The snow arrived!

As I look through the window, everything is what, roofs, pavements, roads the distant ridges as we have had a very heavy downpour of snow overnight so I suspect given my problems walking about, I'm going to be inside beyond just fetching stuff to and from the house holding on to things.

For all that winter does, making it at times hard to get about, actually I love winter making snowballs, snowmen and just having fun, well wrapped up in it although whither or not some work on my internet happens today remains to be seen.

I just prefer to be outside as much as I can.
 

More snow and thoughts

Well yesterday was another one but with more like a couple of inches of snow delivered in three stages so I was wrapped up getting on with things.

This said, with care, exercises in the snow can be a proper source of training as these older scouts are engaged with support so you are able to survive and look after yourself in extreme conditions.

When incidents happen as they have this week, we all need and look for people who can get us to safety so we need to train people who at the drop of hat can help.

*Due to recabling issues and loss of internet for a period, we won't be posting on Friday and are in the hands of BT/Openreach as to wither a resumption on Monday is possible.

 

Snow Fun

 

Unlike Saturday, Sunday night saw a good two inches of snow so when I got up this morning we were greeted with a lot so I made a snowman just like these young  chaps did which is fun.

Obviously you do wrap up, wellingtons, thick gloves, hat and winter coat as some others did today as school was shut so they went sledging instead!

A scattering of the white stuff

While the news yesterday remarked upon this month being the hottest on record in parts of the UK such as Northwestern Scotland it certainly wasn't like that early last week here with temperatures in the minus's and snow.

Well wrapped up with my best gripping footwear on I went out exploring looking for new growth and birds.

The way the snow landed on this tree stumps bark makes for an interesting pattern.
 

Hiking in the snow

 With more than a nod to conditions outdoors with temperatures below freezing and snow one can only imagine a organized scout hiking expedition in the winter months and yet they survived!

I cannot see any UK scouts being allowed today to hike in such conditions due to health and safety concerns and the threat of litigation should *anything* go wrong.

Stopping in Friday

It's supposed to be spring and indeed it had been mild last month sufficient I was out in my shorts but when I typed this a couple of days ago it was only two degrees c which with wind chill I could feel keenly and what is more, snowing.

That means rather than being out, I'm checking on the neighbours and making sure all my clothes are put away straight before reading a bit from my vintage cubs annuals.

There's certainly no chance of me going out dressed as he is today as much as I love to throw away the layers not least for it being more healthy to let your skin breathe when you can.

That uniform is most practical I feel.
 

Snow activities for Scouts

Winter very much arrived Wednesday with drifts of snow up to four inches here which is unusual given the ridges higher up usually take the liones share of any snowfall here

Winter for scouts isn't a matter of running in and staying warm and so many do things such as building your very own snowman, look at Winter survival techniques which is an important part of bushcrafting and winter sports.

Whatever your age tobaggoning is a load of fun, getting down with the aid of gravity

I just love this time of year.

Making the most of our weather

It is supposed to be Winter and I'd expect this sort of weather but you know, we didn't have it around Christmas with it being almost early autumn but later on this week it should be changing  with some parts to drop and we may even get snowfall this year.

Snow is something I love, as boy I played in the snow with thick boots or wellington's on and we even walked in the snow, enjoying the crisp air which I suspect these scouts are too bit one trend in our society that concerns me is to view snow as a disaster, fearing it.

Yes there are risks in it - as most things in life have - avalanches can and do happen sadly, you may get hypothermia too but snow is a normal thing to which these risks are foreseeable especially with modern forecasting and we can protect ourselves from it while enjoying the weather we have. 
Not hiding indoors every time the temperature drops or snow is forecast. 

Winter announces itself

The weekend was one of very low temperatures and considerable snowfall so much so that for the first time in ages I needed to wear my thick track pants and thickest gloves that is usually awkward for using the camera with not least the need to semi press the shutter release to engage the auto focussing.

I went out into the woods although getting about with my walking abilities was not easy due to the ice rather than the powdery snow which was fine.

Here the fallen branches got light coating even if everything else in wood has well covered.

Snowed in!

 

The Winter has returned here with snow that's beyond my abilities to walk through it yesterday and into today so I'm going be doing other things I guess.

On Tuesday I got  very upfront and personal with a crow while out staying still long enough to see clearly his features not least the beady eye and a super fast grey squirrel that darted across grassland just like a rocket on a couple of warmer days.

I am increasingly hearing birdsong earlier in the morning and often while in the woods where they are nested in the tree canopies.

Scouts in the snow

Source: Shorts in the snow

This is very much like it is at the moment having been out where strong storms have left leaving snow with massive chunks falling down here so had this of been in the morning a scene like this would of been most likely

Snow doesn't put me off.

Enjoying the snow

The Winter Scout is out exploring in the snow and to be honest I'd say right now  "I so wish" because it's not snowing so much as it is a degree above freezing and very icy which isn't much good for me whereas thick powdery snow is fine for me to be out in.

Modern Winter's tend to be less cold probably connected with climate change and the warming up in the last fifteen to twenty years compared with those in my youth and it has lead to more of this less good and less 'clear the air' winter temperatures killing bugs off weather we're having.

Winter Mountain Time

Original source:Winter Shorts Fan

While it's unseasonably warm and breezy here this morning, it isn't unknown for it to snow especially in more mountainous parts or even our steepest hills so while out scouting I too would be in shorts in the snow and they certainly look fine in it.

Sometimes I do feel we project rather more into how we should dress while outdoors than is really called for.

Scouting in the snow

It won't be long before the Winter scouting season will be among us as we brave the elements with decent boots on exploring the natural world although I will say denim jeans are amongst the worst things for wearing out of doors as the soon trap rain and melted snow that the cling next to year skin  where it soon gets cold and irritated.

It may sound counter intuitive but a decent pair of shorts and thick woollen socks is much better unless you're going into actual waterproof trouser wearing as rain evaporates off your legs better.