What Caused These Patterns in the Snow?
Study the photo above, taken in Finnish Lapland, and see if you can work out how these patterns in the snow formed. For the answer,…
Tag: winter navigation
What is a Double Frost?
A double frost forms when a layer of frost forms on top of an earlier frost. If the conditions are right for frost to form…
What is Rime Ice?
Rime Ice There is a common type of icing that is regularly called frost, but is not formed in the same way. Rime ice occurs…
Natural Navigation using Snow on Trees
In winter there are lots of new clues formed by the snow, including the strips of snow we find on the windward side of trees.…
Ice Wall in Finland
I’ve just received another fascinating email from ‘Chris in Finland’: I took this photo a few days ago on Lake Näsijärvi, Tampere, Pirkanmaa, Finland. This…
Snow Signs in Finland
My thanks to Chris, who writes with some very interesting observations from the Kangasala region of Finland: “In the first picture (above), if you look…
Which Way Are We Looking – Night Walk
I went for a very enjoyable night walk in the South Downs last night. What direction are we looking in the photo above? Answer… We…
Using Snow and Snow Shadows to Navigate
We can navigate using both snow and the absence of snow, zones known as ‘snow shadows’. There are two types of snow shadow, those caused…
“Gorse is out of bloom, when kissing’s out of fashion”
There was heavy snow in the early hours of Sunday morning. We didn’t need any more encouragement. The Gooley family set off for an explore…
Reading Ice Patterns and Compasses
Here is a selection of images from a recent dawn exploration of my local hills. I’ve explained how to read these patterns and signs in…
Avalanche Warning Signs
In some areas niche expertise is vital, literally. The signs that warn of avalanches can be life-saving. Nik Huggins spoke to Alan Halewood (pictured) for…
How to Navigate Using Snow Strips
As is my habit at this time of year, I like to get out early after any overnight snow. The tracking opportunities are spoiling and…
Scorpius Returns
In this image the three brightest objects in the sky are, from left to right, Venus, the moon and Jupiter. But look carefully to the…
Winter Clues Competition Winner
There were a surprisingly low number of entries for the winter clues competition, but some fun and unusual ideas amongst them. Using seaweed to work…
Snow Clues
I took these two photographs during a walk in the woods on Friday morning. The second picture was taken facing the opposite direction to the…
Extraordinary Winter Clues Competition
The outdoors can feel less exotic in winter and to counter this I thought I would run a competition to get us looking a little…