It’s humorous the names we have now given for the range of various snow situations that exist on the mountain. For many people, we like to explain the snow situations we face as skiers and snowboarders as issues we are available in contact with each day. We describe the snow situations at instances as forms of meals and infrequently give the snow descriptive names that assist even a non-skier visualize what the snow is like.
Snow situations are extraordinarily variable, it’s wonderful. The totally different situations we are available in contact with differ by temperature, time of the yr, geographical location, the quantity of people that have skied and boarded the snow, freeze-melt cycles, wind, solar publicity, and the checklist goes on. That is a part of the enjoyable of the game. The several types of snow and the totally different variables contributing to the situations make yearly totally different and distinctive. Though some situations are undoubtedly higher than others, each sort of snow makes for a brand new expertise and retains the game thrilling and the terrain at all times altering.
Completely different Sorts of Snow Circumstances:
Blower Pow – Whenever you take a flip on this stuff it blows into the air leaving a path of frost behind you, permitting for some good face pictures and even higher turns.
BulletProof – Irrespective of how onerous you attempt to punch by way of this snow… it doesn’t budge. Plainly even a bullet couldn’t penetrate these items. Not ideally suited.
Butter – Silky clean like butter, however with a quick sufficient floor to get some velocity whereas nonetheless feeling fairly silky beneath the toes.
Chunder – This snow is non-optimal, thick in nature, and might are available in many various varieties. Chunder is one thing you simply know if you find yourself snowboarding it.
Champagne Powder – Excessive-class mild fluffy powder sometimes present in The Colorado Rockies. Common snow takes 1 inch of water to make 12 inches of snow, champagne powder makes 30 inches of snow for each inch of water. This snow is pure bliss. Solely discovered after the coldest of storms.
Chop – Powder that has been skied by way of however there may be nonetheless a collection of recent powder as you chop by way of different folks’s tracks.
Cement – Quite common within the Sierra Nevada Mountains, this snow is usually known as Sierra Cement within the area. This snow is heavy moist powder, which remains to be nice to ski on however may be onerous to maneuver by way of if you happen to get within the thick of it. That is moist snow that types at round 32 levels and seems like cement if you find yourself caught in it.
Clam Chowder – Thick, chunky, moist, and lumpy snow. Type of just like the soup you eat however in snow type.
Corn – Corn is that good spring snowboarding snow that’s the results of the freeze-melt cycle throughout the spring months. Typically used to explain good spring snowboarding it will get its identify due to the balls of corn-looking snow that type on the snow’s floor.
Cornice – A big build-up of snow usually discovered on the peaks of mountain tops. This stuff are sick to drop in from, however may be actually unstable and might create avalanche hazard.
Crud – The identify says all of it.
Deep – “It’s deep!” is usually used to explain deep powder days. Often over a few toes. Folks usually describe how deep it’s by the place the powder reaches to on their physique; I.e Chest Deep, Waist Deep, Knee Deep.
Mud On Crust – When the resort will get 6 inches of recent snow however beneath that recent snow is straight ice. Cautious of the hidden moguls my good friend, they’ll buck you off your toes fairly rapidly.
Faux Snow – Snow created by synthetic snowmakers, often known as snow weapons.
Fluff – Comfortable snow that’s fairly mild and fluffy.
Recent – Used to explain latest snowfall that hasn’t been touched.
Groomers – Snow that has been compacted and made into an ideal run by heavy equipment known as CATs.
Onerous Pack – Used to explain snow that has been ridden over many instances and is packed down and infrequently icy.
Ice – Not snow anymore, ice is used to explain situations the place your edges slip out from beneath you as a result of it’s so slick.
Mashed Potatoes – Typically related to spring snowboarding, this snow is the impact of heat climate and the tough rays of the solar.
Moguls – Giant lumps of onerous snow created by giant quantities of skiers taking tight turns. Most Boarders are inclined to hate moguls however skiers don’t appear to thoughts them as a lot.
Pillows – A pillow is a formation of a considerable amount of powder, often on rocks, which appears like a pillow and infrequently explodes right into a white fluffy cloud on influence.
Powder (Pow) – Recent snow after a storm. That is what we stay for.
Slush – Snow that’s usually discovered throughout the spring that’s moist and sloppy due to heat temperatures and solar publicity.
Smoke – Typically used to explain snow within the Northern Rocky Mountains, this snow appears to drift away like smoke when skied on.
Washed Out – A time period used to explain moist snow in spring.
Wind Lip – The place the wind creates a big formation of snow which is often adopted by a drop.
Wind Buffed – Crunchy on the highest, comfortable within the center. Such a snow is created by heavy winds.
WTF Snow – That is snow that looks as if it will likely be good till you ski on it. Seems like powder, however appears may be deceiving.
Yellow Snow – Snow many people are aware of. Don’t eat this snow. You’ll remorse it.
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