New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-29
W ELSH MOUNTAINS
SnoscdOn and Cader Idris-A HOli-
day Ramble.


snowdon ia the highest mountain In the king
dom with the exception Of Ben Nevis and the
SUBMITS of the Csrampians. The Pennine chain
running southwark from the Chevots, sends out
spurs into Cumberland and Westmoreland
Yorkshire and Lancashire. and after reaching
it's greatest altitude IN Wales falls away In the
tors of Dartmoor and the cliffs of Lands End
The Scafells Helvellyn and Skiddaw are rugged
peaks in the diversified scenery of the Lake DIS
trict but there is nothing In LowelPs words
worthshire" to compare with the rock walls Of
Wales in bare grandeur and splendor or color
Snowdon, with it's pointed peak propped up by
mighty ridged buttresses. is a unique coast
headIand removed from the and towering
above forest ranges and stone strewn and PIN
nacled slopes. The furrowed crags OF the two
long Glyders divide Llamberis Pass from Nant
Ffrancon, and the two Carnedds. rivalling Snow
don in height. lie beyond them. Noel Siaood
guards the eastern approach to Snowdon, and
In the south Cader Idris is the grandest noun
tain wall. with the most stupendous accumula-
ton of columnar stones
There is nothing in this mountainous region
to qualify a climber for membership In the AL
pine Club. The highest summit is under 1900 feet.
and the ascents easily made without guide
rope. There is a mountain tramway up
Snowdon for weddings who wish to save their
breath and to avoid quickening heart action by
a wearisome climb: and the trails arc worn suff-
ciently with excursion traffic to be followed even
by absent minded ramblers. There are no
achievements in reserve for ambitious climbers
among these Welsh SUBMITS but there
wholesome. invigorating walks with magnid-
cent escarpments and precipltous cliffs and
headlands and with landscapes perfect in COM
position. tonality and color. August is the
month for the best glimpses OF this mountainous
fra hav hair nd
the tarns their most liquid blue; the heather
comes into bloom and lights up the valleys and
hillsides with glory OF color; the projecting
peaks are aglow with reddish glare and the
rayines and sheltered hollows are darkened with
BLUSH shadows. and there pictures such as
Claude. Richard Wilson and the earlier Turner
used to paint. with rock terraces and pinnacles
varied in form and broad sweeps Of green and
patches OF blue and purple. without detail ex-
aggereted In foreground and background 70 dis
turb the balance Of finished composition. The
mountains are now perhaps at their best after
q fortnight Of vivid sunlight. following two
rainy months. which have deepened and fresh
ened the tones OF verdure
Here at Dolgelley there are counter attractions
In the Torrent and Precipice Walks with their
combinations Of luxuriant foliage. picturesque
oouiders. foaming cataracts and ragged preci-
pices: but Cader Idris draws in fine weather
every sun worshipper to its stately throne AT
first there is an easy sweep Of curving road for
two miles as far as Llyn Gwernan a lovely blue
lake. and then two brooks are crossed IN turn
ana the ascent Is made through sheepwalk plan
tation and pasture with an uninterrupted view
OF mountain wall. with headlands at the ends
and In the centre. II begins on the coast with
a long curve around deep water To Tvran Naur
the westernmost shoulder and then n stones
eastward with mighty collarbone Of rock and
turf 10 great mass Of eolumnar blocks upon
which the peak is securely poised and thence it
Is carried by another serrated ledge Of stone TO
the other shoulder. Mynydd Noel II is a high
preciptous wall about seven miles In length
win four prominent SUBMITS and symmetry OF
outline. as though Nature in studious mood had
Interested herself in a purely architectural de-
sign 1t is toward a depression between the
saddle and the western shoulder that the Bride
path leads over the rough beds OF streams and
ascending terraces. rock strewn and tufted with
slippery turf. and when the ridge IS reached
after toilsome scramble there Is a long detour
through region OF columnar stones and along
the outer edge Of stupendous amphitheatre
southwark. which was evidently scooped out by
sea action during endless geological ages. until
the cairn on the summit is gained
The reward for this bracIng walk is a series
OF magnificent prospects north. south and east
with Slimpses OF natural processes of construc-
ton. submergence and denudation I'm creative
cons. At the top OF snowdon. where there are
precipices from 1880 TO 20O0 feet in sheer depth
on two sides. the spectator is preoccupied with
the buttresses and hollows in the range itself
and with the wells OF mist which hide the outer
most ravines even when there is blue sky over
head From Cader Idris. the giants chair there
are broader prospects and more exquisite pict-
ures' with green. purple and gray and glints OF
blue as the color scheme. In the north there is
the Mawddach. with snowdon. the Carnedds
and the Glyders behind It, and easterIy Bala
Lake and an extensive range of woodland. In
the south Is the amphitheatre strewn with mill
ions OF stones. and behind IL are Cardigan Raw
a yellow shore line and green valleys blending
with the blue horizon line. With the masses OF
sort verdure the blush shadows OF the hollows
under turrets OF rock. and the lakes at the bot
tom or vertical cliffs. these pictures to be re-
membered for their perfection OF composition |
Yet restful as are the mountain prospects there |
are evidences everywhere Of natural operations |
on a stupendous scale. The mountain wall itself
is revealed as coast line with headlands and |
chns. which have been alternately submerged |
and uplifted. Sea waves and tides have under
mined and eaten away the curving facades OF |
trap. slate and greensboro and carried and scat
tered the broken blocks and columnar stones far |
and wide down the mountainside Long periods
OF glacial submergence there may have been hut l
the sea must have been the main agency I'm bat |
tering down the sides and varying the lines of |
this majestic mountain wall. peaked. turreted |
and strongly buttressed as 1T remains
The return TO Dolgelley from the summit IL nv /
the foxes path-the long line OF yellow single Il
which was visible for miles during the ascent /
han ha