The elliptical main body of Hafod Eryri has gained a new limb now the steelwork of the service wing has nearly been completed . Click on the August '07 Photos folder in the column on the left to see it.


The first of many granite blocks on the roof.

Up on a cold windy roof the first granite block was fixed today by the firm Stone Central. The roof will be covered in these blocks with gaps in-between to allow water through to be carried away by the metal channels underneath. One side of the roof has had its granite bull-nose fitted and the company HAG have started to install the metal roller shutters that will cover the windows.


Stone being airlifted to the summit for Snowdonia National Park to 'organise'
the summit area.


The service-wing continues rightwards as a continuation to the concrete
covered flat roof area.

The sides of the building will eventually be clad in stone and dry weather is gong to be critical for the pointing. The local soothsayers are predicting that September will be a warm and dry month.


Granite bull-nose edging the roof and workers fitting the roller shutters.

Very unusually of late, it was a second consecutive fine day on Snowdon. The morning began with cotton wool orographic cloud rising up out of Cwm Llan and Cwm Clogwyn that initially left the summit clear.


The highest roof in England and Wales catching the early morning light.

A few of the workmen brought their cameras and camcorders with them to work to capture the high drama of the helicopter continuing its task of airlifting stone to the top of the mountain for the National Park: not a cheap operation. Clear visibility is also required and once the summit area becomes busy with walkers the flying has to stop.


The helicopter had to contend with cloud drifting in and out over the drop zone.


The helicopter arcs away over Hafod Eryri.

It was a nearly full carriage of workmen that headed up the mountain this morning at seven. There is a real sense of purpose about getting the building weather-tight before what passes as our summer season is gone. The internal drainage is done and the pre-cast floor units are in place. On top of these will sit insulation, then underfloor heating pipes, followed by sand and cement before finally being topped with granite.


A busy site making the most of a rare dry day at the summit.

The aluminium roof sections are being Tig welded where the end of one section meets another and a granite bull-nose is being added around the edge of the roof. Normally, the aluminium sections would not be welded because aluminium moves so much with changes in temperature, but the weight of the granite slabs that will sit on top will prevent this happening.


Tig welding the aluminium roof


Digging out the foundations for the service wing is nearly finished.

On Friday it is planned to start work on the walls with installation of the window frames getting underway the following Monday. Digging out for the service wing is close to being finished and with the addition of foundations the steelwork can be erected.


The orange line on the left marks approx the end of the service wing.
 
No work took place last weekend owing to bad weather. Ironically, on the Sunday the radio was reporting that day as the hottest of the year so far in many parts of the U.K. But even at Craig Gogarth near Holyhead, which normally escapes a lot of the bad weather attracted by the mountains, it was blustery and raining for much of it.

On arriving for work at the summit on Monday they found somebody or some persons had taken advantage of their absence to break into one of the portacabins and steal a Stihl saw and Makita cordless drill. Strangely, they also thought it'd be entertaining to squirt tomato ketchup over the walls and scatter a packet of porridge oats inside. Local Police had to make the time consuming trip up the mountain to attend the scene and are asking anyone who saw anybody suspicious walking down the mountainside to contact PC Phillip Kennedy at on 0845 607 1001 (Welsh line) / 0845 607 1002 (English line) or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.


Flying stone to the summit for the National Park.

An exciting distraction during the morning was the appearance of a helicopter ferrying stone to just below the summit from a farmer's field at the bottom of Cwm Brwnynog. Snowdonia National Park have begun flying materials up in order to 'tidy' and 'organise' the paths to the cairn. Cloud obscuring the top curtailed the flights.


Young hikers making early use of the granite steps.