Well having woke up and seeing the pretty snow at Haytor and knowing that
the radar was showing most showers in the west yesterday I decided to drive
the 14 miles to Princetown across the moor to check it out. And I wasn't
disappointed! Princetown is the highest town in Devon at 400m asl (possibly
the highest in England?). On the way I saw some young children sledging on
the main slope at Haytor, just about enough snow for a light sled. The
distant high moors were shining white in the sun, a good sign. Got to
Princetown at 0915 and the roads were still snowy there and there was a good
couple of inches, still pristine. Walked up to North Hessary Tor radio mast
at 517m asl and saw some drifting. Excellent visibility and the high
moorland peaks above 550m asl were shining out well. Quite deep snow in
places (over six inches) and the dog was loving it. From North Hessary took
a stroll across to Great Mis Tor at 538m asl. Crossed drifts circa 15 inches
deep with a lot of scouring. At the Tor is was still cold enough for icicles
but they were melting and the, by now, hot March sunshine was melting the
powder snow. In fact a lot of it was sublimating in the dry and clear air.
Quite surreal on Great Mis, from there you can see the sea and the snow line
was, by then at 440m asl (worked out from the map), so everywhere lower than
that was brown and green and I was surrounded by whiteness. Got back to
Princetown just after noon and the snow was going fast, it was still on the
north facing rooves and gardens, but only the very high moor had much of a
cover by then. Drove back home to Haytor and all the snow had gone as soon
we had left Princetown. Temperature at 1300 at home was a balmy +6.9C and
that sun was warm in fact I got sunburnt a bit, I forgot my goggles too, so
a bit watery-eyed.

So, a superb morning, best snow of the winter even though it was only a
light 2 inch fall, but the drifts were fun! My batteries are now re-charged
and I'm ready to go :-)

Will
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