Surface Conditions Legend: This legend contains definitions of standard terms that can help you prepare for your day on Whistler and Blackcomb. Please be aware that conditions can change rapidly here at Whistler Blackcomb – with 8,171 acres of skiable terrain and 5,280 vertical feet of skiing and riding snow and surface conditions can vary from run to run. Powder: Freshly fallen snow Packed Powder: Packed down by skiers or grooming equipment. Hard packed: Firmly packed, skis edge easily in the dense snow. Soft packed: Softly packed snow, skis edge easily in snow. Loose Granular: Loose sugar-like snow Frozen Granular: Frozen sugar-like snow, similar to a "chalky" finish. Wet Granular: Soft granular snow that is wet from warm temperatures, rain or humidity. Spring Conditions: A mix of conditions created by sunny or rainy days and above freezing temperatures – conditions could range from icy runs in the morning after a cold night, to slushy runs in the late afternoon sun. Windblown Snow: Powder or granular snow blown into drifts in some places, leaving a firmly packed surface. Corn: Large, loose snow crystals about the size of corn, frozen at night, loose during the day. Ice: Hard and slippery, glazed or see-through surface, bulletproof. Variable Conditions: No primary snow surface (70% or more) can be determined throughout the mountains; a range of surfaces can be found. Machine Groomed Snow: Snow that has been repeatedly groomed by snow cats to create corduroy snow; the texture is halfway between loose granular and packed powder. Wet Snow: Powder snow that has become moist and heavy due to thaw, or rainfall, or moist fallen snow.