I shoveled a lot of snow today, but this was different. This is a kind of snow that really looks like someone cut open a giant bean bag and shook it over Bismarck-Mandan…some call it graupel.

As you can read in this article from avalanche.org, this snow can be hazardous because it causes fluidity in layers of snow.

When I lived at a ski resort in the rockies, we’d do out-of-bounds boarding on our days off. That basically involves getting an avalanche “beeper” locator, a shovel and pack, signing a waiver, and digging a snow pit to test snow conditions before descending. Layers of snow that look like they’ll let loose are a good indicator to find another place to board or ski that day.

Naturally this isn’t terribly relevant here in North Dakota, as our mountain ranges are conspicuously absent. But back at my old stompin’ grounds, 10,000 feet and steep, this kind of snow would definitely be cause for concern.