UKC

Here are some photos of Snowdon, North Wales, taken this morning and some safety advice for winter hill walkers.

Read more at http://www.ukclimbing.com/news/item.php?id=51080

In reply to UKC News: Hi Mick, Your photo captioned trinity gullys doesn't actually show the trinity gullies. Instead it is the face to the left. i think three cave route goes up there somewhere.

In reply to UKC News: Pretty much daily updates from one of North Wales most enthusiastic activists!

http://wwwbaggy.blogspot.com/

Cheers Mark and Pete.

In reply to UKC News: Mick it is much better reporting than this!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1239511/Crazy-family-sets-climb-Sno...

In reply to UKC News: Mick: "If conditions are wintery, take crampons and an ice axe, goggles, a map and compass"

Goggles? Pah! Googles are for wusses. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3bhSo6922y4/Szvtl8pC3_I/AAAAAAAACA8/y9TdvJPnxRs/s... (Y Gribin on Tuesday)

In reply to UKC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/8437103.stm

Anyone know the real story behind this news item?

In reply to Sl@te Head:

think that's pretty accurate actually!

In reply to UKC News:
Hi Folks
Just come in from a rescue/search for fallen walkers on W side of Snowdon about an hour ago. There is is considerable windslab possibility on west and south facing aspects. There is quite a bit of wind blown and redeposited snow, and was still snowing heavily at 8pm above 2000ft. We dug some pits in deep snow at 2700 ft just south of the Snowdon Ranger path, and found a depth of some 18 inches of windslab above a frozen layer, with a layer of graupel or unconsolidated crystals below that. On testing the block sheared with very little pressure, just some light hand pressure.

I guess this means that in particular many grade 1 or 2 gullies in Snowdonia could have some real avalanche risks. Also remember that just because a gully generally does not have this aspect, there could be elements or side walls of the gully that still accumulate redeposited snow.

Have fun but play safe!

In reply to Mark Reeves:
Hi Mark it is three pitch gully you are thinking of,
three cave is in cwm glas

In reply to elfyn:
Went into Cwm Cneifion on Sunday and it looked to me that all the W/NW facing stuff was pretty loaded at the top with a strong wind blowing over Y Gribin. Was pleased that there didn't seem to be anyone on any of them. Hidden Gully was in superb nick though.

In reply to Tom Hutton:

Might be worth starting a new thread to highlight the latest warnings, in case people think that the first post and photos actually relate to 'this morning', as opposed to last Thursday.

In reply to UKC News:
no point in advising people to take crampons,ice axe,etc if the have no experience in using them.experienced mountaineers will carry them and know how to use them.the message is confusing making inexperienced or novices think they will be safe if they carry ice axes crampons.people dont have access to warnings,unless they have access to climbing forums and warnings on tv.even if you put signs up they wouldnt read them.there were people in trainers and normal clothing on the pyg track on saturday carrying carrier bags.i even saw a walker with ice axe and mountain clothing sliding down the pyf track on his backside narrowly missing a group of walkers walking up.absolute stupidity.im sure they think that snow and conditions on the hills are like the snow and weather in their garden.you cant stop them.if they are stupid,let them kill themselves.unfortunately rescue teams and rescue helicopters have to go and save them.im sure if they had to pay for the rescue they would think twice before going out..i think.