Snowdon Summit Blog

Building Momentum

Ray Wood — Tue, 06 May 2008 21:15:00 +0100

The scene today facing contractors trying to finish Hafod Eryri, compared with that of two weeks ago, is a remarkable transformation. It took two days after the last blog posting for the digger to clear a passage through the snow so the train could reach Snowdon's summit. The train is essential for getting the men to work and ferrying supplies up the mountain. But now with the winter conditions dramatically replaced by sultry spring weather, work at the summit is steadily gathering momentum.

The Hafod Eryri construction site will be a hive of activity over the coming
weeks.

Forty-five contractors filled the carriage this morning. The contractor R.G. Owen had six stone masons heading up to the top of Yr Wyddfa: all tasked with cladding the shiny Kalzip skin with granite block-work. Soon they'll be fifteen men on that job to move it along quicker. The blocks require time-consuming dressing before being secured with mortar.

Rob Owen with a wooden template to help turn a difficult corner with
the stone-work.

The scaffolding is going back-up and the Heras fencing around the site has been reinstated. Inside Hafod Eryri, a three metre deep by two-and-a-half metre wide walk-in freezer has been fitted, the granite floor in the cafe area has been virtually finished and the shop-fitters are about to start panelling the walls. A time capsule due to be opened in fifty years time has been placed under the cafe floor.

Inscription on cafe floor where the time capsule is buried.

Gareth Griffith, Site Engineer, surveying the summit plate to check the radius
grid lines for the building plan.

Twelve Weeks to Go....Weather Permitting

Ray Wood — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 22:40:26 +0100

Despite steadily rising temperatures snow has continued to prevent Snowdon Mountain Railway from taking workers to Snowdon's summit. However, today the train couldn't even reach the snow-line. It had to stop below Clogwyn owing to winds gusting up to 50 m.p.h. A few workmen set off walking to look at the condition of the snow with a view to possibly 'tracking down' a machine from the summit to dig out the line.

An animated Roger Pinney from BBC Wales interviewing Carillion Regional
Director, Meirion Evans.

For camera crews and reporters on a press trip organised by the National Park, the high winds meant they had to observe the snow and cloud covered summit from a distance. Addressing the media, Carillion's Regional Director, Meirion Evans described the late snowfalls as "unbelievable" and said: "It's been very frustrating for the workmen, getting up in the early hours and heading up the mountain but being unable to reach the top. I've huge admiration for them. There are 12 weeks of work left to do."

Carillion Regional Director, Meirion Evans, scrutinising an anenometer
for the cameras.

Snowdonia National Park Chief Executive, Aneurin Phillips, had some good news from the Welsh European Funding Office. They have extended the deadline to early Autumn for completing the building and drawing down the £4.2 million grant funds.

The building as it was on Wednesday 16.4.08.

Last Friday, winds were averaging 85 m.p.h. at Clogwyn gusting to 113 m.p.h. around lunchtime. On the Beaufort scale winds in the range 73-83 m.p.h. are described as Hurricane Force. But these figures are eclipsed by the 132 m.ph. gust recorded on February 25th this year; very likely the highest wind speed recorded at Clogwyn this decade.

Frozen Out

Ray Wood — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:59:24 +0100

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'.

Return to Work

Ray Wood — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 22:02:28 +0000

Work has restarted on Snowdon's new summit building a month earlier than planned. Thanks to track maintenance being completed without any unforseen problems over the winter by the Mountain Railway, a small team from Carillion got back up the mountain at the end of Feruary (25th) and picked up from where they left off in December 2007. It was initially thought they would not return until March 24th.

The flat area at the rear of the building will be covered with scree.

May 10th was the hoped for completion date when the project commenced but the crucial finishing deadline to qualify for European funding is early summer. The battered state of much of the Heras fencing that was left in place around the site gives an idea of how ferocious conditions can be at over 1000 metres above sea-level together with being utterly exposed to Atlantic storms.

The platform area with the blue fibreglass rainwater run-off tank waiting to be
lowered into the excavation on the left.

After a good first week's progress, in which the hole for installing the water tank for collecting run-off from the roof was dug and rock dispersal over the 'terrace area' was started, the weather closed-in, stopping any further work for over a week. A fine Spring, like we had last year, allowing momentum to be kept going will make a huge difference to the timetable. You can be sure there will be few people paying as much attention to the coming months weather forecasts as those responsible for delivering a finished Hafod Eryri to the National Park Authority.

Screed for the cafe floor pumped into the building prior to being levelled.

On Monday the train set off for the top from Llanberis at 7a.m. but was stopped by hard-packed snow on the line a short distance above Clogwyn Station. It was necessary to bring the excavator down the track from the summit to dig out the snow so the train could get through. And after this coming Easter weekend they may find that the track will need digging out again. The last time Easter was this early in the year was 1913.

The run-off tank will hold 10,000 litres of water collected from the roof.

Today, it was bitterly cold on the summit but inside Hafod Eryri with the gas heaters on it was relatively pleasant. The men screeding the floor even had a sweat-on. So long as the weather allows the train to reach the summit then interior work can continue unaffected by outside conditions, although progress on the exterior stone cladding and granite roof will clearly be dictated by the elements.

Rain water collected in this tank will be used for flushing the toilets.

Downtime for Summit Workers

Ray Wood — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 23:44:55 +0000

Two days ago (19th), Carillion workers left Snowdon's summit for the last time in 2007. Near enough the same time as last winter - see the difference a year makes by clicking here. The windows of Hafod Eryri are shuttered, the scaffolding has been dropped and most of the fencing has been taken down, giving the clearest view so far of the overall shape and form of the new building.

The partially granite clad southern end of Hafod Eryri with the summit behind.

During the recent lengthy spell of clear skies, the aluminium Kalzip 'wrapper' has been catching the afternoon sun, turning it into a beacon clearly visible from Anglesey. But don't worry, all that will change when it is clad with stone. Finishing this blockwork and adding the granite cover to the roof will be a priority when the workforce return to the top of Snowdon, most likely in late March 2008.

Hafod Eryri viewed from a few metres below Snowdon's summit.

Setting a date for getting back to work on Hafod Eryri also depends on Snowdon Mountain Railway having completed essential track maintenance. It will then be an all out effort to complete the project by the early summer.

Detail of the intricate granite blockwork at the southern end of the building.

Inside Hafod Eryri, the mechanical (heating and extraction system) and the electrical first fixes are well on their way. Finishing the interior of the building is less problematic now it is secured against the elements; just so long as the train isn't prevented by high winds or snow from making it up the mountain in the first place.

The service wing illuminated by the setting sun.

Carillion Regional Director, Meirion Evans, had this to say at the close of work for 2007:

“I can’t praise the team on the summit enough; everyman has taken up the challenge and despite the terrible weather through the summer; to be where we are is a testament to their commitment.

I wish everyone involved in the project and the members of the public who have shown such interest a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year and hope that Mother Nature is kinder to us all in the New Year”

Extreme Building

Ray Wood — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 22:25:15 +0000

Not your usual walk to work in the morning.

If the train ferrying the workers to Snowdon's summit had a public address system in the carriage, then a short distance above Clogwyn station this morning, it would have crackled into life with an announcement along the lines of: "We regret that the 8.15 Llanberis - Yr Wyddfa service will be terminating overlooking Clogwyn Coch owing to hard packed snow on the track. Anyone wishing to proceed to the summit will have to do so by foot. Snowdon Mountain Railway once again offers its apologies for conditions outside of its control."

An icy summit braved by a few walkers and the Hafod Eryri workers.

And so the day-glo clad work force set-off on foot to complete their journey to work. Gazing around at a clear northern Snowdonia for a change, Assistant Site Supervisor George Owen, commented that it definitely beat driving up the A55. The cold dry northerly air was a marked contrast from recent wind and rain. It's from one extreme to another. For the last month you could probably count on one hand the number of times the summit has been clear - hence the gap in blog postings. Last week winds of 128 mph were recorded by the Clogwyn weather station and the men only got to the top on two occasions.

Work will continue on the stone-work at southern end of building in the Spring.

No wonder this has meant the contractor's plan of leaving the mountain by last Friday (7th) for the winter has had to be put back to this coming one. Construction work has stopped and the priority is to safely secure the site with shutters over the windows, scaffolding dismantled and all the equipment including the generator taken back down the mountain. However, aside from the train not being able to reach the top and frustrating frozen locks, the biggest difficulty caused by the cold today was the generator not working - water from condensation in the fuel tanks had turned to ice in the diesel filter. It was to the teams' credit that they got on with what they could under the circumstances. A mobile phone with a thermometer recorded a temperature of -7°C. The 8 ton excavator tracked down to Clogwyn Station in weak sunshine at the end of the day to be in place to pick up a replacement generator ordered for tomorrow - it's unlikely the snow will have thawed by the morning.

The excavator tracking back down at the end of the day. Tomorrow it'll bring
another generator back up (see larger version among others in December '07
photos folder on the left).

Fortunately the weather forecast for the rest of this week is a lot calmer than of late so this will in all likelihood be the last week's work for the winter - the Railway don't stop for the Christmas break until the end of next week so there are few days in hand if needed.

Awaiting home-train at the end of a very cold day.

Nearer to Heaven

Ray Wood — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 22:05:17 +0000

Part of the inscription on the south entrance wall.

At the south entrance, the stone masons following architects plans, have just completed laying a course of blocks with the inscription: 'The summit of Snowdon. Here, you are nearer To heaven'. It will also appear a couple of courses higher up the wall in Welsh. Inside the building itself, erecting all the internal walls is nearly complete and work has begun on laying the thick granite tile flooring. Staying with the subject of stone, there is an interesting thread on the Country Walking Messageboards discussing the steps recently built up to the summit cairn from the building and featured here in Sept 27th and October postings.

Granite block-work at the south entrance.

While surrounding peaks cleared of cloud during the afternoon, Snowdon's summit remained hidden, as so often, in a stubborn chilly mist. The occasional brightening of the sky promised but never delivered any clear spells. Looking ahead, the soothsayers are predicting a stormy month of weather.

The firm Alan Lancaster from Abergele laying the granite tile flooring.

Although Snowdon Mountain Railway closed its doors to the public on Sunday for the winter, it still continues to take the summit contractors to the summit and back. Despite the poor summer weather, having one engine less (being used by Carillion) and only running as far as Clogwyn Station, the trains carried just over 125,000 passengers in the period starting from the last day of March. Not as short as you might have expected from last year's figure of 131,000 when the train went to the top of Snowdon.

Workmen lining up at the platform's edge as the 2:30 train approaches.

The working day at the summit is very short at this time of year: the train left Llanberis today at 7:45 a.m. and the summit at 2:30 p.m. It is necessary to leave the mountain so early on the grounds of Health and Safety, so that if a train broke down there would be sufficient daylight left to send another train to collect the passengers.

At it Hammer and Chisel

Ray Wood — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 21:22:57 +0100

Work at the summit has been greatly helped of late by high pressure weather giving clear skies and generally low winds. Last week, local stonemasons R.G.Owen, began laying the granite blocks at the back of Hafod Eryri that will make up the exterior of the building.

The first courses of granite stone cladding at the back of Hafod Eryri.

Each stone that originated from Cwt Y Bugail quarry near Blaenau Ffestiniog has to be skillfully dressed with a hammer and chisel before being cemented into place. If you recall the test panel built in the yard (see June 17th posting), the walls have the added complication of being designed with a twist in them. This feature is intended as a means of shedding off the exceptionally strong summit winds the building will have to withstand.

Fitting the granite bullnose.

The stone bullnose that edges the roof is close to being finished apart from the corner stones which will have to wait for a few weeks. Better fitting new corner sections are on order from Portugal.

The different textured granite used on the roof can clearly be seen.

Down in the Llanberis yard the drinking water tanks for Hafod Eryri have arrived from the company Precolor. The two 3.5m high one piece fibre-glass tanks took 6 weeks to make and will weigh six tons each when they are full of water. They were factory tested and proven before being sent out. At the end of each season the tanks will be drained down.

One of the two 3.5m tall drinking water tanks from Precolor.

Snowdonia National Park have provided some background to the recent footpath construction around the summit covered in previous postings:

“The footpaths to the summit have seriously and slowly deteriorated over the last few years, but the building of HafodEryri has now given us an opportunity to restore and repair these footpaths. Both projects work hand in hand and we have been very pleased with the work completed so far by the local stonemason, Alan Jones of Pentrefoelas. The style of the footpath construction from the rear of the building to the summit is more formal than the usual footpath repair but this reflects the needs of the different type of users to the summit.

"At least 160,000 people of all ages and all abilities travel to the summit by train every year and unfortunately, a large percentage of these people are not suitably clad for a walk over steep and very uneven ground. The work currently being undertaken on the footpaths to the cairn will also ensure that the summit of Snowdon will be more accessible to all in future.”

Hafod Eryri on a pleasant October morning.

The Rough with the Smooth

Ray Wood — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 21:16:20 +0100

Currently, the first Snowdon 'commuter' train in the morning is packed with workmen of all trades, as the new summit building project pushes ahead on all fronts, bolstered by the recent spell of benign weather.

Inside what will become the cafe area of Hafod Eryri with the upper windows
looking out on the summit.

Up on the roof, the first course of the roughest grade granite blocks has been started. The granite blocks used comprise of four different surface textures with the smoothest seven courses at the the edge, gradually getting rougher as you work inwards. The centre of the roof will effectively appear as an oval of the roughest granite.

The uppermost course of granite blocks is the first one of twenty-three courses
that will use the roughest grade featuring on the roof.

It is a time consuming process as all the blocks have to be measured and drilled, with pins and glue inserted, before they are slotted into position. This work undertaken by the Merseyside firm, Stone Central, featured last week in the Liverpool Echo newspaper.

The large windows on the western side of the building.

Carillion, who are responsible for the project, plan to keep working at the summit into the winter and finish as close to Christmas as the weather will allow. It was December 18th last year when this blog carried a posting titled 'Tools Down for the Winter'.

Hafod Eryri clad in scaffolding seen from the south.

The first fix of the electrics is due to start this week and the underfloor heating will shortly be fitted with a layer of sand and cement on top of that before the granite floor is layed. The good weather at the end of last week meant the helicopter contracted by the National Park was kept busy flying white bags of stone to the summit for path building.

National Park contractors working on the paths around the summit area.

Watertight for Winter

Ray Wood — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 23:34:19 +0100

The main part of the summit building (cafe and kitchen area) is now looking a lot closer to being a finished structure. Importantly, as winter approaches, installation of the the windows has been completed and the roof made watertight, meaning Hafod Eryri is now weatherproof. The internal walls consisting of Rockwool panels with good insulation and fireproof properties are currently being fitted.

Hafod Eryri with the windows fitted and the bull-nose around the edge of the
roof nearly completed.

However, high winds during September haven't helped the project make up for lost time due to the poor summer weather; in one week during September no work took place for five days. According to Carillion's Regional Director: "the project is now three weeks behind schedule and the shortening hours of daylight isn't going to help this situation."

Granite blocks being fitted to the roof of Hafod Eryri.

Any recent visitor to the top of Snowdon can not have failed to notice the National Park Authority's work to 'landscape' the summit area with two sets of granite steps to make it easier for train passengers to make the short walk up the badly eroded slope to the top from the new building.

Path work at Snowdon's summit by the National Park is in progress.

There is a press trip organised to visit the summit redevelopments in the second week of October so expect to be seeing some TV and newspaper coverage in the near future.

The steelwork of the service-wing.

Steel and Granite

Ray Wood — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 23:10:57 +0100

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.

Two Fine Days don't Make a Summer

Ray Wood — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 19:19:10 +0100

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.

Fiddling on the Roof, Theft and Helicopter's

Ray Wood — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 21:23:05 +0100

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.

Hafod Eryri gets a Roof

Ray Wood — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 23:08:31 +0100

Installation of the final roof section on the main part of Hafod Eryri was completed ahead of schedule early this afternoon. This was despite being unable to fit any roofing for three days last week owing to high wind speeds: 22mph is the highest wind speed in which the crane is allowed to operate. The roof was expected to take two weeks to get in to place but took only five days. Thirty one sections of the Kalzip roofing system were fitted.

Hafod Eryri now with a roof.

Sterling Building have installed the Kalzip roofing.

The guttering still needs to be added and there is lots of work bolting the sections together to do. Stone slabs will also cover the roof to ensure it is sympathetic with the landscape. While the roof has been going on, digging out for the service-wing foundation units has continued.

Looking down and along the length of where the service-wing will be built.

Looking Good

Ray Wood — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 22:10:02 +0100

The best day's weather at the summit in weeks, but not totally precipitation free as low cloud drifted across during the afternoon, leading to a brief shower. The completed metal framework of Hafod Eryri that comes into view just before the top as you approach along the railway line is very striking.

The roof of Hafod Eryri with the summit cairn behind.

It is now obvious that the the angle of the roof has been designed to follow the slope of the ground above. Although at the moment the shiny and starkly curved steel structure gives a futuristic feel to the building, it'll look very different faced with stone.

The steel framework of Hafod Eryri's main body highlighted by a break in
the clouds.

Looking across the roof to the station end of the building.

The cutting-out of the ledge running along the back wall of the site has been finished and the horizontal concrete beam on it will act as support for the first floor. After a dry-run in Caernarfon involving taking apart and reassembling the 20 ton crane supplied by the hire company, Bob Francis, its component parts have started to arrive on site by train. In the post on July 4th we highlighted the problems posed by getting such a heavy piece of equipment up the mountain. This crane will have the reach to enable the roof to start being fitted on Monday if everything goes to plan.

Lifting a two and-a-half ton component of the big
crane off the flat-bed.

Media Taste Life at the Top

Ray Wood — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 22:24:37 +0100

The media, invited by Snowdonia National Park to view the progress of constructing Hafod Eryri, got a first-hand feel of what it has recently been like to work on the highest building site in Wales and England. The cloud level was down to around Half-way House and a chilly insidious soaking mist greeted the journalists and film crews when they alighted from the train at the summit. The newly erected steel framework of the building was barely discernible through the greyness. Fortunately for them there was only a slight breeze. The BBC web-site later carried the headline "Weather Dampens Summit Bid".

A damp welcome for the media visiting Snowdon's summit.

Carillion's Regional Director, Meirion Evans, said a few words on top of Snowdon, praising the hard work of the men there despite the difficult conditions and explained how with April's good weather they had raced ahead of schedule, but that advantage had now gone because of wind and rain, leaving them a week behind. He added that yesterday (Monday): "they should have been starting to put the roof on". Instead, by the end of work today, Northwest Site Erections will have finished bolting together the steelwork of the main body of the building in readiness for the roof.

Peter Trumper, Snowdonia National Park, addressing journalists and local
councillors.

The main steel contractor, Rhyl based Evadx, is providing more than 100 tonnes of steel for the building, all held together by more than 2,500 bolts. Perhaps summer sun will arrive in time for the start of the fast approaching school holidays?

Looking back at the building before boarding the train.

Blame La Nina

Ray Wood — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 22:16:50 +0100

If you think rain stopping play poses problems for the Wimbledon schedule then spare a thought for the workers competing against the unseasonable weather to try and finish the £8.3 million Snowdon summit building on time.

The dramatic turn in the weather seems like a payback for the gloriously sunny and mild conditions enjoyed during the spring. All a distant memory now. It has officially, according to the Met Office today, been the wettest June on record in the UK and the wettest in Wales since 1998. Apparently, it's all the fault of the La Nina system and warm water developing in the western Pacific - probably not much comfort for the guys grafting on top of Wales' highest peak.

The rain soaked Llanberis yard at the foot of the Snowdon Mountain Railway.

In the two weeks since June 20th, five days work has been lost at the top of the mountain and high winds on a further two days has prevented any steel-work being erected. The summit has rarely been out of the cloud. During the 28th June the wind speed quickly picked up, turning a reasonable working day into a struggle against gusts over 50mph, meaning an early finish.

As Carillion Site Manager Chris Hogan said: "On most jobs you can get into a routine. But with this one there is always something that can come along and knock you off your perch."

Despite the inclement conditions of late, only three pieces of steel are required to complete the framework on the main part of the building and scaffolding is just starting to go up around the perimeter of the steelwork in preparation for adding the roof. On Saturday it is hoped to install a large net between the steel stanchions to safeguard workers when they are fitting the roof.

The eight ton Crawler Crane currently at the summit hasn't got the necessary reach for installing the roof. However, getting the 20 ton crane up the mountain, bought by the company Bob Francis for this purpose, has proved problematic.

It is too heavy to track up the railway line and the Health & Safety Executive are against flying it up. So the solution has proved to be splitting it in half and dismantling it further so it fits on the flat-bed to be taken by train up Yr Wyddfa and reassembled on site.

Snowdon Rocks

Ray Wood — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 23:34:54 +0100

Workers constructing Snowdon's new visitor centre have quickly come to realise that this is a mountain where you can expect the unexpected, be it the weather or just simply the unusual. Today, if you were up near the summit you might have caught Mike Peters, lead singer of the Welsh rock and roll band, The Alarm, playing to an appreciative audience.

Mike Peters flanked by two Welsh Guardsmen at Snowdon's summit.

The short set was part of a weekend's fund raising efforts for the LOVE HOPE STRENGTH Foundation, a charity formed by Mike Peters, to raise awareness and funding for cancer research projects. Mike himself was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 1996 and Leukaemia in 2005. He bravely beat both cancers into remission.

Mike Peters with supporters who joined him on a fund raising walk up Snowdon.

Over a 100 supporters including doctors, nurses and fans joined Mike for the sponsored walk up the Llanberis Path to the top. The walk was kindly supported by the Welsh Guards. Mike arrived at the misty summit and quiped looking over his shoulder: "that was a long way to come to play on a building site." Everyone's efforts in reaching the summit were rewarded with the day's only clearing in the clouds, timed to perfection just as the music started.

Mike Peters feeling on top of the world...well Wales at least.

Distinctive with his trademark spiky blond hair, Mike's airy concert included two renditions of the 1983 Alarm hit-song, 68 Guns. The group were founded in 1981, born out of the British punk movement and in 1982 were the opening act for U2. Mike plans to play at Everest Base Camp this October.

Assistant Site Manager Edwin Roberts planning the next move in a portacabin
at the summit.

Visitors to the summit this weekend will also include runners coming ashore at Caernarfon from boats taking part in the Three Peaks Yacht Race.

Hewden machine operators have endured grey murky conditions for the last
two weeks.

Such distractions of late are probably welcomed by the two hard working Hewden plant machine operators who've had less than a handful of days off since work resumed in March on the highest peak in Wales and England.

Test Panel

Ray Wood — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 11:50:31 +0100

Over the past week the weather conditions at the summit have been unpleasant with the top of the mountain rarely emerging out of the cloud and frequent heavy rain showers. However, digging out the footings for the service wing is nearly completed. The remaining foundation units stored at Clogwyn will then be moved up to their final resting place.

The steel framework as it stands.

Down in the Llanberis yard, the stonemason Robyn Hughes, has been finishing a test panel of the exterior stone cladding that will be used to face the new visitor centre. The Welsh quarried granite panel has a twist in it and with all the different angles has clearly required a high degree of skill to build.

The granite cladding test panel.

Robyn has been working with stone for 50 years since leaving school at the age of fifteen. He recounted that his father had told him that Robyn's great-grandfather, Moses Williams, who lived in Nant Peris, was a striking figure being 6 foot 6 inches tall and worked as a Snowdon guide. Perhaps the steep section of the Llanberis Path below Clogwyn Station, known as Allt Moses, is named after him? Incidentally, for anyone interested in the history of the mountain guides on Snowdon, a new edition of 'The Botanists and Mountain Guides of Snowdonia' by local author Dewi Jones has just been re-issued by Llygad Gwalch at £9.95 (www.gwales.com)

Stonemason, Robyn Hughes, putting the finishing touches to the test panel.

Building by Numbers

Ray Wood — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 23:15:30 +0100

Phase One has been completed and while the numbered pieces of the steel framework are being carefully assembled, the foundations for the service wing are being dug out at the other end of the site.

Steel erectors putting together the frame of Hafod Eryri.

Digging-out to make space for the service wing.

Rock-netting is being installed to cover the steep back-wall of the site to prevent any loose rocks falling on to the workers below. The fine weather forecast for the week ahead will help ensure the good progress being made at the summit continues.

Celtest Ltd and Colin Jones (Rock Engineering) are responsible for stabilising
the back wall of the site with rock netting.

On the Way Up

Ray Wood — Tue, 29 May 2007 23:55:47 +0100

At the terrace end of what will become the new summit building the first of the galvanised steelwork has been erected.

Working on the stitcher J2 along grid line 13 in the
foreground.

At times, the site's constricted area can make working and moving machinery around problematic, especially with several jobs going on at once. Currently as well as trying to erect steelwork, drains are having to be put-in before the last stitchers in the foundations to complete phase one can be finished and digging-out the footings for the service wing continues.

Looking west along the busy Hafod Eryri site. The retaining wall can clearly
be seen at the far end.

John Craven was up at the summit today, filming how the work on Hafod Eryri was progressing for the BBC Countryfile programme that goes out on Sunday mornings. The weather has been very changeable of late and while work began in cold cloud with sleet showers it finished under a cloudless blue sky.

Work on Hafod Eryri starts to come out of the ground with the first piece of
steelwork being erected.

Phase One Nears Completion

Ray Wood — Tue, 22 May 2007 23:45:12 +0100

The contractors have made good progress over the last two weeks, losing only a couple of days work because of bad weather. Phase One is nearly finished. All the pre-cast foundation units, for the main cafe area and kitchen are in the ground, filled and with their lids fitted.

Steelwork on site that Carillion hope to start putting up by the end of the week.

A small mobile crane is now in position at the top of the mountain that will be used in erecting the steelwork at the summit. The next phase will also focus on putting in the foundations for the service wing running alongside the platform and containing the Stationmasters Office. The pre-cast units for this section of the building are currently in the compound at Clogwyn Station.

Setting out using an EDM (Electronic Distance Measuring) instrument.

For the workmen it has meant some long days starting with catching the train up at seven in the morning and often not leaving the summit until six-thirty in the evening.

Phase 1 is virtually complete. The service wing will run eastwards (left).

Last of the Sunshine

Ray Wood — Sat, 05 May 2007 23:25:59 +0100

Just a couple of photos of the site before the weather changes to more unsettled conditions.

A view of the site at eight-thirty in the morning on the last day of the recent
exceptionally good spell of weather.

Moving reinforced concrete slabs to use as part of the retaining wall at the
south-west corner.

Solid Foundations

Ray Wood — Fri, 04 May 2007 23:02:22 +0100

The exceptionally fine spring weather of the past couple of weeks has allowed the construction of Hafod Eryri at Snowdon's summit to stay on schedule. Only one day's work has recently been lost and that was due to high winds. Work is continuing apace to complete the foundations with the train ferrying skips of ready mixed concrete up the mountain.

Scooping concrete out of the skip and pouring it over the shuttered
reinforced steel framework of the stitcher.

Learning from their experience of the first delivery of concrete to the summit, the quality of the mix has been enhanced by Cemex, the World's biggest supplier of ready mixed concrete. They commented that this has certainly been one of their more unusual orders with unique challenges.

Workers ensuring the mix is homogenous using 'poker vibrators'.

A super plasticiser has been added, reducing the amount of water needed but still keeping the mix workable, together with a retarder to hold back the set. Added polypropylene fibres prevent the mix segregating and bleeding (too much water coming to the surface) while it is being transported. These fibres also guard against frost attack and make the set concrete more durable.

Filling the skips in the yard at Llanberis with ready-mix prior to being loaded
on to the train.

Last Wednesday the first delivery of shiny galvanised steel-work arrived in Llanberis, all numbered like a giant Meccano construction kit.

The freshly galvanised steel framework of Hafod Eryri.

Yeti, the name of the engine pulling the flat-bed truck
up to the summit and is "Dedicated To All Creatures
Of The Mountains Living And Legendary".

Concrete Progress

Ray Wood — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 22:25:00 +0100

Skips containing ready mixed concrete being taken up to the summit.

Since work has restarted at the summit, the weather gods have been particularly kind with virtually no rain and low winds. Work has progressed well with three portacabins sited where the Station Manager's office once stood and footings excavated at the western end of the site now have pre-cast units placed in them.

Pre-cast units placed in footings with steel stitchers linking them at the
western end of site.

Today, the first ready mixed concrete travelled up the mountain by train to be poured into the shuttered stitchers between the units. Retardent in the mix helps stop the mix going-off although the vibration for nearly an hour from the rail journey doesn't help it stay homogenous.

Concrete being poured around the shuttered steelwork between the pre-cast
units.

Detail of foundations on northern side of site. The bolts that will be set within
the concrete (red) can clearly be seen and will carry the steel framework of the building.

Back on Top

Ray Wood — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 22:48:52 +0100

On schedule, work has recommenced on Snowdon's summit in glorious Spring sunshine. The summit is clear of snow and last Friday SMR (Snowdon Mountain Railway) made its first trip to the top this year, after track maintenance over the winter.

Sieving the rubble with the digger's bucket for small rocks to use inside the
foundation units.

SMR opens to the public this Saturday although will not be offering a service to the top of the mountain this season because of the redevelopment work there.

The western end of the site where Hafod Eryri will be erected.

The eastern end of the site where Hafod Eryri will be erected.

The Heras fence around the site is back-up, the highest portaloo in England and Wales has returned, the in-filled footings are being dug out and a level area is being made for the siting of three portacabins. At Deeside, the finishing touches are being made to the steelwork of the new building and it is hoped that by the middle of May a start will have been made on re-erecting it at its final resting place.

Leveling an area for the portacabins to sit on.

Work on the points close to the summit.

Hafod Eryri-on-Dee

Ray Wood — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 19:12:01 +0000

Although work at the summit on Snowdon's new visitor centre has stopped for the winter, the contractors, Carillion, have been busy back down at sea-level in Deeside constructing the steel framework of the structure.

The imposing steel skeleton of Hafod Eryri.

Today, in a large warehouse on the Corus site, the media were invited along to view how work was progressing. The now completed steel frame demonstrates the size and shape of the new visitor centre that will be known as Hafod Eryri.

Carillion Construction Regional Director, Meirion Evans, explained that the structure has been designed to be able to be broken down into pieces no heavier than the ten ton weight limit that the train can carry and will be transported up the mountain 'flat-pack' fashion.

Meirion Evans explaining about the different surface-textured granite that will
be used on the roof.

The building comprises of 130 tons of steel work and the 'dry-run' assembly has meant that any problems have been relatively easy to remedy compared to trying to solve them at its permanent home atop the summit of the highest mountain in Wales and England.

The next step is to install the windows and roller shutters and to fit the granite bull-nose to the frame of the structure. Each of the 2.5 x 3 metre glass panes weigh just over a ton. The roof will be covered with 100mm thick granite blocks and the exterior walls will also be faced in the same kind of stone.

Site Manager, Chris Holden, overlooking the roof of the building that will
eventually be covered with granite blocks.

The contractors plan to return to work at the summit on March 26th and complete the foundations ready for the steel-work to arrive. It will take about a week-and-a-half to dismantle the skeleton before transporting it to Llanberis where it is hoped to start re-erecting the structural skeleton around the end of April or beginning of May.

The obvious doorway below the banner will face the railway line and be the
main entrance as with the previous building.

Tools Down for the Winter

Ray Wood — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 22:00:00 +0000

Work has stopped for the winter on the new summit building at the top of Snowdon. Unsurprisingly, given the recent weather, it has been a tough month for the contractors, often being reduced to only two days work a week. Ironically, it was perfect conditions today on the white capped summit with the slightest breeze and broken sunshine. Away to the east was a dramatic cloud inversion punctured by mountain peaks.

Wintry conditions at the summit on the final day's work for this year.

Very little now remains at the summit. Under the cover of snow and ignoring the ring of fence posts you would be hard pushed to guess it is a construction site.

For Health and Safety reasons the posts have to be clearly marked.

The posts, fixed with resin into the ground, have been sprayed green after consultation with Health and Safety and the Llanberis Mountain Rescue team. This is to prevent people falling onto them if they get buried by drifting snow.

Breaking down the portacabin.

All the fencing sections that have been removed together with the dismantled portacabin are being left securely tied-down to the railway line, sheltered by the old platform.

A rare tea-break without having to take shelter from gale driven rain. Just as
well since the portacabin walls have gone!

The remaining digger made its way down to Clogwyn straddling the track from where it'll continue descending tomorrow. At present the train is only able to go as far as where a section of track is missing for repair a short distance below the top. The contractors Carillion are scheduled to resume work next year on the 26th March.

The portacabin and fencing is being stored by the old platform.

Ferrying the portaloo down to the train.

The foundation units will now stay at Clogwyn until the Spring.

Snowdonia-Active plans to visit the Deeside factory a couple of times before work recommences at the summit, to bring you the latest on the pre-fabrication of sections of the building.

Digging Deep

Ray Wood — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 22:07:49 +0000

Work continues apace on Snowdon's summit despite the stormy weather you would expect at this time of year. Days like today when the first train taking workers up the mountain had to turn around at Clogwyn Station owing to 69 m.p.h. winds are to be expected.

Foundation units stock-piled at Clogwyn.

Three machine operators have been making good progress excavating the footings. At the same time the flatbed has been ferrying the foundation units as far as the holding compound at Clogwyn Station so that they can quickly be shuttled to the top when required in the Spring.

Flatbed at Clogwyn in conditions too windy to use the crane for off-loading.

Before work stops for the winter it is planned to take down the fencing enclosing the building site, remove the portacabin and back-fill the footing with rubble as a matter of safety. The railway closed to the public in early November and the train is now only running for the purposes of track maintenance and taking the work-men to the summit. Although at the moment with the final few hundred metres of track removed for repair the work-men have to complete the trip on foot!

Foundations Work Underway

Ray Wood — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 19:30:06 +0000

Work has begun on excavating the footings for the new summit building at the western end of the site. This is alongside the painstaking work of separating out the twisted tangle of metal reinforcing rods from the concrete debris. Necessary in order to comply with disposal requirements.

At the Llanberis train terminus the u-shaped foundation units are being stock-piled ahead of being transported up the mountain. Once there the units will be in-filled with crushed rubble from the old building and capped with a pre-cast concrete lid. At the end of each unit a steel cage will be attached and filled with concrete to form a main load bearing attachment point. Trains continue to remove skip loads of material that can't be reused from the demolition work.

Foundation units at the Snowdon Mountain Railway, Llanberis.

Digging the footings for the new cafe has began at the western end of the site.

Separating the steel reinforcing rods from the concrete rubble.