Hero Snow?
- Thread starter box297
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Snow that makes an average skier feel like an expert, or hero.
That's the easy part. Opinion may diverge from there.
For the powderhounds it's probably light non-resistant powder over a pillowy base.
For many intermediates it's probably a couple inches new snow over perfectly groomed corduroy.
Perfectly timed corn is even more effortless than the above alternatives IMHO.
To each his/her own, I think.
That's the easy part. Opinion may diverge from there.
For the powderhounds it's probably light non-resistant powder over a pillowy base.
For many intermediates it's probably a couple inches new snow over perfectly groomed corduroy.
Perfectly timed corn is even more effortless than the above alternatives IMHO.
To each his/her own, I think.
Sharon
New member
no matter the snow consistency (powder, corn, corduroy)...hero snow makes skiing effortless and skis will carve it like butter. Deep Powder, while it may be euphoric, is not hero snow...but 2" of powder might be. For me, hero snow is when it is soft enough to let the skis do their thing, perfectly round turns, springing effortlessly edge to edge. We had that on Sunday, as it was packed powder at 38 degrees, so it was soft, no ice and extremely easy to carve perfect turns.
SoCal Rider
New member
I'm with Tony. It's hard to beat that spring sun-softened butter. Since I ride almost exclusively in SoCal, I'm not accustomed to deep - or even moderately deep powder - nor snow that is particularly dry. (Duh.) So my "hero" days are on 4"-8" of non-gloppy fresh over forgiving base rather than, say, the 3'-4' of fresh on a day in Dec. Or the corn. I might have to go with corn, especially if it still rides fast enough for the low-angle stuff down here.
Mt. Baldy has more than its fair share of 30+ degree fall lines, most of which are sublime with spring corn snow. viewtopic.php?f=3&t=973 On the intermediate chair 4 and steeper Holcumac which face directly south you can get that corn midwinter. Unfortunately that exposure tends to burn through the snowpack pretty fast, as Garry Klassen observed this week.
SoCal Rider
New member
Tony Crocker":389zsi2b said:
I had 5 days at Baldy last season. Did Ch. 4 until it burned off, then dedicated to Thunder when the middle finally thawed. Good softened times on Morgan's, too, while it lasted. I look more forward to Baldy on those days than during powder - just based on my inexperience + quick drive up and down in late season sun.
Emile's, I think, April 6, 08. Fun, fun stuff.
I agree Baldy is often a no hassle relaxing experience on those corn days. There are numerous variables to contend with on the powder days:
1) Ice or accidents on the road going up
2) Initial logjam for tickets and the first ride on chair 1, minimized if you get there very early.
3) When will Thunder and Chair 4 get opened?
4) Icing on the lift cables may result in shutdowns or reduced loading.
5) The actual snow surface is always a surprise. What was the effect of wind?
6) Lift lines, though chair 1 is usually clear by the time Thunder gets busy.
7) Getting down the hill at the end of the day past the gauntlet of snowplayers.
In general it's easier to time the "hero corn snow" than "hero powder." The latter is less predictable for most of us (Utards excepted) not to mention the more competitive aspect.
1) Ice or accidents on the road going up
2) Initial logjam for tickets and the first ride on chair 1, minimized if you get there very early.
3) When will Thunder and Chair 4 get opened?
4) Icing on the lift cables may result in shutdowns or reduced loading.
5) The actual snow surface is always a surprise. What was the effect of wind?
6) Lift lines, though chair 1 is usually clear by the time Thunder gets busy.
7) Getting down the hill at the end of the day past the gauntlet of snowplayers.
In general it's easier to time the "hero corn snow" than "hero powder." The latter is less predictable for most of us (Utards excepted) not to mention the more competitive aspect.