Poster: A snowHead
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Shimmy Alcott wrote: |
yes, wont be in here early enough so I will do it now - Penblwydd Hapus xx
Chamcham,where are you from? |
Born in the Rhondda (not a million miles away from Mike Pow), moved to the Vale of Glamorgan, went to school in Tonyrefail, exiled down south to the New Forest 20 years ago (I see myself as a missionary to the heathen), and still supporting the Scarlets (who, incidentally, have beaten the All Blacks in my lifetime).
And you?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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
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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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Fantastic fun! Thanks Mike!
I've now been lucky enough to meet and ski with one of my skiing heroes and a skiing legend!
Great to meet Cris and Ben too!
Brings a whole new meaning to the term "skiing".
When you've got the hang of skiing heavy wet snow and breakable crust it's time to step up and have a go at lightly dusted grass!
I was grinning from ear to ear all the way down (apart from when the tips wedged in some dense grassy tufts)!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Sounds great guys, you went up bloody early didnt you? Commitment that it lol!Get the pics uploaded!!!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Chamcham, ah, i'm from North Wales - Pwllheli. Moved to Uni in Manchester and stayed there for 10 years, now live in South Cheshire. Mum and Dad and bro still live in Pwllheli though and have a sister that lives in Mid Wales.
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So beautiful.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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^ yeah, saw them on the other thread you posted them and my reaction there was the same as here - GORGEOUS!
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For those who skiied (at pen-y-fan) today, which 'slope' did you go down? I went there this afternoon, brought skis but thought it didn't quite look snowy enough! Had a nice walk up to the top and took some photos when the cloud cleared (around 3pm).
Last edited by Ski the Net with snowHeads on Sat 27-11-10 19:47; edited 1 time in total
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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How much snow is there in North wales???
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Myself and gf went up this afternoon: no vis and bitterly cold at the top. Decided to ski Cefn Crew, via a visit to the recently crashed piper near the saddle. Wind had scoured a lot of the powder off but still retained by grass. Temps below freezing so still light and dry. Skiing was challenging but rewarding back to the carpark. We picked up Mike's tracks near the bottom and followed them in. Epic
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Oh.... for the gullies in Snowdonia... I can book my MC club hut or the PYB (which we had to give back when the lease ran out sob sob) so that it becomes a proper weekend trip. We can then make an early start and get up there before the routes get crowded.
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You know it makes sense.
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Awesome stuff chaps.
How much snow is there in North wales???
Judging by the comments above in that the Brecon are covered I'd say Snowdonia is likely to have an even better covering.
-4C in Bristol tonight - bwwwr!!
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Its -4c already here in manchester. Im off walking with 3 other lads tomorrow up near Yad Moss and i have thrown the Skis in the car just incase i can get a few turns in!!! I will report back tomorrow on the appropriate topic, maybe head to wales next weekend!!!
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Poster: A snowHead
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rsnigelpm, Until we get a proper frozen base we may well rip the arse out of our skis on the rocks... I'm not sure until I get up there how deep the snow is and there are a lot of pointy hard things sticking up just below the surface even at the best of times.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Great pics guys.
Had a big one after the match in Cardiff last night Just got home.
Will put the pics up later this evening.
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Llawer o eira n Nghaerdydd a hyn o bryd. Bendigedig!!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Took some snowboards up to the Horseshoe Pass on Saturday. Lovely snow - it was surprisingly fast and got better the more times we went down! Had a really fun time. If there is more snow up there this week I think another little jolly is on the cards for next weekend
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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thunderer wrote: |
mark handford, Hi, what do you reckon the best (safest) way of walking up to Pen yr Helgi Du, is it straight up the Y Braich ridge ???, the ski route - down looks to be the ridge and then off towards the road up to Llugwy Reservoir
Do you think ice axe and crampons req'd ???? or otherwise I thought Moel Ellio a possability ???. looks a safer ascent |
Just walk straight up the access road for the Resevoir then , if the slope is safe, head up the side of the braich to the top of Helgi.
Ski descent is back donw 'Y Braich' with some steeper ground on the south west side of the hill.
Campons and axe, safest routes - well this depends on conditions on the ground on the day, if the slope is rock hard neve then crampons may be needed as well as walking axe - its offpiste, so winter mountaineering kit should be available.
I only mentioned Helgi Du as its good access and a nice slope for novices with steeper stuff on either side for those who want to push their skills a little.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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mark handford, thanks for info, looks like a wait for more snow, but still plenty of time.
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You know it makes sense.
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Just moved to Brecon and keen to take advantage of the mountains and snow on the doorstep. What kit would people recommend for skiers, snow shoes or skins and touring kit for going up?
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Bootpacking works 90% of the time. Or 100% of the time if you don't have snowshoes / touring gear
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Poster: A snowHead
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Looks like you had a lot of fun on Pen y Fan. Having said that, I'm glad I didn't make the six hour round trip for the "snow/grass hybrid!"
Although there is more snow forecast for this week - maybe next Saturday? I'll keep watching the forecast...
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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MONDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2010
Unable to get over to the Beacons this morning, so took a walk in my local country park instead. A great covering for late November, but unfortunately not enough to ski.
Sunrise at the top lake, Dare Valley Country Park, Aberdare
There is an old saying "If ice in November be thick enough to hold a duck, the rest of the winter will be all slush and muck".
Thankfully the ice isn't thick enough yet and we may see another great winter.
Mountainside reflection in the top lake, Dare Valley Country Park, Aberdare
The view of the Darren and Bwllfa Dare looking across the top lake at Dare Valley Country Park, Aberdare
Drove over to the Black Mountain in the afternoon to make some turns. Plenty of snow on the slopes off Fan Brycheiniog I've been scoping the past couple of weeks. Aesthetically the slopes off Fan Brycheiniog down to Llyn y Fan Fawr are best at sunrise so I left those for another day.
Continued up the A4067 to the road side shots off Fan Gyhirych overlooking Cray Reservoir.
5 mins before parking in the lay-by this is the view that greeted me
Fan Gyhirych
Twenty minutes later and half-way up the hill this is what it looked like. Welcome to Brecon Beacons weather.
Lower slopes of Fan Gyhirych overlooking Cray Reservoir
The top half of the hill (150m vertical) had a good covering that was negotiable with oil tanker turns. The next 100m vertical was like walking through seaweed. One second smooth as, the next second the skis getting tangled in the grass tufts. Walked the remaining 100m vert back to the car.
There was some serious surface hoar formation lower down.
TUESDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2010
The temperature has risen and it snowed approx 20cm in the past 24 hrs in the Brecon Beacons. Hopefully this has been wetter, heavier snow that will freeze and set up and which will provide a better base for turns.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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iwan
that jacket makes you look fat![/url]
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Hello. all
Just had to cancel a trip to see some family so now thinking about spending a couple of days walking sliding around the beacons, does anyone have info about current snow depth as storey arms cam seems to be put out of action
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Looking at the forecast for the next 24-48 hrs, it seems likely that there might be some light snow overnight, and then the temeratures rise through tomorrow.
Is anyone planning to be on Pen y Fan first thing Saturday?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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reasonable snow falling in the brecon beacons at the moment, not sure about tomorrow as rain has been forcast quite widely
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We had 1" of snow last night and it froze over night. I'm sure there will be much more on the hills. Forecast today is sleet on lower ground but snow on high ground. Forecasters are now saying this cold weather could last into the New Year.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Great pics Iwan.
Wow what a difference in a week.
Can't wait until next weekend.
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Thanks Mike.
In truth, average photos (phone cam), fantastic scenery. Andyevs has photos of us sitting on the upturned, crashed light aircraft that came down a week or two ago. Will post when he sends them to me.
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