Dartmoor in Winter

[email hidden] said...

Quoted message said:

Thinking about walking the Two Moors Way in early January--given the caveat
that the weather is both unpredictable and very changeable, what should I
expect on Dartmoor? Fog, snow, wind, rain--all at once?

Oh yes, definitely. All of the above, all at once, and without
warning. Almost certainly wind, fog and rain; probably snow or
at least heavy frost; more rain, wind and fog... Are you sure you
wouldn't rather wait until, say, March? Less chance of snow
then, but you'll still get all the others.
--
I try to be a good example to my children, but they just see me
as a dire warning.

On Sat, 16 Oct 2004 18:45:33 -0400, "John Goldfine"
<[email hidden]> wrote:

| Thinking about walking the Two Moors Way in early January--given the caveat
| that the weather is both unpredictable and very changeable, what should I
| expect on Dartmoor? Fog, snow, wind, rain--all at once?

Do they still have Red Flags on Dartmoor? Find out about those.

Never seen all four at once anywhere. Perm any two out of four.
Map, compass *and* GPS recommended, plus lots of practice in using them.

--
Dave F

"John Goldfine" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Thinking about walking the Two Moors Way in early January--given the

caveat

Quoted message said:

that the weather is both unpredictable and very changeable, what should I
expect on Dartmoor? Fog, snow, wind, rain--all at once?

Definitely all of the above. Plus an assortment of high speed lumps of
various metals which can smart a little if they hit you.

It all adds to the challenge of navigation.

Have fun,
Paul

On 16/10/04 11:45 pm, in article [email hidden], "John

Goldfine said:

Thinking about walking the Two Moors Way in early January--given the caveat
that the weather is both unpredictable and very changeable, what should I
expect on Dartmoor? Fog, snow, wind, rain--all at once?

Personally, I would wait 'till a little later in the world. Dartmoor is
pretty featureless. Nothing like Wales in the mist.

About 15 years ago (maybe more) I got caught on the more in those conditions
and was pretty worried about getting lost. Even in these days of GPS I
would still have my doubts. It's nice to know you can navigate by compass,
in the mist, in the way you are taught, but it took a long time to get to
somewhere I felt really comfortable about.

This time of year is good on Dartmoor. And spring can be lovely. Remember
there are know mountains to protect you from the driving wind and rain!

--
Andy Howell
Birmingham, UK

Dave Fawthrop said:

On Sat, 16 Oct 2004 18:45:33 -0400, "John Goldfine"
<[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted message said:

Do they still have Red Flags on Dartmoor? Find out about those.

Never seen all four at once anywhere. Perm any two out of four.
Map, compass *and* GPS recommended, plus lots of practice in using them.

You can find a number to call about the firing ranges at the following link

http://www.ex.ac.uk/its/tentors/training/2000/dartfire.htm

As for weather - IME snow is unpredictable - sometimes none, other times
lots. Fog, Rain and Wind are all certainties - make sure you have
plenty of experience with your compass - I've made mistakes even on a
clear day on Dartmoor - features on the landscape are few and far
between anyway.

But have fun - it's a lovely part of England!

James

James Welch said:

You can find a number to call about the firing ranges at the following link

http://www.ex.ac.uk/its/tentors/training/2000/dartfire.htm

Or try

http://www.dartmoor-ranges.co.uk/ranges1.html - gets updated once a week

James

On Sun, 17 Oct 2004 10:34:59 GMT, Andy Howell
<andy.howellNOSPAM@ecotrendDOTorgDOTuk> wrote:

| About 15 years ago (maybe more) I got caught on the more in those conditions
| and was pretty worried about getting lost.

I got lost there on a lovely clear day, through not using my map and
compass. I suddenly realized that the TV mast was in the wrong direction.
[censored] says I, tramping back.

--
Dave F

[email hidden] said...

Quoted message said:

Do they still have Red Flags on Dartmoor? Find out about those.

Yes, they do. And beacons at night.
--
I try to be a good example to my children, but they just see me
as a dire warning.

On 17/10/04 12:31 pm, in article [email hidden],

Dave Fawthrop said:

I got lost there on a lovely clear day, through not using my map and
compass. I suddenly realized that the TV mast was in the wrong direction.
[censored] says I, tramping back.

Oh, I've done that in sunshine as well :-)

--
Andy Howell
Birmingham, UK

I have walked Dartmoor for 27 years now. On several occasions, I have
experienced ALL types of weather in the space of a walk.

Starting one walk from Okehampton, on a calm day with clear blue skies,
I progressed through drizzle, torrential rain and gales, thunder and
lightning, hail, snow to almost white out conditions and finishing the walk
as it started - blue skies and no wind.

All that in April a few years ago.

Last year in April, I started from Great Mis Tor, walking toward Lynch.
Again, clear skies greeted the start of the walk. By the time we were half
way to Lynch, we were battling to walk into a whiteout blizzard.

Expect ANY type of weather at ANY time of the year.

PU

"Paul Upham" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have walked Dartmoor for 27 years now. On several occasions, I have
experienced ALL types of weather in the space of a walk.

Starting one walk from Okehampton, on a calm day with clear blue skies,
I progressed through drizzle, torrential rain and gales, thunder and
lightning, hail, snow to almost white out conditions and finishing the
walk
as it started - blue skies and no wind.

All that in April a few years ago.

Last year in April, I started from Great Mis Tor, walking toward Lynch.
Again, clear skies greeted the start of the walk. By the time we were half
way to Lynch, we were battling to walk into a whiteout blizzard.

Expect ANY type of weather at ANY time of the year.

What I'm getting is that the disadvantage of walking on Dartmoor in January
is that the odds of bad weather are higher, but, in truth: I can "[e]xpect
ANY type of weather at ANY time of the year."

That actually is almost encouraging--why put off my walk until August if
there's some chance of snow, gales, tornadoes, raining frogs any time....

John Goldfine said:

but, in truth: I can "[e]xpect
ANY type of weather at ANY time of the year."

Yep. sounds about right.

I spent two weeks in that part of the world a few years ago. In the
first week (off the moor) I got sunburn. In the second week (on the
moor, fewer than 20 miles away) I spent all day and night shivering in
wet clothes. Oh what an experience! This was July.

Plan for the unplannable.

Judith

[email hidden] said...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Expect ANY type of weather at ANY time of the year.

What I'm getting is that the disadvantage of walking on Dartmoor in January
is that the odds of bad weather are higher, but, in truth: I can "[e]xpect
ANY type of weather at ANY time of the year."

That actually is almost encouraging--why put off my walk until August if
there's some chance of snow, gales, tornadoes, raining frogs any time....

No reason at all. I was there (near Okehampton) for a week in
August this year. We didn't have snow, but we had hail, rain,
thick mist/fog, sun, hot, cold, wind, no wind... and some
extremely wet tents. The only thing with January is that you're
*guaranteed* to have weather with a capital W, and it's likely to
be colder than in August. Other than that - no, there really
isn't going to be a lot of difference. Do watch out for firing
on the ranges though; they start up after Christmas soon after
new year IIRC.
--
I try to be a good example to my children, but they just see me
as a dire warning.

John Goldfine said:

That actually is almost encouraging--why put off my walk until August
if there's some chance of snow, gales, tornadoes, raining frogs any
time....

I'd say there's more chance of snow and gales in March than in January,
in my experience.

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk

On Sun, 17 Oct 2004 20:16:44 +0100, Judith
<[email hidden]> wrote:

| On Sun, 17 Oct 2004 15:13:22 -0400, "John Goldfine"
| <[email hidden]> wrote:
|
| > but, in truth: I can "[e]xpect
| >ANY type of weather at ANY time of the year."
|
| Yep. sounds about right.
|
| I spent two weeks in that part of the world a few years ago. In the
| first week (off the moor) I got sunburn. In the second week (on the
| moor, fewer than 20 miles away) I spent all day and night shivering in
| wet clothes. Oh what an experience! This was July.
|
| Plan for the unplannable.

But go anyway. Dartmoor is a wonderful place.

--
Dave F

[email hidden] said...

Quoted message said:

| Plan for the unplannable.

But go anyway. Dartmoor is a wonderful place.

And take a notebook and a rubber stamp in case you stumble on a
letterbox.
--
I try to be a good example to my children, but they just see me
as a dire warning.

In article <[email hidden]>, Paul Cummings
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Definitely all of the above. Plus an assortment of high speed lumps of
various metals which can smart a little if they hit you.

"Duck " he shouted "No - artillery shell" came the reply.
--
Bill Grey
http://www.billboy.co.uk