Last night we had probably the heaviest overnight snowfall ever seen in the wolds area of Lincolnshire. At lunchtime yesterday we had around 3-4 inches (8-10 cms). By the time I woke up the next morning and did my rounds feeding the sheep, we had snow at knee depth. I measured this between 18-20 inches (45-50cms). I had left out my Hilleberg Soulo, which I had slept in at the weekend at -10C. Although, the Hilleberg literature mentioned the excellent snow handling properties of the Soulo, I had half expected to see it at the very least deformed if not flatten. However when I got to it, it was standing upright and proud as if to say, “you will need more snow than that to defeat me”. Although the outer tent was pressed up against the inner on one side,the top vent had held up and the was no strain on the poles or the zip.
Soulo - snow handling
The following photographs give a flavour of this morning at home.
feeding the sheep with hay
Motor home and car get a pasting
Snow sculpture
Looking down our lane to the house
A bit worried about how low the electricity cable is !!
Mark's walking blog 
The Soulo seems to cope well! The snow came just timely for you to test your new tent 🙂
Cute sheep – are they kept for wool or meat, or just for fun?
Maria – at one time , we use to produce for meat and produce lambs, along with pigs and chickens – quite a smallholding we had. With all the EU regulations, it has become quite difficult for a hobby farmer to do this, so they are now grass cutters and we use the wool. Still keep some chickens and ducks.
Mark
That’s a good test, it ought to withstand pretty much anything. Maybe if you dismantled the tent carefully you would be left with an igloo.
Here in Cheshire we had our first lying snow just yesterday, only about an inch or two.
It’s the roads that bother me, we’ve missed some great winter backpacking weather over the last couple of weeks – I’m not as brave driving as I once was!.
Geoff, that’s the problem. I not sure I will get to the hills this weekend. Can I drive there? will the trains run ?
Mark
Wow! Your Soulo is impressive! It’s almost a tent igloo there! I loved your photos, very atmospheric, particularly the sheep feeding and the view towards your home. A more modern take on some very typically scenes of England. Beautiful!
Helen thanks for your kind words. I think the Soulo should stand up to pretty much anything judging by this test !
Mark
I love Hilleberg tents and you’d certainly want it up here in Scotland at the moment! Like yours, our motorhome is well and truly blocked in. Lovely blog so I’m going to ‘follow’.
Gibson, thanks for your kind words. I have only had a few nights in the Soulo, but it gives a great sense of security. Looking to do more trips in Scotland, so as you say it will be ideal 🙂
Thanks for your kind words about my blog. I will take a look at yours
All the best
Mark
The Soulo has to be the best one man tent for winter conditions. Mighty impressive. If they could knock off 0.5kg, it would be irrestitible!
Robin – yes the only downside. I don’t think they will do a cuben fibre version:)
Mark
What about carbon poles? Almost 0.3 kg less…
http://www.fibraplex.com/ProductPages/HillebergSoulo.htm
Thanks for the info!
Being easily pleased, I like the snow flakes on the web site. Was it difficult to get it snowing on the computer?
John
John – it is a seasonal feature on WordPress. I think you use WordPress. Go to dashboard and then Appearances, click on Extras and enable it’s snowing.
Mark
You aint far from me, Mark.
Was a helluva dump of snow in the night – mind you, not stopped much in the day either.
I’ve been digging to clear the drive for ages and the cul de sac where I live. Terrible.
Anyway, love the pics of the Soulo – that’s how a tent like that should be tested! 😉
Only a couple of times have I had those conditions happen to me – the tent soon gets warm inside and the air a bit wiffy. Always worth keeping an eye out for some airflow 😉
Terry, I am right in thinking you live in Newark ? Yes you are right about the amount of snow. I can’t say I have ever seen so much snow fall in such a short space of time. Do you think the trains will be running at the weekend to the Peak District ?
Mark
Cheers!
That tent is built to take bad weather. Like Robin said if it was half a kilo lighter we would all be saving hard to get one
Martin – I guess the reason for strength is probably the reason for it’s weight penalty. I still think it is worth it though !
Mark
Great test, I wish we had a similar amount of snow, we’ve only got about 2″ where I live and that came from the North West at the weekend, as soon as the wind swings to the East you guys get it and there’s none left by the time it gets here.
So unfair 😉
We have to get some benefits from nagging easterly winds off the North Sea. 🙂
Mark
So not only do mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the mid-day sun they also camp out in subzero temperatures!!
Pagham is experiencing a white out. Tim has been snowed-up in London for three days and has now decided to drive home!!!! Probably needs a change of clothes!!
Mark (Feasty) has just been making an igloo. No, he is not going to sleep in it.
Anne, good to hear from you. I spoke to one of my colleagues down in East Sussex today and he said they have had a foot of snow. I hope Tim gets back OK. I finally managed to get the 4 x 4 out after shovelling a foot and half of snow out of the drive . One of the farmers has had cleared the top half of the lane from snow, so I was able to get out through to the village and out on the A46. Drove up to my parents, to deliver some food and medicine that Dad was getting low on.
Tell Mark, he should be sleeping in that igloo, I thought he was an apprentice Ray Mears 🙂
All the best
Mark
The Soulo is a mighty winter tent……wish I still had mine 😦
To lighten it up, there is always the carbon fibre pole route which last time I looked shaved about 300g off the total weight. Having said all that 2.1kg for a winter fortress isnt that huge a deal especially in conditions like this. It really is bombproof
Glad you like it
Yes it is good to have a tent you can rely on in any weather -it justifies the weight !
Mark