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with an expected mild weathered february upon use tomorrow what are peoples thoughts on winter walks in the hills,

I usually spend a week in the lakes this time of year, usually enjoying icey mornings and blue skies. This year ill be at home decorating and preparing for the arrival of my first child, due in May. however when i look out im not too upset as its mild and damp.

are those icey aired fresh mornings with snow and ice on the hills becoming a rapid thing of the past. if so what are we going to-do for a weekend winter walking - travel further - via plane - and add to the increase in carbon emmissions????

scary isn't it. I love those cold icy mornings, but its actually quite warm down here in Brighton today. Even more so with the sun coming through thhe windows in the shop!
I've only had two days this winter when i've had to get the ice scraper out!

WW

And the day we get half an inch of snow the whole travel network rolls over and dies! Trains delayed for two hours! Argh!

WW

Just had a haircut, shorter than normal. So will probably snow tonight ;-)

As I avoid snow hillwalking (until I expand my comfort zone), I'd still be checking the short-range forecast, and planning accordingly.

I've not had a proper look at carbon-offsetting, but I'm sceptical of these quick-fix schemes and would rather they stopped cutting down the forests instead of planting new forests. I'm probably wrong though.

We're experiencing a balmy 13C in Aberdeen today! In January!! Summat's up, that's for sure.

Aye, it's a bit like Summer here today. ie mild and overcast. Winter was here last week but then packed its' bags and left. It's all a bit confusing, really.

Found a touch of winter last week (some pictures)But unfortunatley days out like this are few and far between this season. Good winter conditions can persist well into March, so their is still time!

great pic,s reiver.

One thing that strikes me with all these claims of impending doom and gloom surrounding these "blips" is that the TV news always comes up with statements like "It is the warmest January since nineteen forty something or other," suggesting to me that the circumstances MUST have been similar then.

We are also told that the average temperature all year round was a few degrees warmer during the time of the Roman occupation. I remember days in the 50s and 60s when you could not see the other side of the street because of fog/smog.

I just wonder if all these scare stories that all these variations are a result of global warming are really the fault of pollution or if it is also the "natural" cycles that would occur anyway every couple of hundreds of years?

Well, Tony, I guess we can never be sure.

But the weight of views from the most eminent scientists in the world seem to suggest that we should be taking this seriously!

Winter's not quite over yet folks...

Last year here in north Lancashire we got most of our snow in February and March.

The mid-range forecast on Metcheck suggests heavy snow for north Lancashire in 2 weeks (8+ cm). I know long-range forecasts aren't worth the paper they're written on, but still...

Snow ....

... Can't remember the last time we had it in Birmingham. I did find quite a bit on the Long Mynd one day in February but that was about it.

I'd agree Michael, the snow does seem to be getting later and later each year, and no doubt we'll get a dump of it sooner rather than later.

The weird thing about this year, though, is just how warm it is! Last year we had bitterly cold frosts all through January, this year it's roasting! Well, it is for Aberdeen anyway ;)

Aren't they expecting another El Nino this year, perhaps that has something to do with it?

Had about an inch of 'frost' on north Dartmoor about a week ago, all gone now. Well that was a short winter.

There's a pod of Killer Whales in The Forth. I think they're confused too.

And my Daffies are coming up. Confusion reigns.

Yes Oot,

I posted that a few weeks ago, the Met Office quoted some climate Research body that El-nino would make 2007 considerably warmer in th Northern Hemisphere, particularly the North American continent, and it is apparently following patterns prevalent in previous centuries.

That is what I meant by wondering if the current climate is solely down to global warming as some would have us believe?

Well there's currently a risk of snow in southern parts next week according to latest model predictions! And whilst the Midlands probably won't be snowbound next Thursday, I wouldn't write winter off just yet.

Remember last winter - hardly any snow in the Highlands at all until March. And most recent winters have produced the coldest/snowiest period (for England anyway) in the 2nd half of Feb.

Thursday 5th May 2005, you may remember there was a General Election that day? Thought to myself ....should I go and vote, or should I go for a walk!
The walk was fantastic. Caught in one of the heaviest snowfalls of the year. Blizzard conditions on SE ridge of Sgurr na Lapaich on the north side of Glen Affric. Knee deep snow on the summits. The followig weekend had superb winter walking conditions.
Don't write off this years winter yet. It may still come.

See this picture taken on the SE ridge of Ben More Assynt 22 April 06. Unfortunately it was poor quality snow, which resulted in the so called bad step being very interesting.

if you havnt already heard:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6321351.stm