What a difference one day makes.
Two days ago it took me more than 15 minutes for me to drag a single load of wood from the fence at the back of the pasture to the woodpile. That was just the one leg and did not include the deadhead leg outbound nor the time to load and unload the sled.
Yesterday it took me 12:36 for a round trip starting with an empty sled at the woodpile, dragging 300 yards to the back fence, filling it and dragging it back and unloading it. I even took about 20 seconds to take a picture of a juvenile Black Locust twig.
The difference is how snow reacts after it is stirred or compressed and then left to rest. Fluffy snow turns stiff. My mental image is that the lacy snowflakes that are resting tip-to-tip get crushed and the "flats" where they touch vapor-weld together overnight.
The same thing happens with the snow thrown up by snow plows. If you jump right on it and start shoveling, the snow might be dense but it is not hard. If you leave it overnight, it is hard AND heavy.
The point is that the musher of the sled (musher and dog, in my case) needs to run a fairly heavy load over the fluffy snow to start the process. That can be a chore.
Yes I agree with your theory on snow , especially light fluffy/powder snow . I use a leaf blower to get the snow off my vehicles before it sets up hard . World of difference , even works on porches and sidewalks , unless the snow comes down wet onto a warmer surface .
ReplyDeleteBreaking the trail is always tough. Its why we take turns taking point.
ReplyDeleteNo snow here, but high grass slogging - we have experience.