this much and acts accordingly. When he returns home, to either one of the big towns in the Midlands or to London, he is so proud of the fact of having climbed Snowdon, that he persuades his friends he is a kind of Whymper, or a Leslie Stephen, or even a Dean Lefroy in duplicate. Now if this same tourist only knew that there are as many paths to the top of Snowdon as there are days in February; that the scenery on many of the routes is not excelled for magnificence by even that of Switzerland; that there are other mountains to climb beside Snowdon; and that this or that ascent-and for that the descent--is far more difficult and attended by considerably more danger than a quiet walk up a steep well defined path from Llanberis to the summit of the Monarch of Wales, he would, I am sure, gladly avail himself of the opportunity of a scramble up their sides.

Let me at once briefly explain the object of this book. In writing it I am attempting no literary effort my one great idea is to produce a simple and practical guide to the whole of the Welsh Mountains. I hope by giving minute definition of paths and landmarks that are easily recognisable, to help many a visitor to the Principality to easily scale the majority of the mounains. In dealing with the principal mountainsthat is the highest hills I shall give only those

routes I deem advisable. Of course there are many ways up every mountain, but as I do not wish to bring the followers of "Mountaineering" down the mountain over the top of a huge precipice, I shall be content with simply giving easily found routes, which, although possessing many elements of danger to the foolish and hazardous, are to the cautious and careful climber safe to traverse. I shall also group my mountains so that a good starting point—or points—will be made for them, and in a series of maps I shall mark as far as I possibly can the paths to the summits. In the case of big hills such as Snowdon, Carnedd Llewelyn, and Cader Idris, I shall deal with them under separate heads.

Now as to North Wales as a mountain climbing country. Tourists who have never been to Switzerland are apt to say, that climbing the Welsh hills is but child's play compared to the Swiss mountains. Genuine mountaineers-men who have climbed the Matterhorn, the Jungfrau and Mont Blanc-one and all agree that climbing in North Wales is in many cases as dangerous as one can possibly wish, and the excitement on an equality with an ascent of one of the Swiss heights. North Wales has, however, one great advantage: it is bereft of the inconvenience of Swiss mountaineering. It is nevertheless as easy to kill yourself if you so desire or are too hazardous—

on a North Wales hill as on Mont Blanc: and you can get just as fatigued, and have as many hairbreadth escapes, as you require. In short, you can break your neck as artistically in North Wales as you can in the Himalayas or the Alps. If however you follow recognized paths-paths I hope to guide you along-you can with a minimum of danger gain heights the views from which can but impress you with the thought, "Ah indeed, how wonderful are the works of Nature." If, however, you leave the path, and take a route of your own for a “short cut”always disastrous- and you find yourself on the edge of a precipice, or in such a position that your only way out of the difficulty is through the gate of death, you must not blame me; the fault will be entirely your own. A mountaineer requires to be a person able to obey. Your guide must always be your master, and as such you must acknowledge him. He (the guide) knows the path, and although you may be very clever, you don't. In mountain climbing sink the cleverness and the British idea of "bossing" everyone, and for a time become the servant. For remember when you are on a mountain your life is in the hands of your guide, and he has no wish to ruin his reputation by letting you kill yourself. If you will only follow this advice-no matter whether your guide be a

book or an animated being-keep a cool head, and use common sense, you may, providing you are physically fitted, climb or scramble to the top of the majority of the Welsh mountains. I have written very strongly on this point and I trust my words will be taken in good part. Year after year men throw away their lives by indulging in foolhardy practices, either by trying to climb impossible perpendiculars or endeavouring to take short cuts. Only last year a gentleman named Mr. Mitchell killed himself in trying to scale an impossible gully on Lliwedd. By going up the shoulder of the mountain, he could have reached the same spot on the ridge in far less time than he would have done by scaling the gully. It may be said, if my advice is followed the pleasure of mountain climbing is gone. Not at all. No one is more fond than I am of a "risky and dangerous bit", but I am old enough to know the difference between the possible and the impossible. If climbers would only differentiate between these two words, we should have fewer accidents. In concluding this portion of my opening, I may explain that I have traversed nearly every path and route given in this book, and that I can confidently say, that with ordinary care and common sense the summits can be reached by all-yes, even by ladies, who, by the way, make excellent climbers.

Now to a subject I have had in my mind for some time past. Swiss climbers have their Alpine club. I want to start a Welsh Mountain Club-not a club with a big house possessing dining, billiard, smoking and other rooms, but a club-or would combination be the better word?—of men interested in Welsh mountain climbing. The club could undertake various functions, such as the collection of literature appertaining to climbing in Wales; the organization of a proper guide service and scale of fees, &c., &c. Of course membership of the club would have to be regulated, and I propose that before any man or woman could be elected, he or she should be required within a given time to climb certain mountains in Wales. The test route for membership I have worked out is, I believe, a good one. It is as follows: From Penmaenmawr to Peny-Gwryd by the following route. Penmaenmawr to Moelfre, then across the valley to Cefn Maen-amor, ascend Tal-y-fan. Then by way of Foel Lwyd to Drogl which should be ascended and

thence along the ridge to Drum. From here make for summit of Foel Fras, and later on Arryg and ascend to the Cairn on Carnedd Llewelyn. From Llewelyn make for Dafydd and by top of Braich Ddu on to Llyn Ogwen, or rather a point known as