> A few more odds and ends that came to me over the weekend.
>
> A strong sun will also form an icy crust on the snow, albeit not
> usually a very strong one. But sun and melting weather followed by
a
> quick freeze can create quite thick icy-snow--awful for skiing on.
>
Geez the way Bryan talks about it you'd think he likes winter:-)
Sometimes the combination of sun and wind will produce a very strong
crust to the extent that in the spring the crust will last a little
longer than the snow beneath it so hollows will form just beneath the
crust. These crusts can wreck havoc on deer because the edges broken
through by their skinny legs can cut them. Awful stuff to walk on
too. It's pretty cool though to walk on top of when the crust is
strong enough and you're light eneough:-)
I think Mikko suggested skis were the fastest humans could get
without more sophisticated mechanical contrivances. I suspect skates
are even faster without being much more complicated. Finding enough
clear ice to skate on would limit it's usefulness as a means of
transportation though.
Oliver (enjoying the mild December Winnipeg is having).