Mini Peris horseshoe

Peaks: Y Garn (3107ft/947m), Glyder Fawr (3278ft/999m), Crib Goch (3028ft/923m), Garnedd Ugain (3494ft/1065m)
Area: Glyderau/Snowdon, Eryri
A good training day yesterday with Neil: doing a semi-reccie of the Peris horseshoe, with the added twist of Crib Goch attached. We started from Nant Peris in quite heavy rain, up the unrelenting and very boggy climb up Cwm Gafr to crest the ridge in bad conditions (cold, wet) and Bwlch y Cywion. Then a mix of running and walking to gain the summit of Y Garn in 50 mins from the car. Down to Llyn y Cwn and up Glyder Fawr in atrocious conditions which cleared briefly near the summit (90 mins). Then the critical section down to Pen y Pass in hail showers, looking for the quickest race route (2hrs+). After a quick break in the cafe, we ran up to Bwlch y Moch, then scrambled up the east ridge in improving conditions before enjoying a fine (dry!) traverse of Crib Goch in classic (Fohn?) conditions: mist shrouding Cwm Glas as we negotiated the pinnacles, but clear views to the south. A rapid jog/scramble up Crib y Ddisgyl in more rain gained the summit of Garnedd Ugain in mist. Good running down to Clogwyn station then dropped into a very wet Cwm Hetiau and back to Nant Peris (4:30) and Pete's Eats. An excellent and unusual circuit.