"Das Urgestein"

Name of traveller

Gerhard Waldherr (b. 1960)

Reason for travel

  • research for the special issue of a German travel magazine

Date of travel

undated, ca. early 2010s

Der dritte Tag nach der Ankunft in Llanberis. Der Auftrag: Besteigung des Snowdon. Die Erkenntnis bis hierher: Nordwalisisches Wetter neigt selbst im Juni zu grober Übellaunigkeit. (Waldherr 74)

Content

  • architecture: comparison of the newly built Snowdon Summit Visitor Centre to a lost spaceship
  • art: illustrated throughout with photographs by Klaus Bossemeyer (b. 1953) taken during a different excursion
  • clothing: description of hiking attire, its cost and adequacy for mountain walking in rainy climate
  • customs: references to local legends surrounding Snowdon, such as Rhita Gawr, King Arthur, the Afanc and fairies
  • history: brief mention of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd (1223-1282) and the loss of Welsh independence
  • literature: quotes from Thomas Pennant's (1726-1798) and Fürst von Pückler-Muskau's (1785-1871) descriptions of Snowdon
  • people: character sketch of professional mountain guide Mike Laing
  • recreation:
    • excursion by car into the near surroundings of Llanberis
    • guided hiking tour to the summit of Snowdon during a thunder storm
    • contains statistics regarding annual visitors to the summit of Snowdon
  • terrain:
    • constant references to the rainy weather
    • descriptions of the terrain around Snowdon and the mountain itself and the different paths leading to the summit
    • Snowdon described as a symbol for the struggle of survival of Welsh culture
    • notes on wildlife and botanical peculiarities surrounding Snowdon
    • notes on the erosion around Snowdon owing to great amount of mountaineers and climate change
  • transport:
    • modes of travel: bus; car; on foot; mountain railway
    • description of the Snowdon Mountain Railway
  • click here to read the full account

Nationality of traveller

German

Language of publication

German

Gender of traveller

Male

Type of publication

illustrated travelogue

Citation

Waldherr, Gerhard. "Das Urgestein." MERIAN 10 (20 Sep. 2012): 68-77. Print.

Entry created: 20 May 2015
Entry last updated: 26 September 2016