Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Winter Wonders - Oreo Snow

Something interesting happens once or twice each winter here in upstate New York.

We get Oreo snow.

What is Oreo snow?

It is not this, large fakes of snow coming down so fast that you can see the snowflakes in the photo.  In fact, when this picture was taken, it was above freezing - that is how fast and furious the snow was coming down.

No, Oreo snow isn't this, coating every branch in sight with heavy, wet, damaging snow.

No, I can't easily show you Oreo snow.  This shot below is about the best I can do because I felt like I was getting frostbite in the few seconds my bare hands held my iPhone yesterday. I faced the glowing eastern horizon in the minutes before sunrise.   In another part of the sky, a waning crescent moon held forth while Venus, the morning star, glowed.
Oreo Snow near abandoned BAE building, Westover, near Johnson City, NY
The conditions must be exactly right for Oreo snow.  And yesterday, we had them.

The temperature must be near, at, or just below zero F. (-17.7 Celsius). There must not be a lot of snow already on the ground, and the snow must be fairly fresh.  You want just a coating, maybe 1/2 an inch or so.  You don't want to be trudging through many inches or feet of the stuff.  And, it must be pure white.

It must be crystal clear out, with not much wind.  Under these conditions, the snow becomes crunchy, almost a pleasure to walk upon.

When these conditions happen(and I don't think it's my imagination, because I have noticed this for years), there is a smell released when you walk on the snow.

It smells like sugar.

It smells like Oreo filling.

I love Oreos.

And Oreo snow made me very happy.

Have you ever experienced Oreo snow?

12 comments:

  1. I've walked on this type of snow many years ago in England. I remember the crunch. Not sure I smelled a sweet scent like a cookie though. Maybe I didn't notice, being too delighted with the pleasure of the experience. Thanks for drawing this to my attention. If I ever see it again, I'll take a good sniff. This year we've had nothing but rain.

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    1. Well, maybe it's my imagination. And I won't wish really freezing weather on you, either. This morning it was -1F (-18 C) at my house and -17 (-27 C) at my sons. 10th time this month below zero here, which may be a record.

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  2. I have never experienced this- despite being in many a place with such conditions. Maybe because I love Hydrox!

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    1. I was stuck with Hydrox as a child. Unlike you, I never loved them. I found Oreos early on at friends' houses. I can't wait for the new flavors coming out (limited editions) in February.

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  3. Looks great. Seems the other countries are getting our snow :)

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    1. Would you like it back? Seriously, we aren't getting mass quantities of snow. What is unusual about this stretch of cold weather is just that - it's happening without feet of snow on the ground.

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  4. I've walked on crunchy snow, but never thought any snow smelled or tasted like Oreo filling! How interesting! Thanks for sharing. I saw this topic earlier and was wondering what Oreo snow was. I thought it would be some type of snow ice cream!

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    1. Oreo snow ice cream would be delicious, wouldn't it? I haven't made snow ice cream in years, though - concerns about pollution in the snow.

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  5. Wow this is so beautiful and sounds incredible!!
    I have never seen snow, spent 3 hours on top of a mountain in Tasmania as a kid once in the middle of Winter waiting, hoping but it didn't happen.

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  6. Snow has been a part of my life for 59 of my 61 years. I have one cousin who has only seen snow a few times in her life. I can't imagine never having seen snow. Where I live can get over 200 cm of snow in a year and,compared to other parts of upstate New York, that's nothing.

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  7. Once again, I love your snowy pictures Alana- beautiful!

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