Here’s Kirsty on her first multipitch climb: Overlapping Rib Route on Tryfan.
A classic, full day, 150m mountain multipitch at VDiff (though the precise line we took was probably about Diff) with a scrambly walk in and walk out probably at scrambling grade 1?
Kirsty started teaching herself trad climbing before she came to the Clan, but after passing on skills to other people at our Wednesday night indoor sessions, she realised she needed some guidance.
1.5 years ago, we spent a number of sessions helping her learn to lead simple, easy single pitch read and then we’ve just stood back and watched her progress.
Recently I discovered she’d never done a multipitch climb, and since easy Welsh multpitches are my absolute favourite climbing, I selflessly offered to “show her the ropes”.
After spotting some familiar faces on the walk in we dodged the queues and headed up this delightfully well protected route – Kirsty getting progressively more entertained by my increasingly nap-enabled (and safe) belay stations.
Then we swung leads and Kirsty lead up, perplexed by answer to “which way” as “up – whatever you think looks most appealing”. I’m told single pitch guides are slightly more prescriptive
Eventually we arrived at Yellow Slab, assessed the polish and sought volunteers to lead it. As there were no volunteers, we bypassed it on the far right, and Kirsty lead the final pitch of giggles to the base of Thompson’s Chimney. We untied, and walked up to join the scramblers and hikers at the summit, before descending the easy route to the col, and back underneath the terrace to the road.
A fantastic day, great laughs, good learning and unrealistic weather!ª
Originally posted on this post on Instagram
