Siôn a Siân (Adam and Eve) – Capel Curig, Wales - Atlas Obscura

Siôn a Siân (Adam and Eve)

Capel Curig, Wales

Anyone bold enough to make the leap between these two stones is said to earn the "Freedom of Tryfan." 

2
0

In the world context, and even in Britain, Tryfan is not considered a particularly tall mountain. But the 15th-highest mountain in Wales (just over 3,000 feet), it is certainly one of the most popular. Part of the attraction is Siôn a Siân (Welsh for Adam and Eve). Located at the summit of Tryfan, these two large standing stones are large enough to be seen from the Ogwen valley below.

It’s almost a right of passage for Snowdonian mountaineers to climb Tryfan by one of the various routes to the summit then to climb on top of one of these twin monoliths and jump the nearly four-foot gap from one to the other. The slightly taller one is Adam and the jump is best made from Adam to Eve (at least on the first attempt). This leap is said to confer the “Freedom of Tryfan.”

Photographs do not do the gap justice. While standing on one of the stones, the gap looks enormous and the prospect of the jump is made even more daunting by the exposure on the northern side. Any mistake leading to a fall in that direction would be potentially fatal, and unpleasant at the very least. Because of the severe consequences of a fall, this leap of faith should only be attempted in dry and calm conditions and certainly not when the wind is blowing towards the precipice.

On the route to the summit via the South Ridge is another pair of standing stones that have become known as Cain and Abel. The routes to the summit range from a  difficult, and sometimes exposed walk, through difficult scrambling to true mountaineering. The National Trust, who own the mountain, describes it as marking “the line between hiking and mountaineering.”

Though it’s far from the tallest peak, Tryfan does have connections to the ascent of Everest. George Mallory (who died 245 meters from the summit in 1924) made his first British rock climbs on the mountain and Sir Edmund Hillary and his team tried out oxygen equipment and various techniques on Tryfan prior to their successful expedition in 1953.

Know Before You Go

Park in the Tryfan car park next to the A5. Those from outside the UK may think of a 3000ft mountain as being quite small but do not be deceived. Ascending to the summit is a serious undertaking, particularly in winter.

Community Contributors