Hiker Rhys Pleming made a bold decision to welcome the new year by embarking on a daring adventure – climbing Snowdon, the highest peak in England and Wales. Little did he know that this courageous feat would lead to an extraordinary encounter with a rare natural phenomenon.

Rhys had set out on his journey with the intention of capturing the first sunrise of the decade alongside his friend. However, what awaited them surpassed their wildest expectations. As the dawn unfolded, Rhys not only beheld the beauty of the rising sun but was also greeted with an awe-inspiring sight known as the Broken spectre.

In his amazing photographs, it appears as if a figure is gracefully walking through the clouds, enveloped in a mesmerizing circular rainbow of light. This other-worldly phenomenon occurs when the sun’s rays shine from behind someone peering into mist from a higher ridge. The person’s shadow is projected forward, casting a silhouette against the rainbow and creating the illusion of someone walking amongst the clouds.

Reflecting on this surreal experience, Rhys shared with North Wales Live: “There was only a 50/50 chance of seeing the sunrise due to the cloud cover, but my friend and I decided to embark on the adventure regardless.

He told me to lead the way as he was a bit slower than me, so I reached the summit around 8.15 am and started capturing a few pictures of the sunrise. There were a few others present at that moment as well. It was approximately an hour later when my friend finally made it to the top that the Brocken spectre occurred. The timing was absolutely perfect. It was pure luck.”

While the encounter may have been a stroke of luck, there is no denying the breathtaking beauty captured in Rhys’s photographs. This extraordinary sight serves as a poignant reminder of the wonders that await us when we dare to venture into nature’s embrace.