One last route for 2019, an atmospheric New Year’s Eve ascent of Amphitheatre Buttress with Ross. I'd walked in twice to do this route but never made it to the foot of the ridgeline. A superb climb and amazing value for a VDiff, especially in the damp polish.
Day 2 out with Joe, and this time a big mountain ridgeline on the east face of Tryfan. We helped haul the couple behind us up the “infamous yellow slab”. Not bad for 73 years old!
Unable to rope any of my friends into climbing in the blustery cold conditions, I decided it was a great chance to get out climbing with my cousin Joe again. We hiked up to Dinas Cromlech for a quick hit on the two classic rock VDiffs. I'd never climbed them before, but Flying Buttress in particular was an excellent route that I'd happily come back to and solo again.
Wild winds and clear skies on Snowdon at the start of our MDES New Year's trip. We joined Crib Goch at the halfway col (scene of a historic igloo construction) and finished up to the summit, with everyone still standing.
I took advantage of a lift towards Aineck with Erinna and her parents and went for a small solo tour up to the top of the ski resort. Naturally, I didn't bother to read the closure warnings on the path, resulting in a long sequence of carries over the Autumn's avalanche and flood damage. The reward was a tour undertaken in complete solitude until the very top.
First tour of the season, and Martin and I aimed for the Vorderer Geißlkopf. I wasn't feeling so fit though, and combined with the later start we finished at the Hagener Hütte before the hard, icy ski down back to Sport Gastein.
