Twll Du (Devils Kitchen) routes

majithiabeet · Joined: 12 May 2008 Posts: 1

I wonder if anyone can help me with a problem. I have been trying to find infomation on the Devils kitchen regarding routes through it or diagrames of it in books and on the internet but it seems to be a little sparse!
Having tries to climb through it last weekend we came to a halt at a large chock stone about half way up. This stands about 15-20 feet in height and is coverd in flowing water. The walls are wet and slippery/slimy from the water and there are no visible holds! On the far left there is a sling with a carabiner attached hanging that looks like its been there for a while but it doesnt give any clues to how this obstacle is overcome.
Any ideas folks??

milktrayguy · Joined: 17 Jul 2007 Posts: 9

Well never had anything more than a brief explore up there (and that not in a long time) but going by the description in 'Scrambles in Snowdonia' it sounds like you reached the Waterfall Pitch. According to that your options are to turn back (!), a 3m struggle up the left side of the boulder (where the sling was possibly), an exit behind the boulder where the water flows in dryer weather or a 6m climb up the right corner. Soon after that it becomes rock climbing territory. Personally the constantly dank and slimy conditions and lack of decent options would put me right off considering anything more than the aforementioned explore!

Touching Centauri · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 91 Location: Bangor/St Helens

The tat by the boulder will most likely have been left by a group abseiling back down.

There is no 'through' route for scramblers. The exit is a Very Difficult climb, but a grade is probably quite meaningless considering the wet and slimy nature of the rock.

http://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/c.php?i=85477
http://www.ukclimbing.com/images/dbpage.html?id=68363
http://www.ukclimbing.com/images/dbpage.html?id=68391

nikinko · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 44

I've never climbed or scrambled in there. Had a wee peek back in a very wet July on a walk and couldn't see the need to get into it for the sole purpose of getting wet slimy and frustrated trying to climb out!