Snow… in Snowdonia

The Pinnacles (Y Pincin) - Nikon Z7 - 24mm, f11, 1/30sec, ISO64

After an extended Christmas break, I was feeling the need to get out with the camera. So, after a few days of checking the weather forecast, I set off for a quick trip around Snowdoina. There had been some snow showers at home in Yorkshire with the white stuff settling on the ground especially on the hills.

With this in mind, I was a little nervous that I’d arrive in the Welsh mountains and discover impassable roads. In reality, there was less snow than back at home. Slightly disappointing but at least I could explore all the locations I had in mind and do so safely.

First stop was Capel Curig. I’d long had this location on my to-do list. Its a short walk from the carpark up and around the rocky out crop known as the ‘The Pinnacles’ (Y Pincin). Once up on the peak, I was greeted by the view over Plas-y-Brenin with soft early morning light hitting Snowdon in the distance. Brooding clouds swirling up behind the mountains just made the scene all the better.

Time to get the camera out…

By the time the tripod was set up and I was happy with the composition, the vista had all but disappeared. A snow shower was racing down the valley, heading straight towards me. So what should I do? Abandon, head back to the car? Stick it out, hunker down behind the rocks and hope it would blow over soon?

I decided to wait it out and was rewarded, an hour later, as the view finally opened up again. Sadly the early morning light was now gone but there was still an image worth capturing before heading back down to the car to warm up (It was 3°C).

From here I ventured down Pen-y-Pass and to the lone tree at Llyn Padarn, Llanberis.

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