in the light of the Canadians and Finns a Brit talking about snow
seems a little out of place (ask me about rain though). Some brief
points though:
- Snow clouds are often big, black and shut out the light. You get
the kind of night during day experience as the sun is hidden from
view (I have seen snow in sunnier weather but the darkness is more
mythically resonant for Glorantha anyway).
- I swear that you can 'smell' snow before it happens, there is
this kind of flavour to the air. No idea if there is any explanation
for this.
- Snow is quiet, rain is noisy.
- In well trafficked areas the snow melts uner the pressure of
feet, becoming slushy, but then overnight refreezes if it gets cold
enough. Result: the ground gets icy and treacherous and you slip and
fall.
- I have not seen the really cold sap-freezing but AFAIK trees tend
to splinter most in an 'ice storm' when the wieght of ice on their
bows tears them apart. An ice storm occurs when rain freezes when it
strikes the ground or other surfaces (so you need warm air over cold
ground for it to happen). Googling for ice storm gets you lots of
links (and I have used it in a heroquest to the Great Darkness).
- Walking on snow is tiring. your feet sink and you need to push
agains the compacting snow. But walking in snow is worse - think of
it like walking in water. You can't punch through it very easily -
it just compacts against you so you have to keep lifting you feet
our of the snow, putting them back down into it etc. That is why you
have snowshoes or skis, to keep you on top of the snow.
- A pristine snow fall seems magical and somebody's first snowfall
is a wonder to behold. However the magic soon wears off...
- Brush snow off before standing in front of the fire - otherwise
you get wet before you get warm.
- Clothing looses its insulating properties when wet.