Snow seekers caused traffic chaos and blocked emergency vehicles by turning one of Dartmoor's best-known beauty spots into a giant traffic jam.
Motorists descended on the roads around Haytor as winter weather turned the slopes into a sledger's paradise.
The route from Bovey Tracey's Edgemoor Hotel was closed on Friday – but drivers ignored warning signs and drove up to the base of the rocky summit, leaving the road littered with "indiscriminately" parked vehicles.
The crowds unwittingly prevented a snow plough, vital heating oil supplies and an ambulance attending an injured sledger from reaching their destination on Sunday.
Rob Steemson, head ranger at Dartmoor National Park, said he spent yesterday drawing the "venom" of angry residents in nearby Widecombe-in-the-Moor.
"The ambulance could not get through because the road was literally blocked – nothing could get up or down for quite a while," he added.
A spokesman for the park authority described the drivers as "inconsiderate".
"It's great to see people enjoying themselves but they have to think about where they are putting their cars," he added.
"As well as emergency vehicles there are farmers with tractors and trailers who need to get to their livestock."
Warnings were issued via the social networking site Twitter, describing the road as "almost impassable".
Ben King posted: "Don't even think about heading up to Dartmoor!"
Devon and Cornwall police sergeant Dave McCaffery urged sledgers to "go somewhere accessible".
He underlined the risks people were running.
"Ambulance services cannot get to you if you break something while sledging."
Video filmed by Moss
Want to get paid for your video footage? Click here to discover more about Newsflare
There's more sleet and snow on the way for Devon
UPDATE: Man dies after crash in icy conditions on A38 in Plymouth
Snow and ice cause multiple crashes on Devon's roads
Snow in East Devon causing problems on the roads
Mid Devon schools shut or closing early
VIDEO AND PICTURES: Hailstorm causes Torbay traffic problems
Cars crash on A38 at Kennford after heavy sleet showers
