A rare retreat

[M1EYP]

I’m on the road gigging again. Bridlington Spa last night - that had the obvious pairing of Bishop Wilton Wold G/TW-004. Tomorrow I’m in Warwickshire and have an eye on Walton Hill G/CE-002.

Tonight’s gig is in Yeadon near Leeds. I’d overnighted at Skipton Travelodge with an optimistic eye on the trio of Cracoe Fell G/NP-032, Sharp Haw G/NP-029 and Rombalds Moor G/NP-028.

I started with Sharp Haw as it was very close to my accommodation. Conditions were unpleasant with strong wind, sleet and underfoot was very boggy - even worse than usual.

It was more bearable towards the summit with the sleet now morphing into proper snow. I dropped a few feet down the steep slope on the south of the summit to escape the wind. It would have been impossible to safely erect the 5 element beam in the force of the northerly wind.

Just four QSOs, 3 on 2m SSB and 1 on 2m FM to qualify.

I decided that Cracoe Fell would take too much time out of the day and could be a slog in the wintry conditions. I needed to be at soundcheck for 3pm, so thought that the “trivial” Rombalds Moor would be the sensible option.

Except that it wasn’t.

Once onto Ilkley Road, there was plenty of snow down. Vehicle tracks were well established through the snowy road. They were right down to the tarmac and no issues with grip - at that point. I told myself to remain vigilant though!

Just 200 yards short of the parking spot, my car struggled, and ultimately failed to get up a slight ramp on a bend in the road. The snow was now coming down heavily, and I realised that even if I could get to the parking spot, there would be a risk of getting stranded there - and I had work to get to!

Reversing the car and turning it round was far from straightforward. It just kept going in unwanted directions or not moving at all. I tried to remain calm and logical, and ultimately I solved the problem. It required several short manoeuvres each interspersed with getting out and removing accumulations of snow from behind the tyres!

I then noticed there was another car in between mine, and the parking area, that was in similar difficulties. Another car was now coming up the road behind me. I signalled to them to turn round, which they did.

I drove back down Ilkley Road safely and enjoyed the lunch I had just picked up from the village below - samosa chat and pakora.

I’ve got another gig in tonight’s venue in April, so Rombalds can wait until then. Although depending the weather and where I stay tonight, it might even be on the cards for tomorrow morning.

Not often I abandon - but better to be sensible. To be honest, I was probably closer to getting caught out than I would prefer!

[MM7MOX]

I’ve just bailed out of doing a second summit myself GM/SS-105. Snow is too deep on the steep part of the hill. The wind has got up as well so time to walk back. I got to the top of GM/SS-104 though.

Andy

MM7MOX

[M9OMS]

Best to live to fight another day - but you activated it regardless.

I usually run all-season tyres. Having not had this car for too long, I’ve not got round to changing them… quite an eye opener in January.

PS No frost on your beard? It can’t be that cold.
(runs and hides)

[M1EYP]

That is frost. No grey in my beard

[M0KOV]

Tom, I tuned to a faint trace on the waterfall and heard you calling cq Sota, Since I hadn’t got the amp connected and the 2 W of the transverter was being attenuated by 30 metres of coax, I never expected a reply to my call, so many thanks for the qso.

I bet it wasn’t pleasant on Sharp Haw, at least you were still smiling.

73 Steve

[MM0EFI]

Bunch of Snowflakes.

[MM7MOX]

I know my place !

I’m starting to find my limitations as well, mid thigh snow requires better gear.

Had to stop and hobble round the car on the way home to relieve the leg cramps.

Andy

MM7MOX

[MM0EFI]

@MM7MOX

requires better gear

Snow shoes are a worthy investment for ES, SS and many CS summits. Less so for WS! I’m more likely to carry snow shoes than crampons these days.

[MM7MOX]

They would probably have helped today, but I should have made a better assessment and route choice as well. Hindsight is a great teacher.

That’s the first time I’ve tried walking in snow that deep since the bad winter of 1978.

Andy

[M1EYP]

@M9OMS

but you activated it regardless

No, I didn’t. I abandoned the idea and turned the car around.

[GM4EVS]

@M1EYP

my car struggled, and ultimately failed to get up a slight ramp on a bend in the road

Tom, Up here (Perth), and further North, there is a good business case for having 8 wheels for your car - 4 for Summer, and 4 for Winter. As recommended by vehicle manufacturers, full Winter tyres typically use a smaller diameter wheel and also a narrower one.

I have operated this model for some 14 years. Others on here will have been doing this for far longer. In many EU and Scandinavian countries, there are legal requirements regarding Winter wheels and tyres.

With my old front-wheel drive VW Golf, I was able to make easy progress in 2-3 inches of snow and more, hills and all. You drive with caution, not as though you’re trying win the Monte Carlo rally.

In my experience, with medium snow, having the right Winter rubber (on all 4 wheels) is more important than 4-wheel drive. That said, making good progress in 4-8 inches of snow typically requires 4WD; not least to get the ground clearance at the front to avoid becoming a snow plough.

For those who don’t know, Winter tyres are made from a different type of rubber compared to Summer ones. As the temperature falls below 0degC, Summer tyres start to set hard, and eventually become ‘solid plastic’ much like the wheels on a supermarket trolley. No grip at all.

By comparsion, full winter rubber, at low temperatures, remains pliable akin to a pencil eraser. Much better grip.

The full Winter tyre tread-pattern has something called ‘SIPING’ which contributes to providing good grip in snow.

Once temperatures start to rise above 10degC, Winter rubber wears out more quickly, and offers poorer stopping distances. You put the ‘Summers’ back on.

---

For those living in the South of the UK, all of this is irrelevant. Just WFH on the occasional snowy days.

Winter SOTA Activators perhaps have more to think about?

73 Dave

PS For a given annual mileage, the ultimate cost is the 4 Winter wheel rims. With 8 wheels, your mileage is spread across the 8 tyres which all last longer, compared to having only 4. And avoiding just one unpleasant trip, off the road and into the surroundings, easily pays for the Winter rims

[G4IPB]

In the North Pennines I also had the same approach with a set of spare steel wheels - but for the last 5 years I have used a good all season tyre (Cross Climate) and it might not be quite as good in the snow, or quite as good on a stupidly hot day on a dry road, but it is a very good compromise. They are now on all the cars and I have not got stuck recently….

[GM5ALX]

@G4IPB

all season tyre

They are often better in wet conditions and have better wet braking than either summer or winter tyres and so may be beneficial all year round…regardless of snow.

[MM0EFI]

@GM4EVS

Once temperatures start to rise above 10degC

Which meant, when we had BMW’s, we had the winters on from November until the end of April, so six months.

Now, I just use this:

[M9OMS]

@GM4EVS

As the temperature falls below 0degC, Summer tyres start to set hard, and eventually become ‘solid plastic’ much like the wheels on a supermarket trolley

No argument there - summer tyres are as you describe, but the temperature limit is 7c for summer tyres IIRC (they struggle to warm up whilst driving). The shopping trolley effect can lead to increased wear too.

A patch of frost in the wrong place and you’ll soon know about it (the lanes round here aren’t gritted). A quality all-season tyre is beneficial, regardless of snow.

[GM4EVS]

@M9OMS

the temperature limit is 7c

Agreed, 7degC is the spec. figure, but few shed their ‘Summer’ tyres for ‘Winters’ when Autumn temperatures first fall to this level; many wait a while longer.

Indeed, most drivers in England use their ‘Summer’ tyres all year round, down to 0degC and lower

@G4IPB’s post about all-season tyres is good advice worthy of careful consideration.

73 Dave

[MW7IOL]

Regardless of your tyres, Don Whillans gave the right advice “Remember, the mountain will always be there. The trick is to make sure you are too."