spring snow?

Can anyone tell me what 'spring snow' means exactly when reported as the ski resort condition? How does it differ, for example, from powder, fresh, hard packed etc.

Cheers

Unless I'm mistaken, it probably means that the snow is icy in the morning, then as temperatures rise, it melts to a consistency which is a bit like mashed potato. So most people stop skiing early to mid afternoon.
That's my understanding of it, anyway.

Hi I'd like to redirect you to an old thread on this site that also treats the subject. You might find it interesting

http://www.j2ski.com/ski-chat-forum/posts/list/1985.page

Fantastic link, thanks! So, it seems to be basically the same as 'variable'...more or less...

cstodd wrote:Fantastic link, thanks! So, it seems to be basically the same as 'variable'...more or less...

Kind of... the good old "variable conditions" to me means that they vary from one slope to another; whereas Spring skiing is more about conditions varying (on the same slopes) during the day.

With Spring conditions you expect the mountain to start off hard (maybe icy) and transform through the day.

As Pavel's excellent post alludes, you never quite know what you're going to get from one run to the next. I love Spring skiing, personally, because of that variety.

Each run, or slope, has a "sweet spot" at some point between icy and slushy - and the time that sweet spot is in play will change according to the sun (or not), the aspect and orientation of the slope, etc... and the fun is moving round the mountain trying to hit each slope at the right moment.

Great fun... and you know if it's Spring conditions that it'll be warm enough to sit outside in the sun with an ice cold beer at the end of the day too...

came back from Les 2 Alpes at the weekend. first time riding spring like conditions, huge mashed potato moguls everywhere by early afternoon! i have to say i had great fun. i may be way off the mark here but i think ski's struggle more in the slushy stuff than boards do.

Depends what kind of skis. Carving skis - yes, too much sidecut for this stuff, but fatter and preferably rockered skis just go over of piles of slush like nobody's business. Spring skiing is great fun, but wearing socks and skiboots when it's +15 outside is not so much

Verbier,

I dream of "spring snow" for many reasons!

First let tell you about this magical snow! It is an a "butterfly" going through its stages ! That snow varies very 30 minutes and how the slope surface faces the sun! This type of snow separates the neophyte skiers from the "experienced" skiers since you must change you skiing style/technique as the day "flows" and you must change your skiing also depending where you ski relative to sun!

Morning 9 AM Fast fast hard surface with great long cruising runs

Morning 11 AM Softer snow for fast cruising surface but watch out,,,,one mistake and off you go! Edges dig deeper! Shadows is the spot to ski till 12 !

1 PM Now the fun begins! Most skiers are having sore legs. Slopes are "variable" with clumps here and there. Edges are still uniform and steeps are great with soft moguls! Time to "blast ski" !
What you do not know what "blast ski is " ????

90 % of skier go into "sheep" mode,,,following tracks of every other skiers,,creating paths with moguls here and there! These are special moguls! All soft wet snow and if you know what to do you can have fun !

Avoid the skier paths ,,rather ski from the tops to one mogul to other mogul,,,blasting through them on their tops! You will see thousands of ice crystals as you land on top of moguls! A shower of snow/water /ice crystals after every turn !

By 2 PM few skiers on slopes! None in the steeps! Time to really try steeps since wet snow acts as a perfect braking mechanism !

3-4 PM Danger period when weak legs, poor fitness will cause many falls!
Even less skiers! great to explore those narrow hidden places!

5 PM Time for "younger skiers" to buy Coronas for the old bulls still standing!
Time to share in that perfect ski day!

That is Spring Snow at its best !

Hope to see you at 5 PM someday !!!

Pavel