These resorts seem to claim that man made is the same thing as natural snow, but it's clearly not!! There's no comparison to the soft feeling of natural snow vs the cruddy thick feeling of artificial. I notice if when they've blown a few inches of snow overnight over an entire trail even when you get first tracks it's no comparison to getting 3 inches of the real stuff.
Is it possible to make artificial snow that = to natural snow? Why is there a difference between the two?
It's clearly not the same thing as real snow. I mean just ride in an area where they've blown snow and haven't groomed it yet. It's clearly not the same thing as natural snow! Not even a comparison. Just wondering what makes it so different and why they claim it's the same thing!? I don't think distilling would do anything lol
The water is pumped from a river or pond or source, through pipes. Theres sediment and particles that otherwise would have been filtered via distillation. All those particles are slowing you down
That's interesting. So that's the ONLY reason it's different?
I don't think the snow is necessarily slower. It's just clearly a different composition and not as soft and fluffy feeling as real snow. More crud like. Especially after they groom it. Much harder than real snow.
When snow is made it falls from much higher up and goes through the process that transitions rain/water into snow a much slower. This creates the natural feeling snow. Man made snow is made in a matter of seconds.
And honestly man made snow is better. It's faster, when it's groomed, than that BS natural snow. It's always fun trying to ride park when it's dumping out......
there are a few factors at play but a lot of it has to do with the density of the snow created. The man made snow is generally a denser, heavier, wetter snow because of how it's created. It's a lot like when we get a snow here that also has some slush in it. Whoever mentioned the temperature making a difference is also accurate... they start blowing the snow guns here the second it gets just cold enough so most of the time it's going to be a heavier wet snow. With real snow it depends on the type of storm system and level of precipitation that will affect the density and amount of moisture in the snow. Sometimes we get the nice fluffy light snow from a storm and other times we get the heavy wet concrete.
To use a natural snow comparison, anyone who's been to different parts of the country will notice the drastically different types of snow. For example Utah generally has the lightest, fluffiest snow in north america and some say the world. The reason for that is the density of the snow. They have a more generally dry climate which is a main piece of the puzzle to why it's so much fluffy than say the snow in Washington or Oregon.
You mentioned Baker and the amount of snow they get, yes they get tons of snow but it's super heavy and wet due to their generally moist climate. Ask any Pac North local on here what they call their snow and you'll always here the term cement. That's very similar to the very moist snow you get from a snow gun on the east coast and mid west.
Of course this is a super high level explanation and there are other factors involved but without getting meteorologist on everyone this should help you understand why.
I see. I of course understand moisture to snow ratio's. Sierra cement in California's Sierra Nevada mountains as well! Lake effect snow tends to be super fluffy. It's an easy formula around here. If it's colder = dryer fluffy snow. If it's marginal for snow = wet. 850mb temps also play a role obviously in this. Not just ground temps.
BUT even with wet snow, I find it much better than the man made stuff. If somebody was able to make a snow gun that duplicated natural snow economically than they'd make a fortune.
I was under the impression that it was related to the freezing time as well. The longer you can give water to freeze, the more... complete (not sure if this is the best word to use) the crystal will be. I believe ice is stronger when its formed over an extended duration as opposed to flash freezing as well.
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