B is for Bomb Cyclone
From a meteorological perspective, a bomb cyclone really is the bomb.
Blog Name
Mitch Tobin, the shreditor in chief of SnowSlang.com, is a science writer, multimedia journalist, weather nerd, and avid skier/snowboarder. Subscribe to Snow News, Mitch’s free multimedia newsletter for people who love snow.
A is for Albedo
Albedo is a measure of the fraction of solar energy that is reflected from a surface.
Why I’m launching snow.news
snow.news is a free multimedia newsletter for people who love snow and want to know what’s happening with the American West’s snowpack.
Ski goggles technology and terminology
Goggles are one of the most important pieces of skiing and snowboarding gear. Without them, you could be in for a long day on the slopes.
Sick day, as in ski sickness (aka Häusler’s disease)
Ski sickness is a form of motion sickness that can strike skiers when visibility is poor in fog, whiteout, blizzards, and flat light conditions.
Alpenglow: fire on the mountain
Learn the origin, meaning, and cause of alpenglow, a rosy hue seen on mountains around sunrise and sunset.
Join our newsletter to stay updated
The 9 best ski apps for iPhone and Android
Ski apps are great for tracking your alpine performance. Here’s a quick rundown of the best apps for skiing and snowboarding.
How an avalanche beacon works and saves lives
An avalanche beacon is a safety device that transmits a signal that rescuers use to home in on someone buried by an avalanche.
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.
Zorb death is tragic reminder: watch your fall line!
Like a human hamster ball, a zorb is a sphere that people ride in.
No friends on a powder day
Forget the posse and ditch your bros: if it’s nuking and you want first tracks, you better remember there are no friends on powder days.
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.
What is a powder day clause and why do you need one?
A powder day clause is an element of one’s work arrangement in which the party can blow off their job and go skiing/riding when there’s fresh pow.
Snow cornice: beautiful but potentially deadly
A mass of overhanging ice or snow, typically found on a ridgetop or edge of a cirque.
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.
