15 Sep. - Yr Wyddfa

Image: The queue to the cairn on Yr Wyddfa (Mount Snowdon), in cloud

The solemn, spectacular grandeur of the mountains amplified by having their proud heads enshrouded by cloud.
We follow Afon Llugwy upstream to leave it at Capel Curig.
The ascent steepens, then becomes precipitous, as we near Pen-Y-Pass, where many trail walkers leave the bus.
Then down again through Nant Peris to the train stop at Llanberis.

The trains, diesel + steam, leave every half hour - and it is plain the sky, and view, will not be clear - but the carriage is crowded regardless + we chat about work + school, language + pride, with a Welsh family as the rack + pinion clunks us gear-tooth by gear-tooth to the summit.

Then the hasty final climb to queue, absurdly, in the wind-driven mist for our brief turn flanking the cairn for a photo - 'We were here!' And then back down - disturbing on the way a shepherd + sons with their flock.

Notes: Despite being steam buffs of sorts, we took the diesel for cost and scheduling reasons and felt no loss whatever, particularly as it occasioned our wonderful meeting with the friendly local family. We would have relished a view from the summit but truly enjoyed the silliness of selfies in almost impenetrable cloud! Warning - the summit station Hafod Eryri can be VERY crowded.