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This posting expresses the personal view and opinions of the author.
Something which everyone on this planet should be able to do.
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Some superb snow condirions on the high plateau today above 500m asl (probably
previous days as well). Miles and miles of deep soft powder snow 15-20 cms
depth. On lee slopes much more than that, over 40cms in places. Fell down
several snow holes on the walk, one up to my chest which was worrying. Drifts to
lee of every substantial obstacle, many over 1 metre high and one over 2 metres.
Army tracks are impassable being covered in up to a metre of snow. On the
escarpment from Yes Tor to High Wilhays (circa 620m asl), quite icy conditions
and a force 7 with temperature well below freezing gave serious wind chill
conditions. However, the highlight of the walk for me was that in the lee of
Row Tor (near Belstone) there was the remains of a fairly well constructed
igloo! Possibly army built. The conditions today were really for experienced and
well-equipped walkers only but were not dangerous due to cloud well above the
tops and only a few very light snow flurries to worry about. Best winter walking
I have ever had on Dartmoor.

OK, you hardy hill folk up north probably think that this is all didly squat,
but I'm told that such conditions on Dartmoor are becoming less common now and
it's the deepest snow I've personally seen on the moor since 2002 when I started
living down here! At times it looked like the Highlands. If it snows again this
week conditions could become quite spectacular.

Meanwhile, back in semi-tropical Haytor we have at

1800

Temp 2.3 deg C (Day max 2.6 deg C, Night min +0.3 deg C)
Wind NE force 3
Snow flurries AM.
Official snow depth at 0900 was 2cm and 60% cover. Now it is 1cm 50% cover so
today is the last official day of snow lying at my altitude.

Will.
--

" Ah yet another day to enjoy "
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A COL BH site in East Dartmoor at Haytor, Devon 310m asl (1017 feet).

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DISCLAIMER - All views and opinions expressed by myself are personal
and do not necessarily represent those of my employer.
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