How Is Your Corn?

[nay]

How is your corn?

Somebody dropped it on the floor.

 

[mikel]

roasted

 

[4ster]

Had some corn for the last day of April

& the first week of May

but then it started snowing again!
May 11th…

 

[Tony S]

Still waiting for it View attachment 169295

Damn. Where are you?

 

[martyg]

It was perfect!

 

[Guy in Shorts]

At Killington on Friday we had an old friend who flew in from her Big Sky home to ride The Beast. She commented that Big Sky doesn't get the amazing spring corn that we enjoy at Killington. Many of the top shelf spring corn days in North America happen right here on the East Coast.

 

[surfacehoar]

Damn. Where are you?

Southern Monashees. We lack cold overnight temperatures so the snowpack is usually an isothermal mess in spring with not much of a corn window. This year the snow hasn't stopped with the forecast calling for another 15in this weekend. 100% coverage down to about 5500ft.

 

[4ster]

Unexpected cool temperatures had me out at Carson Pass again this morning. I did a lot more skinning & hiking than actual skiing but the corn was good

 

[James]

Unexpected cool temperatures had me out at Carson Pass again this morning. I did a lot more skinning & hiking than actual skiing
View attachment 169413

View attachment 169412

You need a t shirt-
“ I skinned all day and all I got was 12 turns. Not even this shirt”

 

[markojp]

Will be at Timberline this weekend and will report back.

 

[markojp]

... snow level comes down to 3k tomorrow.... 2-4" at Snoqualmie, 12-18" for Stevens Pass. Crazy...

 

[slow-line-fast]

What is corn? I know it when I ski it. I’ve had the most consistent and high quality corn in the Sierra, though late season storms can mess it up. Also some great corn late season on the classic Mt Washington NH lines, especially after a good rain refresh. Advantage on MtW, when the corn is in it can last a long time (doesn’t go soupy over time, though does lock up once in shadow). Don’t ask me the physics of it, as I say, I know it when I ski it.

 

[4ster]

What is corn?

From earlier in this thread. (you will need to click to expand)…

Corn is a way overused term. In the perfect state, It is smooth and the water content is obvious, and by the definition of how it forms, it can’t readily exist in skier traffic areas, i.e. resorts, because of the disruption of the grain to water structure required to create a corn cluster.

Then there is the best of corn season, when the Firnspiegel forms...

View attachment 43411


http://www.avalanche-center.org/Education/glossary/firnspiegel.php
"Firnspiegel

Also: Firn Spiegel, firn mirror, glacier fire

An ice crust formed on the snow surface on sunny, cold days. The sun's heat penetrates the surface snow layers and causes melt around the grains beneath the surface but meltwater at the surface is refrozen forming a thin layer of ice. This requires just the right heat balance.

Firnspiegel is highly reflective and mirror-like, giving it the colloquial names of firn mirror and glacier fire.."

 

[Rainbow Jenny]

Unexpected cool temperatures had me out at Carson Pass again this morning. I did a lot more skinning & hiking than actual skiing but the corn was good

I want some of that corn at Carson Pass! Was out near Mt Rose today but I have a mental block against those skinnier nordic bc skis with NNN bindings.

 

[4ster]

I want some of that corn at Carson Pass!

We are reaching a point of diminishing returns.
Like I said, A lot of ground covered but not a lot of skiing.

 

[Tony S]

I want some of that corn at Carson Pass! Was out near Mt Rose today but I have a mental block against those skinnier nordic bc skis with NNN bindings.

Not following.

 

[Rainbow Jenny]

You need a t shirt-
“ I skinned all day and all I got was 12 turns. Not even this shirt”

Six turns will do for me.

Not following.

Good to be humbled periodically.

 

[skibob]

Not following.

But if you were following, you would be just as happy as if you were leading. Because it is corn after all.

 

[Tony S]

But if you were following, you would be just as happy as if you were leading. Because it is corn after all.

 

[newfydog]

While the last Utah area has already closed, Mt Bachelor has 3000' of vert open, just starting to mature into corn.