I totally agree, but had it not been for the relative safety of following a known feature of the railway line, then i would most certainly have gone home.
There was no ice or snow, and apart from very thick mist, it was almost ideal conditions for going to the summit.
Ive used the railway line numerous times, when the Mountain railway is out of season, and it is slippery in places, due to the oil, but if great caution is shown where you are placing your feet, then its pretty safe in the right conditions, and it takes you away from the openness of the main summit plateau.
It was that summit plateau that i knew would be very tricky to navigate, even with GPs or Compass, in such poor visibility.
I am experienced enough to see the potential dangers of traversing a very high mountain in total darkness, but the route i took was well known to me, i knew what to expect.
Saying that, i was still surprised how long it took three of us to reach the station platform, it goes to show how pitch darkness, shocking visibility and being over cautious where one places ones feet.
I was relived to get back to Clogwyn, as there was no mist or danger below the station tunnel, actually ive seen poorer weather in the hight of summer, compared to last night, it was cool, dry and very little wind.
In hindsight, i was a bit daft attempting the mountain in such poor visibility, but in this instance, i knew my planned route incredibly well, and due to the mild conditions thought it a risk worth taking.
Its the only time ive actually lost my total bearings directly opposite the trig point at the summit, and currently there's a lot of scaffolding around the cafe, due to maintenance work, which made ground conditions difficult in such poor visibility.
I knew where i was, but had lost all sense of direction and coordination, a hasty slow retreat back to the railway was called for.
It scared me a bit, and it was at this moment, that i realised i was a bit out of my comfort level, but i knew the Railway line was very close by SOMEWHERE and a safety measure back down the mountain.
Had i not known the route so well, then i would most certainly have joined the pair from London.
As walkers we learn by our errors and mistakes, in this instance, i knew i almost took too great a risk.
Had it been typical winter weather, freezing paths to the summit etc, then no way would i have ventured further up the mountain, but i t thankfully was a great start to a New Year.