Glories. Has anyone ever seen one of these incredible things?

I saw one when walking in the Lake District some 12-15 years ago. I had just climbed to the ridge on which the summit of Helvellyn lies, having walked the last 30 mins through a blizzard. Just as we hit the ridge the storm blew over and the clouds were below us. We had that fantastic sight you hillwalkers will know, of being above the cloud layer with just the higher peaks poking through the cotton wool carpet.

But in addition to that wonderful view, I could see a rainbow below me, just a few yards away. It was a full circle and it had my shadow in the middle of it. All the rest of the party could see it with the difference that it was each individual's own shadow in the centre. It was like a religious experience, to raise your arms and see this reflected in your own personal rainbow. Glorious. It lasted for a few precious minutes before the clouds blew further away.

I have never seen anything like this before or since. It was deeply moving. I've done a little research and I find that the phenomenon is known as a "glory". I understand that one of your best chances to see one is from a plane.

I've done quite a bit of hillwalking and the experience has, sadly, never been repeated. It seems that it might be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, if you're lucky.

Possibly a bit like the glories you thought I was talking about when you opened this thread. :-)

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2002

Answers

APparition

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2002

Wow! Sounds like an amazing experience! Can't say I've ever seen one from a plane, though I haven't sat in a window seat in years so haven't had the chance. Have flown above clusters of thunderstorms a few times, which is a pretty impressive light show though not a very rare experience.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2002

I do not know what you were thinking about Jonno, I thought you were referring to me going to watch Perth Glory!

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2002

Can't say I've seen that one but we saw a quadruple rainbow once when driving down the Northumberland coast

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2002

Nothing like that has happened to me. Well, at least not without chemical enhancements. Nearest to being amazed by things all nature and that was waking to see the sunrise over Sydney Harbour for the 1st time. Breathtaking.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2002

Jonno, the same thing happened to me when I was ice climbing in the Highlands about 12 years ago. As well as the fantastic feeling (even the best chemicals have failed to equal that) the thing I remember was the drop in temperature when we climbed through the clouds. It was so cold that we could only stay above the clouds for a short time.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2002

Jonno, I've seen something very similar - must have been the same effect. I was visiting Windscale as was and gently glowing I set off in the evening to spend the night on the top of Scafell Pike. It was an opportunity to have a peaceful night away from the squawling brat who became surprisingly my adorable daughter. Needless to say I was accosted by well meaning descenders trying to inform me that the hotel was not in that direction. But what a fantastic morning - ice crystals in the air and this amazing effect you have just described.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2002

Glory, Glory Hallelujah! Yep - me too. [brag_on]Iīve seen quite a few[brag_off] when flying. However, none had Jonnoīs shadow nor even his matesī - just the plane in the middle of the fantastic rainbow. It all depends on where the sunīs shining from ;-)

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2002