Snow Skills

Spring snow conditions change rapidly through the course of a day and can present a challenge in making good tactical decisions on where to ski/ride. Unlike mid-winter conditions, the variables of freeze to thaw to freeze cycles in Spring can create some unique situations. Here are some general thoughts for interpreting Spring snow conditions:

Use the following to read Spring snow conditions:

• Look for if the snow has compressed due to melting. This “retreat” of the snow will generally leave an uneven surface with dirt, grit, and small debris emerging at the surface. Retreated snow is solid to ski on, but can be hard on your gear’s base.
• Look for snowballs being created by loose snow rolling down the slope. This means the snow surface temperature is significantly warmer than the underlying snow and the snow has a firm base. This condition tends to occur in shaded glade areas; it’ll be great, so rip it!
• Listen for running water under the snow in glade terrain.  The underside of the snow tends to melt first and begins to flow in swales, sometimes leaving the snow surface intact overhead.  In general, ski on the upper areas above swales and take great care crossing over where two slopes converge.
• Look for snow which is mounding up and beginning to form moguls. This condition is surely slush and is tough to ski due to its wet heaviness. As this tends to happen in sunny, higher traffic areas, head for terrain which is steeper, shaded, and less traveled; the snow will generally be drier. In the meantime, use a tactic where you’re turning on the flatter areas between the slush piles.
• Watch for the shape of the snow around the base of trees. If the snow is level or mounded against the tree, it’s probably safe to ski near the tree trunk. If the snow is depressed, forming a cone aimed at the base of the tree, melting has created a hollow below the snow and you’ll want to stay well away from the tree trunks.
• And RULE NO. 1: The whitest snow is always the driest and firmest snow to ski on.