Cyfrwy Arete

A fun alpine scramble on mostly solid rock with even a few spots of heady exposure. A good consolation prize if the rest of the crag is too wet for harder climbing.

Pick your approach of choice; when the grass yields to steep rock, ascend easily in a right-facing corner (4th) or the adjacent arete for more difficulty (easy 5th). Top out on The Table if you wish (steep downclimb required) or detour around it to the East on grassy ledges. Scramble a few meters down the west side of the notch separating The Table from the Arete, then ascend the intimidating face on its less-steep left side. This section is probably the technical and mental crux, with ~20 m of 5.2ish climbing and heaps of air beneath your feet. The frightful or inexperienced may appreciate a belay here. From the ledgey area above this, make a leftward traverse across the next steep face until you can pull over it easily. Find your way to a right-facing corner and ascend another steepish but less-exposed face for 10 m, topping out carefully on loose blocks. From here pick your way along the exposed ridge carefully, navigating shorter steep steps as you will.

The route makes up the left skyline as you approach the crag. Reach it by climbing Table Direct, or continue past this route to ascend a grassy, scree-filled gully above the lake. Follow the obvious climber's trail (this is the walk-off descent for the routes on the left side of the crag) until it peters out among steep grass and a right-facing corner.

I soloed this in hiking boots with a heavy backpack, but my girlfriend opted to wear climbing shoes. Approach shoes, a short rope and a light rack should suffice for anyone.