One man’s photo is steadily garnering attention online after he captured a rare phenomenon when scaling a mountain to ring in the new year.
Hiker Rhys Pleming decided to celebrate January 1 by climbing Snowdon, the highest peak in England and Wales.
His aim was to capture the very first sunrise of the decade alongside his friend, but he could ever have anticipated what they would get to experience.
Not only did Rhys get to enjoy the dawn, but he was also rewarded with an incredibly rare sight know as the Broken spectre.
The hiker’s amazing pictures appear to show a figure walking through the clouds, encased in a circular rainbow of light.
As per reports, the other-worldly phenomenon occurs when the low sun shines behind someone looking into mist from a higher ridge. The onlooker‘s shadow is projected forward, casting a silhouette against the rainbow and offering the illusion of someone in the clouds.
Rhys told North Wales Live: “There was only a 50/50 chance of seeing the sunrise because of the cloud, but me and my friend decided to go up anyway.
“He told me to walk ahead because he was a bit slower than me, so I must have summited around 8.15am and started to take a few pictures of the sunrise. There were a few other people there at that point too.
“It was about an hour later when my friend arrived at the top that the Brocken spectre happened. It was perfect timing. It was just pure luck.”
Pure luck it may have been, but few can deny it doesn’t make for a truly stunning photograph. What a fantastic way to bring in 2020!
The incredible moment captured by Rhys Pleming on the first day of 2024 has taken the internet by storm. Scaling Snowdon, the highest peak in England and Wales, Rhys set out to witness the first sunrise of the new year with a friend. Little did he know that he would be blessed with a breathtaking sight known as the Broken spectre.
The photos taken by Rhys show a mysterious figure seemingly walking through the clouds, surrounded by a circular rainbow of light. This phenomenon occurs when the low sun shines behind someone looking into mist from a higher ridge, creating a shadow that appears as though someone is walking in the clouds.
Rhys described the moment as pure luck, as he and his friend braved the cloudy conditions to reach the summit of Snowdon. Despite the uncertain weather, they were rewarded with an awe-inspiring view that few are fortunate enough to witness.
In an interview with North Wales Live, Rhys shared his experience: “There was only a 50/50 chance of seeing the sunrise because of the cloud, but me and my friend decided to go up anyway. He told me to walk ahead because he was a bit slower than me, so I must have summited around 8.15am and started to take a few pictures of the sunrise. There were a few other people there at that point too. It was about an hour later when my friend arrived at the top that the Brocken spectre happened. It was perfect timing. It was just pure luck.”
Rhys’ stunning photograph has captured the imagination of many, serving as a reminder of the beauty and wonder that can be found in nature. What a remarkable way to start the new year, with a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with a rare and magical sight.
