Autumn Day on Snowdon

A perfect day

My last visit to Snowdonia in Wales was in early March this year. That was at the end of my main walking season in those small but wonderful mountains. I just love winter walking in the mountains and 2009/10 had been superb. Indeed I owe Summit Post a detailed TR with photos from that winter. It's coming soon!


I had kept walking during the months since March, some on hills, but mainly local daily walks on small slopes local to my home in Kent, SE England.



But by October I had a yearning to get back to Snowdonia. To see if my summer "training" had kept me sort of fit for the coming winter. And to just enjoy the Welsh mountains in what I hoped would be decent Autumn weather.



But I couldn't have expected to have had such a perfect day for my walk up Snowdon on Monday 25th October. The sort of weather you only dream about: that mountain has a reputation, (well earned in my experience), for being perfect only for those who like to study the inside of clouds close up!


A good clue to what the day would bring was me having to scrape thick ice off my car before I left Beddgelert and drove to Pen Y Pass. Where I planned to walk the old Miners' Track to Snowdon Summit.



The valley below was misty and still waiting full sunshine. But above me Snowdon stood proud and majestic. With not a cloud in sight, and clear of the deep and icy snow that had covered it last time I was here, on March 8th.


I'd planned to walk the Miner's track up Snowdon for good reasons. It starts fairly high up and is a very gentle route early on. Giving me a chance to see how I felt as I got going. And giving me a chance to warm up before getting to the steeper sections.


The frosty car park at Pen Y Pass was almost full even though I wasn't late. And it was still a very clear day. With, as I started, not a breath of wind.


Conditions I had not seen on my previous thirteen walks up this lovely Welsh mountain. Low cloud, howling wind and blizzard conditions being the norm for my winter walks here!

Reflections come and go

So it was a lovely surprise to turn a corner and see Snowdon reflected in the glass like still waters of the small Llyn Teryn!



And to see the great brooding mass of Y Lliwedd similarly reflected. What a day to go up Snowdon on.



But of course that wonderfully still weather was not to last. And by the time I had got up to Llyn Llydaw more normal conditions had arrived. Except for the fact that it remained beautifully clear.

The views stay superb

My slow pace reflected tha fact that I hadn't walked up Snowdon for seven months. But to me the day was all about enjoying the wonderful views. And not about speed. And I did enjoy the steep section going up from the Miners' Track to the PYG track. As usual I left that part of the track at times just to get my hands on the rocks to do some very easy and gentle scrambling.

Still a gentle climb, with Snowdon always in view

Signs of long since ended mining activities

Looking back down past Glaslyn

The clear weather seemed set in for the day as I carried on up. Looking back at the wonderful view behind me.

High up on the Miners' Track. And a lovely view back down to the lakes of Glaslyn and Llyn Llydaw

Views from the Summit Ridge

Up the final steep section and I was on the Summit Ridge of Snowdon. With equally clear views to those I had enjoyed on my ascent. And the blue of Irish Sea. Plus, not visible here, a glimpse of the top of the Irish Hills, something over 60 miles away. A rare sighting from the summit of Snowdon.

Mynydd Mawr seen from Snowdon's Summit Ridge

Moel Eilio and others seen, Snowdon's Summit Ridge

Crib Goch seen from Snowdon's Summit Ridge

Garnedd Ugain and time to descend

Not surprisingly in such lovely weather Snowdon's summit was busy. So I descended quickly back to the shoulder where the Miners' Track joined the ridge. Then walked up to the top of Garnedd Ugain, knowing I'd have that mountain summit to myself. Time to sit, (in all day frost!), and have a light lunch. As well as watch a train ascending to Snowdon's Summit. A sign of my winter preference for Snowdon as this was the first time in 14 ascents I'd seen a train at this height.

Train climbing to Snowdon

I did have to force myself away from the wonderful views on such a lovely day. But was helped by the scene facing me as I started my descent from the summit ridge and back the way I had come.

Llyn Llydaw with Moel Siabod behind

The day was moving on. And I would have to leave here soon. But like so many of us here, my mind was starting to plan future walks. Or in the case of Y Lliwedd a walk and a quite long and quite steep scramble, (up the sunlit slope, not the cliffs!). One I had done with Lolli in May 2009. And one I now had ideas of doing in the coming winter. On a day of lying ice and snow, and in totally clear weather like today. Dream on Bryan, dream on....................

Y LLiwedd

Images

View Autumn Day on Snowdon Image Gallery - 16 Images

Comments

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Viewing: 1-20 of 20

visentin - Nov 2, 2010 4:23 pm - Voted 10/10

brilliant !

may I just suggest to turn it from custom object to trip report. Sure it will be on the front page !

Big Benn - Nov 2, 2010 5:44 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: brilliant !

Thanks. I wasn't quite sure where to put it! You've helped a lot. Glad you liked it. It was truly wonderful day in the mountains.

vancouver islander - Nov 3, 2010 12:43 am - Voted 10/10

Lovely report

On a lovely place. Brought back many warm memories. Super pictures too. Many thanks for sharing.

Cheers, Martin

Big Benn - Nov 3, 2010 5:29 am - Hasn't voted

Re: Lovely report

Thank you Martin, so very glad it brought back nice memories for you.

asmrz - Nov 3, 2010 12:22 pm - Voted 10/10

Thanks Bryan

Wonderful report. Have not made it to Wales yet, but my better half keeps insisting...The Place looks superb!

EricChu - Nov 4, 2010 7:29 pm - Voted 10/10

Great report!

And the photos you shot really catch my eye!! Especially those gorgeous ones with Snowdon being reflected in the lake...I'd love to return there one day; I was in Snowdonia in August 1992 and I have lovely memories of it. I find I was pretty lucky with the weather as well, although it wasn't anything like what I see on your pictures! Many of the spots you show remind me quite strongly of certain places in the Alps, like for instance the Albula pass in Graubünden...
Cheers,
Eric

chugach mtn boy - Nov 5, 2010 2:57 pm - Voted 10/10

Marvelous report

As someone who spent most of a summer in North Wales and STILL has never seen the top of Snowdon, I can appreciate your fantastic luck with the weather.

Big Benn - Nov 5, 2010 4:50 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Marvelous report

Oh dear! But, like so many people who regularly stand on the summit of Snowdon, you could write a very detailed thesis on what the inside of a cloud looks like! More seriously I really hope you will one day get there in totally clear weather.

Boydie - Nov 6, 2010 2:52 pm - Voted 10/10

Nice one

Looks like you had one of the best days of the year Bryan, and I have to say, some of those photo's are absolute crackers.
Cheers,
Stephen

markhallam - Nov 7, 2010 9:45 am - Voted 10/10

Trip down memory lane - thanks!

My 40 years plus love of mountains started with annual trips to Snowdonia. I know the Snowdon Horseshoe well - and your lovely TR has reminded me I am overdue another visit - thanks!
Cheers, Mark

Big Benn - Nov 7, 2010 1:39 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Trip down memory lane - thanks!

Thanks Boydie and Mark. It is wonderful area, added to by the total unpredictability of the weather.

Charles - Nov 8, 2010 6:25 am - Voted 10/10

Bryan

nice report - very nice! ANd the photos are really lovely - a great place! You´ve brogught back a few memories too there Bryan - thanks!
Cheers

Charles

Big Benn - Nov 8, 2010 9:41 am - Hasn't voted

Re: Bryan

Thank you Charles! Hope you see it like that before too long. But not today as gales and heavy rain/snow are sweeping across the UK!

mills - Nov 8, 2010 2:40 pm - Voted 10/10

Fantastic

Cheers for a fantastic trip report Bryan, looks like you had a wonderful day. Also your images are really beautiful, thanks for posting, hope you will continue to enjoy Snowdonia.

Big Benn - Nov 8, 2010 3:44 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Fantastic

Many thanks. I hope to be back there again within a month! I just love the area.

dadndave - Nov 8, 2010 5:54 pm - Hasn't voted

G'day Bryan

You've made me homesick!

Great TR. Photos are superb. I haven't seen Snowdonia clear like that since I was a kid.

Big Benn - Nov 9, 2010 5:11 am - Hasn't voted

Re: G'day Bryan

Thanks! If you can get yerself and family over here soon for a holiday I'll try and get you some days like that in Snowdonia.

Euroclimber - Nov 9, 2010 10:56 am - Voted 10/10

Love it!

Thank you for posting these pictures, brings back many memories....I used to climb Snowdon all the time as a kid when I lived in England. (Grandparents had a place in Porthmadog by the ocean :) ) I seriously recommend Wales as a place to visit...I would love to go back there and retire there when I'm older...haha

Anybody up for an exciting scramble (who is good with deadly heights) should try the Crib Goch Knife edge climb on the horseshoe up to Snowdon...love that route :)

daveyboy - Nov 12, 2010 11:37 am - Voted 10/10

Which part of Kent:

So you had a great time on Y Wyddfa and the photos show that...!
Which part of Kent are you as I am also in Kent...?

I have done Y Wyddfa 34 times up to today and have never got fed up. As you say the features are always there but the weather changes the scenery...!
David.

Big Benn - Nov 12, 2010 1:04 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Which part of Kent:

I'm in West Malling davey, just a little closer to Y Wyddfa than you! And I can totally agree with you: so many routes and such variety in the weather.

Viewing: 1-20 of 20

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