I would like to better understand snow conditions so I can continue progressing and skiing in spring without confronting sheets of ice. Yesterday I was out at Sunapee and I returned confused about spring snow (and giving myself an award for grit for riding out conditions that were challenging). Yesterday there were sheets of ice in the shade. Fun on flatter areas but super scary and unsafe on steeper areas. And then the snow was ALSO so variable that -- as I wrote in another thread -- that I was actually happy to have my 76s instead of my 88s because I would rather err on side of narrower when dealing with challenging ice (even if there was slush in other parts).
Earlier in the day (around 10:30) it was like balls of snow on hard pack (not sure what that snow is called) but felt loud and chattery and I did not feel as much control as I wanted. I waited for it to warm a bit and chose another trail and had a super nice run -- in the kind of snow I "thought" was spring snow: soft. Then I also encountered a sheet of ice on one traverse -- and that was just sliding/skidding down it (and that was the one that was fun since not too steep). Then later I headed down Chipmunk and towards the bottom it got so icy- like sheets of ice -- and I do not want to encounter that again (I had been told by one person to stay away from that slope but it got later in day and another person said it was "not bad" -- and I am not getting into their snow reports which are far from accurate, they really ought be more helpful with their reports like other places are). Anyway THEN I headed to an easy trail in the sun and it was slushy (now around 2 pm), so now I am going from fastest snow to slow snow. (Edit: And when I say sheets of ice, it was different than the ice I normally see where an area is skied out and it reveals hard pack underneath. This was shiny, icy surface.)
All to say, I have been wanting to continue to progress which now means understanding snow conditions enough to be safe around that level of ice. How to better understand this snow? Is this just "how it is" in Spring that there will be all of these different kinds of snow at a resort in the same day? I am eager to learn. Should I pick a different resort - maybe head more north (I cannot head west now because of Covid)? Pick slopes facing different directions? Or facing the sun? Go out later after 12 pm or what time? re: ice sheets - was this also because of the rain the day before (sure it must have been) but will I find ice typically anyway in Spring? Also; Are there ski areas in NH/VT known for great spring grooming? Any and all advice and education appreciated! I am typing this at home a wee bit afraid of heading out to ski today and finding that level of ice!! (But I am thinking pick a sunny trail... hmmm...). I look forward to learning about this all. Thank you all!
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Earlier in the day (around 10:30) it was like balls of snow on hard pack (not sure what that snow is called) but felt loud and chattery and I did not feel as much control as I wanted. I waited for it to warm a bit and chose another trail and had a super nice run -- in the kind of snow I "thought" was spring snow: soft. Then I also encountered a sheet of ice on one traverse -- and that was just sliding/skidding down it (and that was the one that was fun since not too steep). Then later I headed down Chipmunk and towards the bottom it got so icy- like sheets of ice -- and I do not want to encounter that again (I had been told by one person to stay away from that slope but it got later in day and another person said it was "not bad" -- and I am not getting into their snow reports which are far from accurate, they really ought be more helpful with their reports like other places are). Anyway THEN I headed to an easy trail in the sun and it was slushy (now around 2 pm), so now I am going from fastest snow to slow snow. (Edit: And when I say sheets of ice, it was different than the ice I normally see where an area is skied out and it reveals hard pack underneath. This was shiny, icy surface.)
All to say, I have been wanting to continue to progress which now means understanding snow conditions enough to be safe around that level of ice. How to better understand this snow? Is this just "how it is" in Spring that there will be all of these different kinds of snow at a resort in the same day? I am eager to learn. Should I pick a different resort - maybe head more north (I cannot head west now because of Covid)? Pick slopes facing different directions? Or facing the sun? Go out later after 12 pm or what time? re: ice sheets - was this also because of the rain the day before (sure it must have been) but will I find ice typically anyway in Spring? Also; Are there ski areas in NH/VT known for great spring grooming? Any and all advice and education appreciated! I am typing this at home a wee bit afraid of heading out to ski today and finding that level of ice!! (But I am thinking pick a sunny trail... hmmm...). I look forward to learning about this all. Thank you all!
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