Pen Yr Ole Wen Mountain Hike

The journey began at 3 a.m., and it was nothing short of magical. Localized mists and swirling fog transformed the landscape into an ethereal dreamscape. Under the strong moonlight, skeletal trees stood silhouetted along the A5 from Llangollen all the way to Capel Curig, creating hauntingly beautiful scenes that I wished i'd have captured. Unfortunately, stopping wasn’t an option due to time pressures and the need to secure parking at Llyn Ogwen. In hindsight, I regret not pausing to seize the moment, but we pressed on with the hope of finding similar conditions at our destination.

As the morning unfolded, our hopes for a stunning sunrise faded. Heavy cloud cover dulled the sky and hung over the mountain tops, and while a fleeting, intense pink hue painted the snow covered landscape, it wasn’t quite enough to translate into an image worth sharing.

Undeterred, we climbed higher onto Pen yr Ole Wen and decided to wait it out, watching the shifting skies for hours. Eventually, patience paid off. A break in the clouds allowed sunlight to spill over the flanks of the mountain. The golden light kissed the highest peaks, leaving the valley below shrouded in shadow—a fleeting but breathtaking moment that made all of the effort and lack of sleep so much more rewarding.

• Winter Mountains
• Pentax K-1 Camera used:
• Pentax DFA 15-30mm f/2.8 Lens used:
• 21mm Focal length:
• f/16 Aperture:
• 1/10 Exposure time:
• 100 ISO:

Other Images from this adventure