling video on KZfaq where a couple of guys scramble up the North Summit but refer to it as the North Tower. Also, the wikipedia entry for the North Tower is incorrect and appears to refer to the geography of the North Summit. The BMC correctly refers to the North Tower and how it can be tackled directly and also mentions and warns about the East Traverse Path - www.thebmc.co.uk/how-to-scramble-tryfans-north-ridge

@DannyDrakey 2 ай бұрын

Please do one of dextors gully and sinister gully great video

@dimsesneg 7 ай бұрын

Eaven in the good weather peapol still go in wrong direction.I witness that many times on Tryfan.Is small hill but can be werry dangerous in the bad weather

@composedlight6850 8 ай бұрын

This is what makes Tryfan the best mountian in the Snowdan range, for none climbers .

@thebaldscrambler 8 ай бұрын

Agreed, lovely section and route overall.

@don1estelle 2 ай бұрын

I walked up Tryfan from the A5 clockwise but couldn't climb the last bit because I'm to Short to clamber up the Huge square rocks my friend managed it where did I go wrong

@lessismore83009 8 ай бұрын

Excellent video, exactly where I got to!😂 personally I would find the gulley better due to less exposure. (Next attempt!) Also, what settings are you using for your drone? That moving footage is crystal clear.

@thebaldscrambler 8 ай бұрын

I think the biggest risk is doing the North Ridge in reverse and going too far down that gully by mistake, it's really steep down there. I was flying the drone manually and had the camera settings to auto at 30fps4K. I think the footage looks good because it was filmed near sunset when the light was soft :-).

@lessismore83009 8 ай бұрын

@@thebaldscrambler yeah, I will have another attempt next year! Be better if it's clagged in and I can't see too far😂 Great vid thanks

@TG-pd3ft 8 ай бұрын

The north tower has a strange sort of dirty polish all over it which - to me - makes it unpleasant. Best bet is to drop off the west side from the platform beneath and then come back up Notch Arete 😏

@thebaldscrambler 8 ай бұрын

Any excuse to get on NA ;-).

@chrisacorn2559 3 ай бұрын

Hey leave the Polish alone, they are nice clean people!!🤣😂🤣

@thebaldscrambler 3 ай бұрын

Your comment caused KZfaq to censor and remove the comment above. The words "dirty polish" were okay until you referred to "Polish" as "clean people" then it triggered the censor. Welcome to China folks. Comment whitelisted and approved. @@chrisacorn2559

@chrisacorn2559 3 ай бұрын

@@thebaldscramblerSorry, no offence intended, just thought it was a funny play on words!

@thebaldscrambler 3 ай бұрын

No offence taken, just surprised at YTs censorship. @@chrisacorn2559

@robmckinley5475 Ай бұрын

Looks to me like u went a bit to far left on the first ascent. I've done it many times and I'm sure I attack it at the front which tops out right on the top of the tower. I maybe wrong as it wasn't clear where u started

@thebaldscrambler Ай бұрын

Can go straight up the middle or a diagonal line starting slightly left and finishing slightly right of the top on the plateau, which at the time was handy place for landing a drone with wind warnings blaring out ;-), both lines are close to each other, grade 1 with lots of worn rock to follow etc. Purpose of the vid is to show the general direction, so folks don't get lost on the ETP or go back down NR and onto the steep Milestone area, seems to be an ongoing issue, leading to callouts.

@robmckinley5475 8 ай бұрын

U were off route on the north tower. U should tackle it head on, right at the front.