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Looking At Surface Hoar Frost
A Tell-Tale Sign To Watch For In Avalanche Country.
As the weather in the Northeast has gradually become colder over the last few weeks, I have noticed the soil in my garden develops into crystalized patterns such as those in the picture below:
Crystalline shoots are a sign of hoar frost. Credit: Hiller Hardie
Of course, as the weather starts to turn cooler, I naturally start to think about skiing. As these thoughts materialized recently, I realized that this crystallization follows the same process as that of surface hoar in the snow pack. Surface hoar presents, on a smaller scale than these pictures, in a very similar manner. It develops overnight when the following weather conditions exist:
- Clear sky
- No direct sunshine, or very weak sun
- Calm or light winds
- Open slope exposed to a clear sky (trees or clouds can radiate their own heat and disrupt the process)
- Humid air
If you have been fortunate enough to participate in guided backcountry skiing, including heli or snow catting,you may have witnessed the guides digging a pit in to the snow pack to evaluate its stability. You may also have seen ski patrollers doing this, notably at Western ski areas. Evidence of surface hoar in the underlying layers is one of the things they are looking for. It is also cause for alarm as it generally represents a very weak layer at high risk of releasing. (Another feature they may note, with alarm, is a layer of “ball bearing” like snow similar to hail. It looks like very small marbles and is a hazard as the overlying snow pack could literally roll right off of the “ball bearings’ forming a slide).
At any rate, the fact that this crystallization is occurring in my garden is good news for me as it means the weather is cooler and ski season is upon us. Here’s to a good winter!
Should I Take An Early Season Lesson?
[Editor Note: From time to time, we’re going to dip into our extensive archives for a story that might be useful, interesting, or entertaining. Here’s one from 2014 from correspondent Harriet Wallis.]
Starting right sticks all season.
My friend says the same thing every winter. She says wants to take a lesson as soon as there’s more snow on the ground or when she has more ski days under her belt.
That’s been going on for as long as I’ve known her, and she still hasn’t taken a lesson.
If you’ve ever said that, you’re not alone. Many skiers and riders think that more snow or more ski days are the prerequisite for a lesson.
So I asked some ski pros about it.
Start early and bond with your instructor!
Credit: Harriet Wallis
“Skiing is a seasonal activity, so whether you’re a vacationer who skis once a year or whether you ski all season long, you come back to it fresh at the beginning of the season,” said Tom Pettigrew, director of skier services at Park City Mountain Resort in Utah. Early season lessons are really beneficial because “all of your movement patterns are not totally engaged yet, so it’s easier to learn new patterns before you get entrenched in old ones.”
In addition, while the terrain might be limited, it’s actually an advantage. You can get comfortable on your skis and make learning breakthroughs without being distracted by vast terrain choices, Pettigrew said.
Scott Mathers, ski school training director at Alta, UT, says the same thing in a different way. “Your senses are heightened when you first start to ski again. You’re aware of how your body is moving and what it’s doing. But as you ski more, you get desensitized, making it harder for you to make changes.
“It takes a lot of practice for something to become ingrained,” he said. “An early lesson gives you something to focus on for the rest of your vacation or for the season.”
Will you take an early season lesson this winter?
To read more from Harriet Wallis, click here for her articles on SkiUtah!
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