Packed snow, also known as hard pack, is the in-between of soft ice and packed powder. It forms when skiers, snowboarders, wind, or machines compress the snow.

The amount of snow you'll need depends on the texture of the snow. Wet, heavy snow will need less than light and powdery snow. Be ready to run back outside if it looks like you'll need more.

An engineering vehicle fetches ice blocks to be used in the construction of the 26th Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, Nov 26, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] HARBIN ...

A mix of snow and ice blanketed a large swath of the northern U.S. over the weekend, after a major winter storm hit parts of the Upper Midwest, the Great Lakes region and the Northeast.