Skiing Powder

Innsbruck,
You are so right about 15 types of powder!
You must learn to "identify" each type and ski as a result of you analysis!
The "cement" powder is the most dangerous since it is 80% saturated with water and holds like cement! This "powder" is a knee/back problem!

I never teach in this type of "snow" ! Too dangerous !

In the other "extreme" you have the Utah soft feathery fluffy flakes. You test this powder by taking a palm full in front of your face. Blow softly and watch individual flakes float to ground! Like soft petals from a flower they dance with the wind !

The supreme powder!

The selection of right powder is like finding that "perfect" women/man for your life! Once you have it,,,,,hold it forever!

Off to ski powder !

Pavel

V good point. Its hard to find powder lower down, hence the issue in Austria at the moment I guess. However head up to Lech, St Anton, Solden, Obergurgl and Ischgl and I bet theres plenty to be found.

I skied off piste last year towards what looked like untracked powder on a high ridge. When I got there it was like concrete and the skis wouldnt even pop through the crust. I had the worst half an hour of my life skiing.

Tony,
Actually the most most dangerous type is the , "skier ambush layer" !

It is;
4-5 mm. of hard wind compacted snow/ice top layer
10-20 cm. of soft powder under this layer!

That top layer will hold skier if,,
you do not set a hard edge
you ski with skis together
you ski "softly" and fast !

It awaits all skiers who panic and turn hard or set an edge hard. Then the trap sets.
You fall through this thin layer into the powder void face first! Face then hits ice top layer,,,does a great ski "grafting" à la cheese "grattoir" !

Once is enough to learn to avoid this trap !

Learn to respect nature. Learn to read ski conditions!
Learn to survive !

Pavel

WE call this "Breakable crust", Pav. It can be dangerous, especially if you break through the crust at speed, and then the crust thickens!

Unbreakable crust, with an overlay of powder, is a dream.

Unbreakable crust with 2"~3" vertical frost icicles is ego skiing at it's best!

Yep, thats the stuff :cry:

Dave Mac, Tony,

As you ski more,,you realize how little you know!
How nature always has new terrain, new conditions, new challenges.

Yes those special days with special conditions last a lifetime!

Hope for lots of powder!

Just missed an avalanche with a group! We were 2 days before avalanche in the same area!

Respect nature !

Have a great 2012 ski season !
Pavel

AllyG wrote:Wanderer,
Oh, and according to the ski instructors, even snow-plough turns don't work in powder :shock:

Strange because that's exactly what I find myself doing to stay on my skis in light powder.

I find that if I know the terrain (i.e. it is an area I am familiar with and know where I am going) I can do it, I can turn, no problem, I feel like I'm floating and confidence is high as I glide along. If I am venturing onto steeper unfamiliar territory, then a fear of the fall line seems to reappear. When this happens I start doing my 'giraffe in powder impressions'. I don't fall, but there is not a lot of gliding going on!