I had always planned to return to Snowdonia but due to the Welsh governments strict lock down guidelines I was unable to, that was until I read that the guidelines were to ease as of Monday 6th July which was when I set about planning this walk. My intentions on my return were to climb Tryfan and this is still true but my attention was diverted towards Glyder Fawr and Glyder Fach more commonly known as 'The Glyders' with each summit only being separated by less than a mile which has great appeal.

Most of the walkers I bumped into today had either ascended via the Devil's Kitchen or Bwlch Tryfan below Tryfans far south peak which are both great ascents but I wanted something different, more exhilarating so I chose to ascend via the Y Gribin ridge which starts from the shores of Llyn Bochlwyd via a grassy ridge which forms a sharp rock arete below the summit of Bwlch y Ddwy-Glyder, a ridge that takes you totally by surprise no matter how extensive my research were instead of claiming the Glyders as the highlight of the walk Y Gribin won hands down.

With lock down measures eased I expected to find the car park at Ogwen Cottage bursting at the seams but it wasn't the case when I arrived around 7.20am with less than ten cars occupying the two car parks. I knew I wasn't in for a blue sky day, it felt more like Autumn rather than mid July with low cloud clinging to Tryfan's north ridge, surrounding peaks were also below cloud which I wasn't too phased about as it was forecast to lift by mid morning. My plan was to set of by 07:50am which gave me plenty of time to have a wonder down to the Llyn Ogwen boat house on the opposite side of the A5. It was here I stumbled across a young photographer who had set up a tripod and 'mornings' were shared "I've only enough battery left to take one or two more pictures" he explained, just when thing's where starting to get interesting I replied.

By 7:40 I was back at my car where I started to kit up adding my Montane soft shell if only to take the morning nip from the air. Last night while filling the car with fuel I asked the attendant to change a ten pound note for pound coins so I'd have enough change for the parking meter but on attempting to pay a sign had been put up explaining 'card payments only' blimey good job I had my wallet with me. Before I left I made use of the toilets to have a quick pee and took note of the social distancing rules which included only two people allowed in the toilets at the same time before returning to my car for a 'pat down' yep, got everything...hang on why do I need another pee! that'll be the nerves but not 'nervous nerves' good vibe nerves so I obliged my bladder again.

The path alongside Nant Bochlwyd falls was as reminiscent of any path found in Great Langdale with blocks of stone pitched perfectly into the path. Soon I arrived at Llyn Bochlwyd and the question I had been asking myself during my early ascent was answered, Glyder Fach summit was indeed below cloud and Y Gribin arete (far right) was immersed in thick swirling mist but I keep faith in the ever changing conditions as well as the forecast.

I followed the path over the grassy plateau from which three climbers emerged from the rock buttresses during which time it had started to drizzle, its timings couldn't of come at a worse time but thankfully nothing more came of it. I studied the ridge with content, this is what you can't see on Google Earth I thought; my confidence growing which each step closer.

I scanned the ridge like something from the Terminator movie making sure I'd covered every inch of path and rock from base to summit, one path seamlesley came to an abrupt stop where scrambling upward onto the arete was the only way forward - this was where I would let my hands and feet do the work.

The path split again where I had the option to steer below the ridge or scramble above it, I studied my route from below taking into account that if I had a leg wobble I'd be able to make my way back down. The route up was good to go, and for the very part, enjoyable although I tried not to peer too far over to my left where a 800ft vertical drop plumited below.

If anyone ever needed a longer, perhaps more exposed version of Sharp Edge then Cneifion Arête is it.

By the time I was descending alongside Nant Bochlwyd falls my body started to feel like I'd given it a real workout with rugged ground underfoot for much of the way my legs were feeling like I'd walked twice as many miles. The ground levelled as the midday sun dried the sweat across my forehead while I randomly kick my aching feet into the backs of my boots. I soon joined the main foot path for Llyn Idwal and with it I start to pass the masses most of whom were tourists out for a stroll. Before I pass Nant Idwal via the wooden bridge I'm passed by a group of fell runners before I stop to look back on Glyder Fach which by now is partially hidden by high ground known as Gribin Facet.

Ogwen Visitor Centre is descended upon and next to it I can see that the ice cream stall is open which explains why everyone is eating ice cream except for me that is. I'd saved one sandwich and a chocolate bar for one of my favourite places in the Ogwen Valley, right next to the Boat House where I sat down, backed off my laces and finished off lunch under the gaze of Tryfan, a mountain that had featured so heavily in todays walk but was sadly a mountain too far.