[Closed] Yorkshire Dales - too much snow?

Driving will be fine. Just been out this morning (in the car) to Kirkby Lonsdale which is not too far away and there isn't much snow at all on/around the roads.

Higher up on fells etc could be hard going though. Ingleborough looks plastered.

Loads of snow still in Leeds affecting the trails which means there will be more in the dales which means you may be doing a lot of pushing:(

OK thanks for the info, it's not too late to change plans but I would rather not! Just the thought of driving 4 hours to push my bike....

Can't get through to the bunkhouse either which doesn't help.

[url= http://www.swaledaleyorkshire.com/page9.htm ]Webcam[/url]

Driving is fine. You can always head for Gisburn from Settle if you're desperate - things might be slightly better there by the weekend. Alternatively, it might dump again on Fri/Sat and we'll all be back to square one.

EDIT: A day walking could well be glorious. Walking is surprisingly fun when you're not pushing a bike at the same time.

Malham Moor this morning.
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Kettlewell & Great Whernside yesterday
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The snow came from the east any track road that runs north south has drifts on it. Some of the small back roads are still drifting over. There is less snow the further west you travel. None at Lancaster for instance. I'm just heading up the Settle and Carlisle line I'll tell you later what I see

That would be useful (or depressing). Cheers.

The area round Skipton is fairly clear although there are big drifts around walls and a lot of minor roads are still closed/blocked. The forecast for this weekend is for more of the same. Bring thermals...

There is less snow the further west you travel. None at Lancaster for instance.

Er, I'd disagree. I live in Burnley and work in Skipton. There's far more snow over my side of the hill than in Skipton.

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That was the road outside my house on Sunday morning...

I ordered myself some extra thick thermal socks just in case... Doesn't look too bad from the photo, and it seems like quite a bit is very localised, hopefully we'll be able to find something ridable in the area.

Guess it all depends whether it dumps again before the weekend

We should have been there this week but the people whose cottage we were staying in[nr Reeth] couldn't get there at all and neither could we so unless a major change before the weekend it will be hard work. I was there in the last snow in Feb and riding wasn't too bad at low level, up on the high fells it a was long march.Having said that the drop off Fremington Edge [known as F*****g Fremington to my wife]was great fun, especially as you couldn't see the rocks and holes that normally psych me out.

Get up to the Dales it will be great. There is not that much snow at Reeth, it was just a bit windy so it all drifted into rather interesting shapes. Dales Bike Centre is open and serving cake.

Mrchrist-

What are conditions like in Leeds itself?

I'm, supposed to be coming up to Leeds at the end of the week for a site visit for a cycling event along the canalside- is it under snow or fairly clear?

Cheers

Joe

I'm doing the 3 peaks on Friday, I expect that most of the snow will have blown off the tops into the valleys or against walls, so I'm looking forward to it. It will be cold I expect

Most of the fields and low lying moors are blasted clean with all the snow up agin the walls and in gills and swallow holes snow level is fairly high maybe about the top 500 feet is there any full cover. Up towards Ribblehead and Dent the conditions worsen, snowing now and lots of icing, heavier drifting. To the South its much clearer a safe bet would be Gisburn Trail Centre.

Thanks for all the help guys. Let's see what the next day or two holds

Burnley is, if I remember my geography, more like south of Skipton. Now in the upper Eden valley Aisgill, more snow than you can shake a stick at you certainly wouldn't enjoy stuff around Kirkby Stephen. And for the burnlyite southerner I was over in Lancaster yesterday and once passed Clapham the snow diminishes

Dales Rider must be somewhere in Mallerstang 😀
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Photo taken a month ago from Wild Boar Fell

I'll be in malham for 4 days the thursday after easter. Never ridden in that area so if I stick my bike in, any suggestions (snow not withstanding) for 3 hour ish rides from malham to escape the inlaws for half a day>? Sorry for hijack, ta!

Indeed Penine now in the lower Eden valley and ther is no snow at all, however Dun fell etc are absolutely plastered with snow more there than the 3 peaks positively Alpine looking. West to the Lakes tis cloudy so no idea what its like. there is
Tarmac road climb away from Malham past Gordale scar up onto Mastiles lane across tops towards settle via Malham Tarn if you've time drop down to settle and back via Stockdale lane would be my choice for a ride from Malham

Indeed Penine now in the lower Eden valley and ther is no snow at all, however Dun fell etc are absolutely plastered with snow more there than the 3 peaks positively Alpine looking. West to the Lakes tis cloudy so no idea what its like. there is
Tarmac road climb away from Malham past Gordale scar up onto Mastiles lane across tops towards settle via Malham Tarn if you've time drop down to settle and back via Stockdale lane would be my choice for a ride from Malham

BWs to Pikedaw, right to Langscar & across to Malham Tarn. Road to Street Gate & Mastiles Lane. Follow Mastiles to High Bank gate & turn right to Lee Gate Farm & Smearbottom Lane. Bit of road to lane on left. Follow uphill to The Weets. Follow BW all the way down to Airton. Road back to Malham.

Cheers, I ran round Malham tarn, along Mastilles Lane and down the road past Goredale scar last time we were there so that's vaguely familiar.

We went to Kentmere today and went up Ill Bell, it was cold, windy and very hard going under foot.

Burnley is, if I remember my geography, more like south of Skipton.

We're both right - it is South but also West. 23 miles South West. And 30 miles due South of Settle which is about 15 miles North West of Skipton. And there's a lot of deep snow lying too.

It's snowing steadily over the whole area this morning.

I live in Skipton and the snow's coming down quite heavily again. 👿

Bugger, think it's time to think about a plan B... Appreciate the help guys! We're all hanging by your words.

I live in Skipton and the snow's coming down quite heavily again.

Gisburn forest trail builders facebook suggests that Gisburn is already rideable with care and the occasional push. Certainly the lower loop of the red route should be getting there. Past today, there's no significant snowfall forecast coming into the weekend, so I was planning on taking a look on Thursday or Friday.

I wasn't thinking of going higher up for a while, though. I think most of the Settle Loop will be slathered - but someone mentioned that past Clapham, things are improving, so perhaps there are some lower options out that way? There is a nice short route out of Clapham via Crummackdale and Long Lane which could well be reasonably rideable by the w/e.

chestrockwell - Member

I live in Skipton and the snow's coming down quite heavily again.

Living a few miles further North has its benefits then 🙂
Just light flurries and although the drifting has caused problems for drivers we aint had that much snow. Around our Network {yorks Lancs] 6" at the most.
This is snow which fell to a depth of about a metre in a day.

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Not a great deal here east of the A1, bit of snow on the bigger hills, but none in the woods.

Is it? (Looks out of window). Only flurrying at the moment

It is now but it was snowing quite steadily as I drove into work this morning.

but someone mentioned that past Clapham, things are improving, so perhaps there are some lower options out that way?

I'm doing the 3 peaks on Friday, I expect that most of the snow will have blown off the tops into the valleys or against walls, so I'm looking forward to it. It will be cold I expect

I would expect it would be very very icy under foot, to the point you will struggle without crampons.

As for OP, fields are generally coming back to grass now, but you will meet many frequent drifts that could be 8-10ft deep.

We were out in the mountains on the Lakes/Dales boarder yesterday. Managed without crampons, but with proper rigid mountaineering boots. It was very tough going with driving freezing wind. Had to get out the googles coz my eyes were stinging. 3 peaks will be a proper challenge on Friday, especially navigating in any cloud cover. personally, I'd be inclinded to risk not having the excess weight of axe and crampons, they're not that critical in the Dales IMO, a good navigator will be essential tho, if it's low cloud.

I remember doing 3 peaks in March in approach shoes a few years ago, less snow, just patches on the northish-facing slopes. I was missing boots and axe in a couple of spots. Took me about 45 mins of careful work to get down the steep bit heading towards Whernside from the summit of Ingleborough, then did a cartoon fall on icy path slabs on the path below.

There are a few bits near the summits of Ingleborough and PenyGhent where I know I'd want crampons, given current conditions.

How about some of these?

http://www.kahtoola.com/microspikes.php

They'd be fine, mind I'd not bother with axe or crampons unless I was doing Red Pencil then it would probably only be an axe for torquing

No way are crampons and an axe needed on the 3 peaks route! Fell spikes will help, but Icy paths can be avioided by walking in the crunchy snow.

How do I know this, I've already done it this winter 🙂

I'm a softy, and would probably rather have spikes or crampons in my sack even if I didn't end up needing them.

Is swaledale still snowy? Anyone know? I've posted on the Dales Bike Centre FB page but no answer yet.

The dales is fine everywhere, just run Pen y Ghent and Whernside this morning. All roads are clear and all the tracks around ribblesdale are in good condition, either clear or crunchy snow.

Definitely no need for crampons!

djg: What was the wind like on Whernside today? I was on Whernside yesterday and the fierce crosswind made it a right effort to make progress to the trig.

Not bad enough to impede running. But enough to present quite a chill if stood still!

The dales is fine everywhere, just run Pen y Ghent and Whernside this morning.

Oh so you've been everywhere in the Dales? Or just Pen Y Ghent and Whernside. 🙂

All the high roads into Wensleydale from the south are open apart from Fleet Moss. Snow on the hills is generally above 1500ft. This gives an idea
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If you want to play with crampons & 5 minutes from car to to Gordale Scar. This was two days ago
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or
Force Gill near Blea Moor
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Still quite a bit of snow up Swaledale, i went up this morning for a pre work ride, the route i was going to do turned out to be a no go and because i was short on time i sacked it off, there will be a few routes but i didnt have time for an epic.
Dales bikes was closed at 8.30 so may be closed all day.

Nice pics pennine, Gordale Scar looks amazing.

Thanks for the report godzilla - sounds like it may not be worth the hour and a half drive for me.

Oughtershaw to Fleet Moss road.
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