Ski conditions definition...

ise wrote:

Dave Mac wrote:Ise, I wasn't really talking about LGS, which can be viewed as reasonably steady state. I was trying to describe mid-afternoon very wet heavy snow, and the depth/temperature variations associated with this condition. ~ Generally, conditions seen in lower alpine resorts.

That's probably best termed as wet granular snow and is caused by high temperatures and/or rain. That's a lot easier to ski than LGS though.

The snow in the photo of ise in Val d'Isere shows snow that is being subjected to rather high temperatures. It has deep furrows, which don't collapse when skied on, and the snow on top is clumpy and wet.
(I'm sure ise will have the proper terminology) )

bandit wrote:

The snow in the photo of ise in Val d'Isere shows snow that is being subjected to rather high temperatures. It has deep furrows, which don't collapse when skied on, and the snow on top is clumpy and wet.
(I'm sure ise will have the proper terminology) )

too long ago to recall, I'd probably have just called it variable conditions. It's a bit odd just there, it doesn't get much sun and there's blasts of cold air off the glacier so it's tending to harder pack than elsewhere in the area, there's a handful of good off piste routes cutting down through that area actually.