If you haven't been in the snow before, hate snow, or just have no clue about it don't sweat it. "The Snow Guide" has all the mishaps, rules, ideas, and what to wear outside. Don't let it worry you, it's just frozen rain. It just snowed about one inch last night where I live and it is supposed to keep snowing for a couple of days. I decided to help the people out there, who are snow deprived.
What is it? Okay this might be a stupid question to wonder if you've been in snow all your young lives. Some people have no idea what it feels like, or how white it is. There are different kinds of snowflakes, and different kinds of snow.
Big snow flakes (around one-two inches) = really good
regular snow flakes (3/4- 1/2 of an inch) = eh, okay
small flakes (a few centimeters) = awe
super mini flakes (you can barely see it falling) = ughhh!
Fresh newly falling snow = You get dressed super fast to go have a snowball fight.
Icy snow (When rain and snow fall, the rain hardens on the ground making it crunchy)= it's not that fun to play in, but ice makes a good igloo.
Slush ( A mushy, cold, thick snow. Either when the snow gets wet, or it melts as it comes down)= Go on Whyville, it's not worth it.
Muddy snow (has been stepped on too much, or driven on) = EW
Before you even think about going outside in your P.E shorts, slippers, and tank top, STOP! You will either, 1. freeze your butt off, or 2. freeze your butt off, try to run back inside, slip and fall, and umm break something.
I doubt you want to do any of those. What you want to wear is a good now jacket. If your jacket is thin, you want to wear a long sleeve shirt under it. If you have a good jacket and will be having snow ball fights, I suggest wearing a t-shirt, it will get hot in there. Snow pants are optional, but I like them because it you fall, you don't feel a thing. They protect you from ice balls, but they make it a little hard to run. Jeans will get wet if you fall so you might have to change them often. Thermals, good ol' thermals, these you put under your clothes to keep you warm. If it's like a blizzard or below freezing, put these on. On to snow boots, I highly recommend wearing some of these because your sneakers will be soaking wet for days. Plus, there have good grip that those skate shoes don't. I almost forgot a snow hat. You don't have to wear one of these, but I love to because I love snow hats. These keep your head really warm and keep in most of your body heat. Gloves, maybe one of the most important things, your fingers will die without them, the snowball will melt on your hands if you are not wearing gloves.
Now that you know what to wear let's head on outside. Let's cover the rules of having a snowball fight. Invite some friends over, attack your neighbors, or even better hit your siblings as they walk out of the house. Before you can have a fight though you have to know how to make them. Watch out, people are mean and will ambush you with apple balls, rock balls,and ice balls. These won't hurt as bad if you have a thick snow jacket, and pants on.
Regular snowball - it still hurts if you throw it hard enough.
How to make it - pick up a big handful of snow, cup both of your hands together, and packed it tightly so it forms a ball.
Ice ball - these hurt really bad, so only do this with older kids so the little ones don't get you in trouble.
How to make it - follow steps of the regular snowball, then put the snow up to your mouth and suck all the liquid out of it, making it hard.
Apple ball/ rock ball - These hurt just as much as the ice ball and are dangerous of you get hurt in the face area. If you get hit with one of these I suggest you run.
How to make it - Follow steps of the regular snowball, but when pack the snow put a small rock or a small apple inside.
Mud ball - I got the idea from Whyville when I was ten and used it. It works well it you want your opponents grossed out.
How to make it- get snow mud from the side of the road and combine with some snow, follow the steps of making a regular snowball.
Now for the fight techniques of a perfect snowball fight.
1. Get a metal trash can lid for a shield. You can duck behind it or block snowballs from hitting you.
2. Be at separate sides of the yard while leaping behind objects.
3. Make an barrier of snow to hide behind and be safe while stocking up on snowballs.
4. (Ask parent permission before during this) One year my sister was behind our tall fence. My dad let me sit on the roof of our car so I could lob snow over.
5. Close contact is only good for one reason, the other person fighting won't have enough time to gather snow and make balls, it won't hurt, it's just a lot of snow being thrown at you.
6. Scream and run around like a crazy person (This works really well, I did this for a few years, I might try it today.)
Here are some tips to add to your almost full knowledge of snow.
1. Don't eat or touch yellow snow.
2. Watch out for ice, or there may be broken bones in your future.
3. Charge your ipod, go on the Internet, watch TV, BEFORE and if the power goes out.
4. Have fun.
5. Try to do as many things as possible before it all melts :(.
Okay, have all that down? Well, then you're ready to jump in and start the action. If having fights is just too boring for you I have more fun ideas.
1. Make slushies! Get fresh clean snow, put it in a cup and pour juice over it.
2. Build an igloo. I did this last year it was awesome. Tip: Use chunks of hard snow and ice not fluffy snow.
3. Make snow people! Decorate them as weird as you want.
4. Go sledding, which is like one of the best things to do. Tip: Watch out for trees.
5. Change your outfit every few hours if it's really wet. Throw them in the dryer and while they dry, warm up by the fire with hot chocolate or tea.
I think that covers it all. If you're still reading this, hurry up and go outside.
This is Gasohp, signing off to go throw snowballs at my sister's house. ;)
