Whilst out in Cwm Idwal today I spotted some of the last of the Purple Saxifrage. In Welsh it’s name is Tormaen Porffor, and it’s an almost literal translation. The link being it’s latin name; Saxifraga oppositifolia – both Saxifraga and Tormaen mean stone-breaker. An apt name given it’s (and other members of the Saxifrage Genus) taste for rock crevices high in the mountains!
Tormaen Porffor/Purple Saxifrage
If you’re out and about in the mountains this weekend keep your eyes peeled, it might be the last you’ll see this season!
The Met Office is predicting a fine weekend here in Snowdonia with cloudless skies and light winds. See: Met Office Mountain Weather Report.
Despite this it is worth bearing in mind that there are still patches of snow and ice high on the mountains and care must be taken on parts of the mountain where snow has accumulated above steep areas, particularly on areas of Snowdon such as Bwlch Glas on the PYG and Miner’s tracks, the top of Fan Tail Gully on Crib y Ddysgl and the top (usually scree) section of the Watkin Path.
The Glyderau are “relatively” clear of snow and ice, and although I haven’t been into the Carneddau this week, I would expect there to be larger and longer lasting patches of snow in areas shaded from the sun.
It is also worth bearing in mind that although it may feel warm under the full strength of the sun, temperatures will feel significantly colder in the shade and after dusk. Speaking of the sun; it’s not long now until the sun is at it’s strongest of the year, and so it’s recommended that you use some sort of protection from Harmful UV rays. Remember; a cool breeze can disguise the onset of sunburn.
Shorts, not a great idea! - Bwlch Glas (Snowdon) - PYG and Miner's Paths
Hello all!
An eventful start to the season for me today. It was great to start back at work in Pen y Pass with area Warden Aled “Cochyn” Taylor, senior Warden Sam Roberts and patrol Warden Meirion Tomos, where I caught up on some of the latest developments here in the National Park and got back into the swing of things giving advice to those who were brave (or silly!) enough to attempt Snowdon today (it has been very cold, wet and windy).
A relatively quiet morning – given that it’s a bank holiday weekend – was followed by a request for assistance by the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team who were dealing with a lower leg injury high up on the Snowdon Ranger path just above Bwlch Cwm Brwynog (see map below).
Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team Landrovers Just beneath in Cwm Clogwyn
Winds were forecast to be high (in excess of 80mph) on the summits – very difficult conditions for a helicopter rescue – and so it was expected that we’d have to carry the unfortunate individual down the mountain on a stretcher. Fortunately there was a break in the weather and 22 squadron were able to pick up the casualty and take him on to Bangor Hospital.
View Rescue – 05/04/2010 in a larger map
