To be fair, it was looking a little optimistic to be setting out up the big sweep of Idwal Slabs at 19:30 after a busy day….

The sun had gone below the skyline to the west, but the tops were still glowing pink and we wondered if we’d be fast enough to climb up into the sun. Shadows had already almost reached the top of the slabs, as Dave and I moved together for speed with a single 30m rope between us.

We took about 25minutes to climb the Ordinary Route up to the big ledge where Clare and I had been a few days earlier.

The skies went a good colour as we took off the rope and scrambled together up the easier ground to the side of Seniors Gully.

As the summit came into view, it became clear that the sun had won the race, with just the final few meters retaining the Alpenglow.

We continued over to Cwm Cnefion and its famous Arête. (The edge on the left hand side of the photo below).

Here we roped up again and sped up the alpine ridge, in a few pitches to begin with and finished by moving together over the final gendarmes.

Feeling a happy mix of fatigue and elation we reached the summit, where the sun was nowhere to be seen!

A new moon had made an appearance high above Y Garn though.

It was time to get back to the van – hopefully before it became properly dark!…

A wisp of fog drifted into the valley as we passed Tryfan. We arrived back at the van 2hours and 43mins after leaving it. Not back for a 5.5km hike and 550m of rock climbing!…

Back to The Cottage, for tea, showers and bed…