This causes conditions to change between snow, sleet, rain and bitter cold in a single storm.
From November through February the hairpin hill is in the perfect state between snow and ice.
"There's a real demarcation between sun and snow," he explains.
The years may have rolled by, but the relationship between skis and soft snow has not changed.
Springs tend to be wet, alternating between rain and occasional light snow.
A shadow moved between moon and snow.
The balance between added snow and departing ice can raise or lower the global sea level by several yards.
Between the skin and naked snow was a six-inch layer of pine boughs.
"Close it," he said quietly from where he stood in the narrow gap between train and snow.
The thought of trying to force the animals along the narrow corridor between railcar and snow was daunting.