posted on 15/01/2010

Avalanche in Snowdonia

Credit: Mal Creasey
There was a full depth avalanche on the Nant Peris side of Y Garn last night, as rapidly rising temperatures take hold.

The crown wall of the slope that released was over a metre high, and the debris spread a long way down the mountainside. With the last few weeks being a winter mountaineer's dream, the next few days look like being a soggy nightmare, with rain forecast in Snowdonia over the weekend.

Earlier this year a mountaineer triggered an avalanche whilst ski touring in the Lake District and a member of the Llanberis Mountain Rescue team has voiced his concerns about the current snow conditions in Snowdonia. The current Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecasts show a considerable or high hazard level for westerly through to north easerly slopes at higher altiitudes, in all of the areas that they cover.

Maybe it will go cold again, but for the time being, the ice climbs are falling down and walkers and mountaineers should be conscious of the current snow conditions in the hills.


By Jon Garside