From Cheese-Rolling and Snow To Boulders Rolling Destruction

 

 

2013 Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake   Yesterday, on a farm near Gloucester, England, thousands gathered for the annual Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake, continuing a tradition that dates back at least 200 years, despite recent warnings from police. In the event, groups of fearless racers risk life and limb chasing an 8 pound (3.5 kg) round of Double Gloucester Cheese down an extremely steep and uneven hill, with a 1:1 gradient in some sections. The last officially organized race was in 2009, since then, it has continued unofficially every year, despite the potential for serious injury. Earlier, local police warned cheese-maker Diana Smart, who has supplied cheese to the race for 25 years, that she may be construed as a race organizer, and therefore legally liable. The BBC reports that this year organizers replaced the cheese with a lightweight foam version, in order to make the race safer. The winner of the race takes home the cheese. [24 photos] Use j/k keys or ←/→ to navigate Choose: 1024px 1280px Contestants in the men's race chase a Double Gloucester Cheese down the steep gradient of Cooper's Hill during the annual tradition of cheese-rolling on May 27, 2013 in Brockworth, Gloucestershire, England. Although no longer a officially organized event since 2009, thousands of spectators still gathered to watch contestants from around the world tumbling down the 200m slope, which has a 1:1 gradient in parts, in a series of races that are said to date back hundreds of years, with the winner of each receiving a cheese. Injuries such as broken arms and legs are commonplace. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images) 2 People sit at the top of the steep gradient of Cooper's Hill as they wait for the cheese-rolling to start on May 27, 2013 in Brockworth, England. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images) # 3 A sign warns people at the top of the steep gradient of Cooper's Hill of dangers of the annual tradition on May 27, 2013.(Matt Cardy/Getty Images) # 4 People wear handmade t-shirts as they wait for the cheese-rolling to start on May 27, 2013 in Brockworth, England.(Matt Cardy/Getty Images) # 5 People sit and watch as contestants in the uphill race climb the steep gradient of Cooper's Hill on May 27, 2013.(Matt Cardy/Getty Images) # 6 Competitors begin their run down Cooper's Hill in pursuit of a fake foam round Double Gloucester cheese in western England, on May 27, 2013. (Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images) # 7 Racers run down Cooper's Hill during the annual cheese rolling and wake, on May 27, 2013. (Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images) # 8 A competitor tumbles down Cooper's Hill on May 27, 2013. (Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images) # 9 People prepare to catch a competitor dressed as a tooth on Cooper's Hill, on May 27, 2013. (Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images) # 10 Contestants in the men's race chase a cheese down the steep gradient of Cooper's Hill, on May 27, 2013. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images) # 11 Competitors run down Cooper's Hill on May 27, 2013. (Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images) # 12 Competitors run and tumble down Cooper's Hill during the annual cheese rolling and wake in western England, on May 27, 2013.(Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images) # 13 A competitor tumbles down Cooper's Hill on May 27, 2013. (Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images) # 14 Contestants in the men's race chase a replica double Gloucester cheese down Cooper's Hill, on May 27, 2013.(Matt Cardy/Getty Images) # 15 Contestants in the women's race chase a Double Gloucester Cheese down Cooper's Hill on May 27, 2013. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images) # 16 A woman falls down the steep gradient of Cooper's Hill during the annual cheese-rolling, on May 27, 2013 in Brockworth, England.(Matt Cardy/Getty Images) # 17 Contestants in the men's race chase a replica double Gloucester cheese down Cooper's Hill, on May 27, 2013.(Matt Cardy/Getty Images) # 18 Racers tumble down Cooper's Hill in pursuit of a Double Gloucester cheese, on May 27, 2013. (Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images) # 19 Competitors run down Cooper's Hill on May 27, 2013. (Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images) # 20 Contestants in the men's race chase a Double Gloucester Cheese down Cooper's Hill, on May 27, 2013. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images) # 21 Competitors start a race down Cooper's Hill on May 27, 2013. (Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images) # 22 Competitors run and tumble down Cooper's Hill in pursuit of a Double Gloucester cheese, on May 27, 2013.(Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images) # 23 A man falls down the steep gradient of Cooper's Hill while racing, on May 27, 2013. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images) # 24 Kenny Rackers, an Army veteran from Colorado Springs, Colorado, celebrates winning the first race at Cooper's Hill during the annual Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake, on May 27, 2013 in Brockworth, England. Rackers traveled to Brockworth from the U.S. just to compete in this year's race. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

Wind and snow set 'rollers' moving across the Midwest Bizarre snow sculptures have been found in yards and fields in Ohio, Illinois and Pennsylvania They're created thanks to the right balance of light snow, firm winds and cold temperatures A clump of snow or ice is blown along the ground and picks up more snow, layer by layer These bizarre forms look as if they were delicately sculpted by hand - but in fact, they are the work of blustery winds across the Midwest. 'Snow rollers' have started sweeping into yards and fields throughout Ohio, Illinois and Pennsylvania thanks to the right balance of light snow, firm winds and cold temperatures. The strange sculptures have since become a hit on Twitter and Facebook as residents across the country have shared photographs of the wispy forms and the fields where they've found them. They are usually not tightly-packed enough to be picked up, but some images on Twitter show people have succeeded in taking them inside, in a bid to preserve their shapes. Scroll down for video Snow sculptures: Snow rollers dot a field near Oil City in Pennsylvania thanks to the perfect combination of sticky, light snow, strong winds and cold temperatures Stunning: Jackie Lynn captured this snow roller in Ohio, left, which shows the levels of snow. Twitter user Kevin Cleary pulled over to get a shot of another, right Phenomenon: Beth Schmader and her dog, Porsche, deviate from their normal morning walk through the woods to check out the field of snow rollers across the road from her home in Oil City. The funny forms have also been seen in Ohio and Illinois According to the National Weather Service, they are formed during the right combination of sticky snow, fairly strong winds and cold temperatures. The wind will blow a small chunk of ice along the ground, leaving it to collect more snow, layer by layer. While wind helps to form some of the rollers, others are formed by rolling down hill. Pictures shared on social media reveal tracks left behind the snow rollers after the came to a stop. 'We had temps near freezing when the snow began - perhaps even a little ice formed on the top at the surface to not allow for the snow to stick and to allow it to roll,' meteorologist Jason Nicholas told NewsNet5 in Cleveland. 'Then the winds picked up basically rolling the snow like a snow ball.' Janice Ford, from Lexington, Ohio, said there were snow rollers in her back yard and in a neighboring field. Works of art: The last time snow rollers - also known as snow doughnuts - were reported in western Pennsylvania was 10 years ago Found: One Twitter user shared this image of a snow roller and its trail, left, while another found a roller on their compost bucket, right Beautiful: Kelli Shrewsberry from Columbus, Ohio shared a series of images of snow rollers to Twitter. 'Geeking out over these!' she wrote 'Some are the size of basketballs,' she told the Mansfield News Journal. 'It looks like there were little elves out here throwing snowballs because there are so many.' The last time snow rollers were reported in western Pennsylvania was about 10 years ago, but they appeared in near Spokane, Washington in 2009, LiveScience reported. The snow rollers come as snow blankets the Midwest and threatens to fall across the South - in areas known more for swimsuits than snow boots. Chicago, Minneapolis, Milwaukee and other parts of the Midwest endured a second consecutive day of subzero highs on Tuesday, while much of the Northeast will see temperatures in the single digits and teens, Accuweather.com reported.       Huge boulders flatten 300-year-old house causing millions of pounds of damages Drone captures dramatic effects of rockfall in Northern Italy 4,000 cubic metres of rock crash into 300-year-old building Amazing drone footage has captured the trail of destruction left by a rockfall in northern Italy. Approximately 4,000 cubic metres of rock broke off a cliff face and then crashed through a barn and vineyards in Tramin on January 21. One giant rock rolled through a 300-year-old barn destroying it completely before coming to an eventual stop in a field near a second boulder, which seems to have been dislodged in a previous rockslide. Scroll down for video Destroyed: The boulders, some of which can be seen on the far right of this picture, tore down the hillside and destroyed part of this building Huge boulders flatten 300-year-old house in Italy A third boulder rolled toward the main section of the building, stopping mere metres before crashing into it. The property shown in the video is The Freisingerhof, which is owned by the Servite order of the Catholic church. The manager of the estate Baron Philipp von Hohenbühel told South Tirol News that the rockfall has done millions of euros worth of damage. No one was hurt in the landslide, which was reportedly caused by a rock tower in the cliff face dissolving. The area has been evacuated of residents, as geologists fear there is still the risk of further rock falls. Rockfall: The cliff face unexpectedly gave way sending debris showeing down the hill in northern Italy Trail of destruction: A drone captured the path that the rocks and boulders took, demolishing everything in their path Full stop: One huge rock got wedged just before it hit the house and narrowly missed flattening a car Matchsticks: The estate manager estimated that there was millions of euros of damage to the property No obstacle: The 300-year-old building was unable to withstand impact and these two boulders crashed straight through