How Much Does It Need To Snow For It To Be Considered A Powder Day?

Will Hart | | Post Tag for Conditions ReportConditions Report
pow day at snowbird
Eyeball Deep In Pow. Credit: Snowbird/Facebook

Everybody loves powder days. It’s as simple as that; there is nothing better than floating down wide-open groomers, tree runs, or steep chutes with fresh snow under your feet. The stoke coming from the lift lines, watching others enter the white room from the lift, and wrapping the day reminiscing on the lines you skied. Powder days are skiing at its finest.

This begs the question: How much does it need to snow for it to be considered a powder day? Of course, there is no single answer to this question. More likely than not, answers will vary by region, where snow may come at a greater or lesser consistency. For example, in order for it to be considered a pow day in Little Cottonwood Canyon, a foot of snow may be required. In the midwest, just a few inches could do the trick for most skiers. On the east coast, the same. In fact, east coast skiers have coined the term “east coast pow day” referring to snowmaking on open trails rather than natural snowfall. As a born and raised east coast skier, I’ve had my fair share of east coast pow days, which makes the “real” powder days all the better.

We asked our facebook followers for their opinion, here’s what they had to say.

The struggles of being an east coast skier, right here.

 

A fairly reasonable answer for all ski regions

 

Remember what I said about Little Cottonwood Canyon?

 

And here it is, folks. The correct answer.

Bottom line, a pow day is what you make it. As long as you’ve got a crew to share the day with, you can always have the best powder day of the season. As snow starts to fall in and around your local ski area, be sure to appreciate each and every fresh powder turn. Share the stoke with those around you, and keep having as much fun as you can.

The Recipe for a legendary east coast pow day. Photo: Sunday River Resort

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