Bouldering in North Wales has lead me to some truly unsettling places. I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of the Orion Boulder in Dyffryn Ogwen. I’ve watched C-beams glitter in the darkness near the dam road boulders above Tan y Grisiau. And I have oft gazed up at the hillside above Nant Peris, whilst enjoying a post climbing pint in the Vaynol, and wondered what lay undiscovered on those little travelled slopes. Time indeed for Big G to cast his net towards the horizon of possibility once again; take it away George:

Dear BotM followers,

So shrouded in mystery is the ‘Great Blade Of Clogwyn Llwyd’ (gr 602 578) that one hardly dares to mention it. Once it has been seen catching the early morning light in its lofty position high above Nant Peris, its lure becomes unbearable.

An ascent of the steep hillside left of the rocky ridge brings one up past a wall and into a stream line. As the deeper gully forms one can break out rightwards across a steep ramp of bilberry. (Incidentally for those who are not familiar with such exploits, this is mountaineering. An activity to be found at the arse end of the climbing spectrum - often pursued by people with camel packs and fleece gilets.)

Any notion that this rock was placed by the hand of a past god or giant have been largely discredited by geologists - but you have to wonder. It is said that on midsummer day as the sun rises over Glyder Fawr, its first rays fall directly upon the blade, affecting for life all those who see it.

Now - more importantly - it is in the month of April that the cool mountain air offers the chance of sufficient friction for the arete to be held and perhaps successfully climbed - Are you to be the ‘Blade Runner’?

Regards,

Big G