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TR: Cymru 10/11 - Eto, os gwelwch yn dda! (Wales 10/11 - Again, if you please!)


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Thanks all.

 

 

MONDAY 08 NOVEMBER 2010

 

Yr eira gyntaf - first snow

 

A wild, wild night of gale force winds and torrential rain last night in Aberdare translated to a light dusting above 700m in the Brecon Beacons this morning.

 

Took a drive over to see if early November turns were on the cards. Not yet. More forecast for this evening followed by a hard frost Wednesday which may make it skiable.

 

The first snow of the winter on the flanks of Fan Fawr

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They had considerably more in Snowdonia.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/walesnature/2010/11/stormy_wales.html

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WEDNESDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2010

 

Couldn't get out yesterday and from the looks of this Lee David photo posted on Derek's weather blog there may have been just enough in the Black Mountain to make two or three turns.

 

Snow on the Hills

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/walesnature/2010/11/snow_on_the_hills.html

 

Set off way before sun up and had all the ski gear in the car just in case. One of the great things about the Black Mountain is you can see the slopes from the parking spot.

 

Unfortunately there was very little snow left and certainly not enough to warrant schlepping the skis.

 

However the light show on these treeless slopes and the dawn sky more than made up for it. The autumnal hues were in full effect in the heather, rocks and grasses of the slopes surrounding the glacial tarns Llyn y Fan Fawr and Llyn y Fan Fach.

 

 

Llyn y Fan Fawr and the twin peaks of Pen-y-Fan and Corn Du on the far horizon

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Llyn y Fan Fawr and the slopes off Fan Brycheiniog from Bwlch Geidd

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The dry stone sheep corall on Fan Brycheiniog

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The trig point on Fan Brycheiniog with Bannau Sir Gaer in the background

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Fan Brycheinog and Llyn y Fan Fawr taken from Fan Foel

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Llyn y Fan Fach taken from Fan Foel

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Where the snow had collected it was 15-20cm deep, wind packed and solid with a non-breakable freeze thaw crust. A full covering of that and it's on like Donkey Kong!

 

First snow on Fan foel with Pen-y-Fan and Corn Du in the distance

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FRIDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2010

 

Three mornings of hard frosts will hopefully have cooled the slopes so that anything that falls will stick and stay.

 

Snow forecast this afternoon. Calling for 5-10cm. Only need about 20cm to be able to make turns. Here's hoping.

 

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/loutdoor/mountainsafety/brecon/brecon_latest_pressure.html

 

Heading over later to have a look see.

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Snowing in Aberdare biggrin

 

Big, fat, feathery flakes. Sticking too!

 

20-30cm forecast up high in The Brecon Beacons.

 

Skis, boots & poles at the back door (been there since May); backpack packed; ski gear laid out on the back bed.

 

To the Batmobile!

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And snow wasn't the only thing falling on the Beacons today

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-11849888

 

Pilot escapes Brecon Beacons air crash

Pen y Fan map, Brecon Beacons, Powys The plane came down in an area known as Windy Ridge near Pen y Fan summit

 

The pilot of a light aircraft has managed to walk away from the wreckage of his plane after it crashed in the Brecon Beacons.

 

The twin-seat Piper plane came down close to the summit of Pen y Fan.

 

Witnesses said the aircraft was left upside down, but its pilot managed to walk to a nearby road and raised the alarm.

 

He is now being treated for minor injuries at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil.

 

Dyfed-Powys Police said they were undertaking an investigation into the crash, with a report being prepared for the Civil Aviation Authority.

 

The incident happened at about 1145 GMT on Friday in an area known as Windy Ridge.

 

Hill walker Sue Newlands said: "We could hear the engine of a small plane which seemed to be circling and getting lower.

'Very lucky'

 

"From the sound it was making we thought it was in trouble.

 

"As we carried on walking we saw the plane wreckage and other people at the scene said the pilot had got out alive.

 

"He was very lucky because the plane came down on the side of the mountain."

 

It is understood that the plane is registered to a businessman in Bridgend, and it is believed to have taken off from Cardiff airport on a solo pleasure flight early on Friday morning.

 

A police spokesperson added: "At approximately 1145 GMT this morning a report was received that a light aircraft had come down in Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons .

 

"The only person in the aircraft was the pilot. He was not seriously injured but has been conveyed to Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil.

 

"Air Accident Investigators will now investigate the circumstances."

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SATURDAY 27 NOVEMBER 2010

 

Quick update.

 

Top to bottom coverage in the Pen-y-Fan area. Snow / grass hybrid that made for smooth, quick skiing. The snow was almost too good - light, dry powder. Needs some heavy, wet snow to create a base.

 

Zero visibility on the way up and most of the way down, but clearing as we - Iwan from Snowheads, and Chris & Ben from Goneboarding - got to the bottom.

 

-7 C to start, warmed up to -3 C by the time we left at 9:30 am

 

Hopefully a cold, clear day and night will firm up the snow.

 

November turns in banner

 

Definitely worth a visit later today or tomorrow (supposed to be clear and sunny) if just for the views.

 

Pics to follow. I'm off to the match.

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SATURDAY 27 NOVEMBER 2010

 

Opening Day in The Brecon Beacons massif wink

 

 

Iwan on the summit of Pen-y-Fan

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The sun finally broke through as we descended from the summit of Pen-y-Fan. A warming winter sun on Fan Fawr

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Iwan on the lower flanks of Cefn Crew. Fan Fawr in the background

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The river forded Chris and Ben strap in to hit the bottom section of the Cefn Crew run out

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Ben riding the snow / grass hybrid of Cefn Crew

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Chris riding the snow / grass hybrid of Cefn Crew

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Chris, Iwan & Ben back at the base after a very enjoyable first day out

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Great to meet up with Chris, Iwan & Ben. Always better to make turns with company. And nothing better than birthday turns in Wales.

 

Thanks for the peanuts too Iwan.

 

Here's to many more this winter.

 

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