1445 2/2/12

Just got back from a 10 mile short stroll from my house onto the high moor.
Went up to and along the 3 mile long Hameldown Ridge running roughly N-S to
Widecombe. The top of the ridge is at 532m asl and a lot of it is above 500m
asl and is wide and very exposed. Main snow line is now at 410m asl with
most of the thin previous cover below that having sublimated away. Above
450m asl the snow deepens quickly with a good 4-5 inches level snow above
500m asl with 15 inch drifts. Bitterly cold over the snow pack with wind
chill around -15C, so I had to be careful to keep well covered up.
Interesting that there is not much deeper snow on the southern moor nor
around Princetown with amounts increasing quickly on northern side of B3352.
Cosdon Beacon at over 550m asl was shining brightly and I estimate probably
over 6 inches level snow on the top of Dartmoor above 550 metres. The snow
was sugary with a crust and in many places ice underneath with extensive
frozen puddles on the main hiking routes. The difference between north and
south Dartmoor due to where the warmer air got to on Sunday night. My house
and Hay Tor was just in the warm air Sunday night, Hameldown clearly wasn't.
Coming back there were a lot of people in the car parks either setting off
for a stroll or just gawping at the snowy hills. And why not! It is a lovely
sunny and clear day with excellent visibility. I must confess I am glad to
be back at home in lowly green but frozen Haytor (temp +0.1C) as I was
getting quite cold walking into the wind despite 3 layers and a thick coat.

Well time to light the log fire, relax and remember a gorgeous, and at
times, lonely walk. If the yucky damp tropical air does return, then at
least I can remember this day.

I guess high Dartmoor is probably the snowiest place in southern England at
present?

http://www.lyneside.demon.co.uk/Hayt...antage_Pro.htm
Will Hand (Haytor, Devon, 1017 feet asl)
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