What is "corn" and "spring" snow?

Question

I'm checking the snow conditions for some ski resorts since I am planning to go up to Lake Tahoe this weekend, and the surface of the snow is "corn" and some other resorts have the snow marked as "spring" (vs. "powder", "packed powder", etc). What do these terms mean?

Answer 1

Corn snow refers to the melt part of the melt/freeze cycle of the snowpack. Corn is favored by backcounrty enthuiest due to the good stability it provides. It is formed but the melting of the snow during the day and the freezing of the snow at night (Suprise!). Tahoe is famous for its spring corn.

Sping usually cover jsut about anything from hardpack to corn to slush. This is due to the warming of the snowpack throughout the day

Answer 2

Corn snow is a granular snow condition similar to kernels of corn spread on the slope. Spring snow  can mean it's older, wetter and heavier than the packed powder that many like to ski. It is mixed form of corn, mush and very wet conditions, with patches of extreme hard pack under the loose stuff on the surface which will set solid overnight if the temps drop enough. This will generate snow snake eggs known as death cookies.

Answer 3

The best way I can describe "corn snow" is when the snow gets wet due to warmer air temps. When you turn or stop it comes up in larger balls than if it was a powder spray. Here on the east coast you usually find it later in the day or after a warm night. The snow tends to be heavier and can be harder to turn in( your skis will get caught in it, usually the tips) I twisted a knee in that stuff years ago, you have to make sure you lift your skis, not drag them sideways

Answer 4

corn!!!!!

good fun

Aaron is right

corn is good in the morning

later in the day it gets soft and punchy

stay away from this so not to ruin it for tomorrow

when it freezes at night it is ready again in the morning

when the temp stops freezing at night it is time to get out of town for mud season is a comin