Workers on the new summit building have been unable to make it to the top for the last two days owing to consolidated snow covering the railtracks from just below Clogwyn Station upwards. In fact, since the last posting, weather more typical of mid-winter has continuously hindered progress, prompting utterances from the work-force of: "so much for global warming".

 
Digging out the line this morning, a short distance below Clogwyn Station.

No work took place in the week following Easter owing to blizzard conditions. Each of the two subsequent weeks have begun with having to uncover the railway line using the mechanical digger 'tracked down' from the summit after the driver has walked up to get it.


The back of the new summit building on Monday morning.


Rime encrusted bull-nose at the front of Hafod Eryri on Monday morning.

However, with the freeze/thaw cycle on this side of the mountain, the snow has now lost its loose consistency, firmly packing down with an icy surface. Freezing temperatures at night make the snow surface particularly slippery for the first few hours in the morning and the upper reaches of Snowdon require an awareness of winter hill-walking hazards. Getting to or bringing the digger down isn't an option at present, so today the men had to resort to uncovering the rails with shovels, reaching as far as Clogwyn.


The central rack has to be cleared of ice after it has been uncovered.

This is the longest period snow has stayed on Snowdon all winter and it's mid-April! The day-time freezing level isn't forecast to rise above 1000 metres for the next three days so it will not be going anywhere fast. While the snow-capped high peaks have made for pretty viewing, especially in the typical afternoon sunshine of late, you can be sure the contractors are not as appreciative of the 'white-stuff'.