Sun, wind and snow perform endless 'al fresco' science experiments.
Great clawed footprints in the spring snow would have caused us great alarm were it not for the fact that the print's maker seemed to have only one leg and to be light weight. We soon found the culprit, a dark brown oak leaf has landed in the toboggan tra ck - sheltered from the wind. The leaf is a much better absorber of heat than the white snow and has got hot enough to melt its way into the surface. A strong breeze maybe able it move it to another site. Heavier items such as twigs will sink 10-15 cm in this fashion.