 Poster: A snowHead
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Well it's all very exciting out here - especially as I see snow falling outside my window in Geneva.
In years past, I was always informed that early snow and cold temperatures were good as this built up a good cold ground base. Leaving aside a snowbase for the moment,
Question 1. I now am led to understand that the ground/snow interface is actually one of the warmer parts of the snow pack - so surely low temperatures early in the season have nothing to do with how the latter season lasts, especially when it rains heavily (I'm a frequent PDS skier) and the rain water gets throught the snow pack into the ground.
So, thinking about snowbase, isn't the...
Question 2. really an accumulation thing? The more snow you get going into full winter, the more you are likely to have throughout (when conditions generally get snowier) and as you get into late spring? I.e. if you have 30cm hardpack in late December, that overcompensates for a rainy week mid-January?
Not sure I'm making a great deal of sense...
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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David Murdoch, Have another glass of wine!
I understood that the ideal is a cold and dry Autumn with ground frost increasing in intensity followed by daylong temperatures below freezing and overnight temperatures in minus double figures. This sets the ground frozen and then early snows Nov/Dec bulid up a hard frozen base. Once the base has frozen solid accumulation of any snowfall will set firm and be a reliable base for the rest of the season 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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boredsurfin, thank you, I will. Cheers.
Yeah, that's what many folks say. However, talking to some who should know the science, snow in some conditions melts from the ground up. And insulates the soil from very cold temps. So what you observe in mid-January at ground level has little if anything to do with surface temperatures in mid-December.
Which brings me back to accumulation.
Sadly it's now raining again in GVA but, angelaclark, snowing like a good'un in Chamonix! (and pretty parky out too...)
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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David Murdoch, Not ring in Gstaad .... beautiful white Xmas flakes ...not a lot of accumulation though ( 2 inches??) ...but I havent been this happy since L2A .. 
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David Murdoch, snow settling here  Nary a blade of grass to be seen in the garden now. But then we're a bit higher than you
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Looks great to me DM
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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OMG David Murdoch, what a lovely sight
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Tue 13-11-07 23:18; edited 1 time in total
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JT, Chris Brookes, better than last year. Fingers crossed...
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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eng_ch, no winter wonderland at 450m
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Tue 13-11-07 23:14; edited 1 time in total
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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nessy, is the snow settling in good ol ZH yet?
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the_aliasskier, not yet but it is forecast for the next 2 days
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brian
brian
Guest
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| David Murdoch wrote: |
| However, talking to some who should know the science, snow in some conditions melts from the ground up. And insulates the soil from very cold temps. |
That's exactly why you want the ground to be frozen hard before the snow falls. If it's cold the snow on top of it keeps it cold. If it's warm the snow on top of it keeps it warm. Then when there's a thaw it will thaw from both sides rather than just from the top.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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The temperature gradient is very significant.
Snow at ground level will be at or around 0 deg C.
The best scenario is regular snowfalls close to the surface temp of the previous snowfall which aids in bonding and establishing a solid pack.
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Poster: A snowHead
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had any frosts lately..?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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me or DM?
Plenty of frost on Hokkaido, then plenty of sun. No snow yet 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Mike Pow,
Yes, sorry, did mean the alpes. Not likely to get to Japan but wish you a good season
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Thanks, you too.
Supposed to start snowing tomorrow.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| nessy wrote: |
| eng_ch, no winter wonderland at 450m |
Just popped down to the MMM Migros - snow line at 10.30 was just into town. Chucking it down with rain there, snowing quite hard up here right now
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