Tryfan scramble

Peak: Tryfan
Routes: V Buttress (M:sol), Notch Arete (M:led p.1+3), Zig Zag (M:sol)
My old friend and climbing partner Tim was back from NZ for his first visit in five years. A special occasion but time was tight meaning that we weren't able to start until well after 3pm, which is hardly ideal for a mountain day in October! Relaxed scrambling was the order of the day, in rather cool weather with high, milky cloud. I suggested a route up the west face of Tryfan and repeated the scramble that I'd taken John up a couple of years ago. A slog to the base of V Buttress, which is a pleasant if rather brief scramble. We roped up for an exposed section at the top, then slogged over to the delightful Notch Arete which we pitched. This is a lovely route on the border of scrambling and climbing, on magnificent rock, and allows for full relaxation and chat. Then it was up the North Ridge, nostalgic for expat Tim, and down via the Heather Terrace and a final route up the right-hand side of Tryfan Bach. Nostalgia was the order of the day, as we'd paired up many times to cut our teeth on Tryfan in the late 80s and early 90s.