We left boys, we returned Heros!

Red Smoke marks the spot.

Having already drytooled and scrambled on my previous days off it was time for a bit of mountain craggin'. So followed another blast up into Cwm Idwal but this time eyes were on Central Arete (VD)which "goes well in big boots". With the choice of a scree shoot accent or a classic route on the slabs as an approach to Central Arete the decision was not difficult . Tristan and I quickly began soloing up Red Slab(D). Not the best route in the area but an awesome solo never being desperate and always being dry, after a scrappy start a really nice red slabby section appears, unsurprisingly. The route tops out about 400 or so meters from the bottom of Central Arete.
After a quick snack break it was on to the meat of the climbing day, Central Arete. Still in solo mode we lashed up the first pitch however being higher, the rock becoming ever looser and with a description of "delicate climbing:the holds feel small but they keep on coming" ahead of us it was time to rack up. 45m and a load of tat later Tristan and I were standing with the whole of the Cwm below us fantastic exposure for a VD. My pitch was next and it took in some awesome pinnacles though loose rock dictated very little in the way of mentionable gear....although I did run out of slings about 3/4 of the way, thankfully the tat crag swag was on hand to save the day! After cobbling together a belay out of some slings I had left in my bag "because we didn't need them" I noticed a man hanging around on a ledge for quite some time. After Tristan's arrival and a snack break I noticed the man was still there. Once Tristan had left the belay I gave him a quick wave to be met with "I have been scrambling I'M STUCK!".
Some spicy next to river down climbing later we were at the base of the crag to see Mountain Rescue coming up the scree toward the man. Luckily I was on hand to point the man in a bright orange jacket out otherwise they would have never seen him! Tristan and I hung around to watch the rescue and feel the immense down draft chill from the "Yellow Taxi". Before it got dark we boosted back to the car. A great way to end a fantastic week of being in and around the mountains.