When the winter arrives this page will hopefully contain some good local information about what's in nick and what isn't.

We won't be providing a weather forecast service, just the hot gossip from local climbers and an idea of where it might be best to go when the snow and ice arrives!

So if you're local and would like to help us keep this page up dated with what you've been up to give us a call on 01286 879044.

Snowdon webcam Large Image courtesy of First Hydro

Snowdonia Met Office Forecast

Welsh Winter Climbs Wiki Site

Remember:

We can't visit every single area so Your help with climbing reports is essential in helping to make this 'conditions' page work. Call us on 01286 879044 or email us at info@snowdonia-adventures.co.uk.

2009/2010

25/01/10

Fresh snow over the Carneddau and Glyderau over the weekend. There is still plenty of snow around although its very wet up till the 800m mark.

Wetsnow from llyn Lloer to 800m then firming up.
An inspection of the main head wall in the Carnedd Fach area had a firm neve depth of around 1 -2 inches sitting on top of very hard neve and was well bonded on east to south east slopes above 800m.
South facing slopes of cwm Lloer had windslab with cracks evident, caution on those slopes.

The crag aprons and cornices facing north above Black ladders had significant cracks and were generally well slumped after the few days of thaw. On Sunday they were not well bonded but the next few days colder temps should see them stabilise somewhat, keep this in mind if your climbing in the Ladders area, especially if the temperature does go up again, as I would expect some of the larger aprons/sagged cornice to release.

South facing slopes on the Carneddau in Craig Malwodi area had many areas of windslab on a non bonded graupel layer sat on grass which showed cracks and released easily underfoot, steeper slopes on that southern aspect will probably remain weakly bonded for quite some time.

All in all its that first layer of graupel that fell as the first white stuff in the park, it will take a long time for the graupel to bond.

A pit dug on a 20 degree south west facing slope at 700m in Cwm Lloer had a firmish wet snow depth of around 2.5 feet, 4 finger hardness. A distict 3mm thick ice layer was evident at 15cm. The whole block released with a firm pull(it is wet snow)at the grass base.

21/01/10

There was a fresh duting of snow in the park yesterday with thin cover from road level in the Ogwen Valley through to deeper snow and drifts as you gain height. Today started off cool but temps have increased slightly and we have a had a small amount of rain this afternoon. The tops still looking like they have patchy snow cover, with better conditions in the deeper drifting areas and gullies.

18/01/10

There has been a massive thaw in the park with a lot of snow cover gone, But there is still a lot of snow up in the hills and hopefully the small freezes we get this week will help to keep whats left in place. More snow showers are forecast for later in the week with the freezing level going up and down above the summits, Its still early in the season for Wales and winter is not over yet, just a break in the cold before more winter conditions appear throughout February and March which is the normal winter season for Wales.

09/01/10

The past 2 days I have been out on the skis for some short tours and first tracks. Theres great snow conditions everywhere at the moment.

Cwm Lloer and the Carneddau are great for ski touring as is Y Garn to Foel Goch. Moel Siabod can be skied from the summit right down to the Pen y Gwryd Hotel an amazingly long run. Climbing wise its still perfect here in the Park with new routes on Black Ladders plus the usual mobbing of anything with ice on in Idwal. If its a easy to get to mid grade winter route you want to climb then you are going to que and while you wait blocks of ice will probably rain down on you, either get there early or seek out the more esoteric and further to walk to climbs.

06/01/10

Well its certainly very white and very cold. The climbing in North Wales is superb. Theres a real buzz about at the moment with plenty of climbing to be had. Just pull out the guide book and pick a route.

As always its a very good idea to check the slopes for avalanche hazard, especially as there has been a fair amount dumped in the hills and this has settled on to an already weakly bonded layer of graupel and hoar frost, so any additional loading will only make things more unstable. There were a couple of walkers avalanched off the PYG Track from very weakly bonded windslab above. Generally, East, South East, South through to Westerly apsects have the highest risk.

22/12/09

Theres been more snow and graupel over the last couple of days and plenty of teams have been out exporing with a few surprises- no ice on Y Gully Left had at Clogwyn Du in cwm cneifion. Tower slabs reported as good ice at the start with typical solid turf for the rest of the route. Tower Gully also reported as in great nick with 3 good ice steps and good neve at the top.Also the Ramp and the Screen have seen ascents with a tip for short ice screws until the ice builds up. Quite a few people have taken the walk in to Black Ladders with Central and Twisting Gullies reported as good fun. I Haven't been out on the skis yet as things are a bit busy here at the moment.

20/12/09

Well the snow has arrived again this weekend, previous to this there has been a good few days of solid freeze down to low levels. For those in the know there may have ben some winter routes in condition, mainly ice and perhaps some of the easier turf routes (please dont climb turf if its not frozen). Today, Sunday, has a forecast for heavy snow and high winds, with the winds easing on Monday but with more snow. Another spell of freezing temps this coming week should firm up the snow pack and give good conditions for Thursday and Friday as they anticipate light winds with broken cloud cover. Im out on the hills next week, with skis and will post back the conditions on the ground.

08/12/09

Well its been a very wet week. High winds and heavy rain with warm weather fronts has now stripped the mountains of snow. The mountains are back to the traditional autumn colour of brown!

03/12/09

Well the first real snow cover arrived on 28th November, almost 4 weeks later than last years first snow.

Temps have been up and down as well as sleet and snow, then back to rain earlier this week that has stripped back a lot of the snow.

Turf is still soft and although the winter scene is pretty to look at no real conditions exist except in some of the higher gullies.

People have been out and about on the Trinities on Snowdon as well as Reades Route on Grib Goch.

A team of two took a look at the fabled El Mancho on Clowyn Du, Cwm Cneifion and reported soft turf and only slightly rimed rock, in short I dont think this was any way near being called in condition.

Lets be sensible and not get into the area of dry tooling those summer rock routes just because theres snow and a bit of rime about, its very early in the season and Im sure there will be plenty to go at in North Wales this coming winter season.