Latest posts on skiing, snowboarding, and snow science
Shred the gnar: meaning and origin of the saying
You won’t spend much time on the slopes without hearing the quintessential slang phrase.
Balaclava: essential winter gear since the Crimean War
The balaclava face mask is essential gear if you ski or snowboard and the origin of the word has nothing to do with a Greek dessert.
Alpenglow: fire on the mountain
Learn the origin, meaning, and cause of alpenglow, a rosy hue seen on mountains around sunrise and sunset.
Avalanche probe: gear you hope to never use for real
An avalanche probe is a rod that’s used to poke through avalanche debris in order to find a buried victim.
Ski trail ratings: green circles, blue squares, and black diamonds
The green circles, blue squares, and black diamonds that illustrate ski trail ratings were informed by Disney’s work on a proposed ski resort.
What is sastrugi (aka zastrugi)?
Sastrugi is a wind-sculpted snow formation with irregular grooves and/or ridges.