First snow of the year shocker

[DeeTees]

I woke up this sunday morning (feb 26) to find a strange soft white blanket outside, the first real snow of the year in the Reykjavik region. Not only that but the snow fell straight down and lots of it. Usually when snow falls here, it falls horizontal and is blown over roads which are elevated, i.e. with a slope either side.

Terrano was nicely wrapped



Normally I'd just wait for rain or flag down the snow plow, but needs must and I had to get out.
On 31" studless, I used the jeep as a snow plough and could move above 15m each time. I didn't want to get stuck and have to get down and dirty to loosen hardened snow from under the jeep.


Thats about a 15m stretch with another good uphill distance to go.



2 thirds up and it's getting to be a slog. Stop every 10m. get out, up to my marbles in snow, clear the plowed hardened snow in front.



That's her at the top


A Nissan Patrol on 36" very very fat tyres stopped the top of the road and drove down to where I was, reversed back up, and repeated that. That made it a lot easier but of course did not lessen the accomplishment

[terranosaurusdoug]

Wow, how do you get anything done in weather like that

[emjaybee]

Good job!

Don't take this the wrong way, but makes me glad we've had no significant snow for three winters (North Oxfordshire).

Nice to see you're coping.

Take care.

[macabethiel]

I secretly love snow and am always miffed when we seem to get very little these days the last decent snow we had in Derby was I think 5 years ago.

When I was a boy every winter would mean at least 3 weeks of sledging. Snow seemed to be a regular feature until around 1969 then it was just every decade with the odd exception.

It also used to really freeze hard with thick ice on local Canals and Lakes. I actually rode my Motor Cycle across the Lakes at Markeaton Park in Derby one winter the ice was that thick. I also had a brief race around the Lakes in a Mini but that was short lived due to the cracking noises I could hear. Biggest job was building the ramp out of snow and wooden debris to get off the lake again. Less than 2 minutes of driving and about 30 frantic minutes getting off the ice again.

Snow is great unless you need to get somewhere on time or go to work.

[Banshee]

Now I see why they go 38's etc etc

[DeeTees]

Originally Posted by terranosaurusdoug

Wow, how do you get anything done in weather like that

A heavy snowfall, falling straight down is very rare. This happened about 4am sunday morning. The intrepid citizens just take it easy on the sunday, using the roads as footpaths, strolling around the town in clear windless sunshine, tourists had a field day in the snow.
Pizza outlets were busy.
For us, snow usually falls in a blizzard and blows into drifts around/over the house, but if you see in the background in this photo, the road uphill is clear, the snow is blown over the road, basic arctic technology.

[Mav96]

Now I know that a lot of us would like some of that white stuff to go out n play

[Banshee]

Originally Posted by DeeTees

A heavy snowfall, falling straight down is very rare. This happened about 4am sunday morning. The intrepid citizens just take it easy on the sunday, using the roads as footpaths, strolling around the town in clear windless sunshine, tourists had a field day in the snow.
Pizza outlets were busy.
For us, snow usually falls in a blizzard and blows into drifts around/over the house, but if you see in the background in this photo, the road uphill is clear, the snow is blown over the road, basic arctic technology.

Poor Corsa

[Banshee]

Could do with an Elty Corsa out there

[Blocky10]

[DeeTees]

Originally Posted by Banshee

Poor Corsa

Liberated by nightfall.

[jims-terrano]

Feel free to keep the flipping stuff and refrain from sending it down to us please

[emjaybee]

+ 1

And then some!

[don simon]

That looks like proper snow, not the wet slushy stuff we get here. Awesome!

[DeeTees]

You're right Don, those guys can have their winter damp, rain and grey.
Days like this are a good part of the reason for living here. I made the effort to get the jeep out onto the road so I could take some visitors around the foothills near where we live, about 15km to the south east from Reykjavik.
There are a myriad of dirt tracks around this wonderful area, this is the area the British Army were billeted in during WW2, winters were fierce then.


Looking toward Mt Esja north of Rvk




a bit closer



The mountain range continued east of Mt. Esja




These are hills overlooking Reykjavik, here are the thermal hot water pipes taking the hot water up to those tanks and from there to the homes and footpaths around Reykjavik




The scene from the site of the water tanks towards the city, the spire of the church on the hill in the city centre is just visible.




another look at the pipe going through a helper pump




another peep at Mt. Esja, this mountain range lords over Reykjavik.




Day over, headed home at sunset about 6.30pm




The same mountain range in another season