How many inches...

[Drahtguy Kevin]

While riding the lift today @SBrown, @SkiNurse and myself discussed what constitutes a powder day. We counted today's 6" of fresh (which was far short of the predicted 14").

What says the Pugski community?

 

[Monique]

That ... is not how I expected the post to go, based on the subject.

6" is probably enough, 8" better, 4" doesn't quite feel like a powder day. But is it really a powder day if it's heavy, wet snow? Does it need to be blower or "cold smoke" to be a powder day?

 

[Jilly]

That's just freshies!!

 

[François Pugh]

7"

 

[SkiNurse]

That ... is not how I expected the post to go, based on the subject.

6" is probably enough, 8" better, 4" doesn't quite feel like a powder day. But is it really a powder day if it's heavy, wet snow? Does it need to be blower or "cold smoke" to be a powder day?

Would you say that the East & West coast don't get powder days because they don't get the blower powder we do?

 

[Brian Likes Pow]

Depends on what it fell on. Four inches of dense but dry snow on a fairly soft base is heaven imo. Eight on bulletproof can be dangerous

 

[Monique]

Would you say that the East & West coast don't get powder days because they don't get the blower powder we do?

I don't have enough experience skiing east (was a novice) or west (never been there) to say - but I was actually thinking of a comment from Penny over on Ski Divas to the effect that fresh snow is not the same as powder - and she skis all the way over there on the west.

I've been lucky enough to ski in a fair amount of fresh snow, and when I hear terms like "cold smoke" or "blower" - I mostly think, "I'm not sure I've ever experienced that." Maybe I'm taking the descriptions too literally.

Me, I generally call fresh snow "powder," and I'm happy to have it

 

[SKI-3PO]

That depends on how long its been since the last powder day.

 

[SkiNurse]

@Monique I think that each geographical area has different powder. We aren't even lucky enough to have blower snow for each powder day. Like you, I consider almost any amount of fresh snow "powder". But then again at my size, I get more faceshots than my skiing buddies.

 

[Lorenzzo]

Well some folks claim 4" is 6". Others claim 6" is 8 or even 10. There's also the question as to how long it lasted.

 

[Philpug]

If you can't see your skis?

 

[kimmyt]

I've had some 4" days that felt way deeper, and some 8" days that didn't measure up.

 

[SBrown]

I've had some 4" days that felt way deeper, and some 8" days that didn't measure up.

Schwing!!

 

[Read Blinn]

I thought it was "schwang," but I could be mistaken.

We don't get "powder" out this way much. It's not unheard of, of course — we had some nice days last season — but 10 inches of near-slop is perhaps more common.
I've heard people call 10 inches of slop "powder," but slop takes very different skills to ski.

 

[UGASkiDawg]

I know it when I ski it

 

[Brad J]

I am self employed,with 2 employees and I have a company rule that if it snows or predicted at least 8" or more its a mandatory day off so we can get up there and enjoy it

 

[FairToMiddlin]

I know it when I ski it

You are miscast; the Supreme Court can use a person with your discerning talents.

 

[scott43]

I've had some 4" days that felt way deeper, and some 8" days that didn't measure up.

That's what SHE said.. Har... o_O

 

[DoryBreaux]

Any day with fresh snow that puts a smile on your face is a pow day.

 

[Xela]

It's a powder day if you're in it, not on it. Bonus points if you can't feel the frozen moguls underneath.

Or: It's a powder day if the bombs wake you up.