Secret Techniques To Build A Classic Snowman On Your Vacation To A Snow-Covered Destination

Whether you come from a part of the world that doesn't experience much snowfall or just never quite mastered making a sturdy snowman, we have the best techniques to help you build the best snowman you can for a classic, romantic winter getaway. You should know, though, that if you've had a hard time making snow stick together in the past, that may not have been a skill issue. Some snow is simply not suitable for packing together and building with. While you might think snow would be better the colder it is, that's not actually the case.

For your ultimate snowman, you're looking for wet snow — which only exists around freezing temperatures of 32 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit, when it's cold enough for the snow to melt just a little. Roughly 3% to 8% moisture is ideal. When it gets too cold, the snow is made entirely of ice crystals, so it won't really stick together. Moreover, any snow with more than 15% moisture will not work. 

If you're surrounded by snow but it's too powdery to build a snowman, do not fear; there are solutions to this issue. The simplest one is to look for snowy areas in the sun so the heat of the sunshine starts to make the snow wetter. If it's overcast, however, add some water. If the temperature is too cold, you can grab a spray bottle and add some water to make the snow stickier. A hose with a mist setting may work even better if you have access to one where you're staying.

If you can make a snowball, you can build a snowman! Indeed, your body heat slightly melts the snow as you shape it with your hands, allowing it to stick together. Place the snowball on the freshly fallen snow and roll it around. As you roll, more snow will cling to it, and the ball will grow larger the farther you go. As tempting as it might be to grab a lot of snow and shape it into something spherical, it needs to be a tightly packed ball — the best and easiest way to achieve that is to roll it.

Classic snowmen are adorable, but that's not the only reason these snow sculptures are made of three balls of snow — the biggest on the bottom and the smallest on the top — are so popular. This three-ball structure is the most stable. Not only are spheres easy to make out of snow (compared to any other shape), but they also last a long time if packed tightly enough. Having the largest ball on the bottom and the smallest on the top keeps the snowman from being top-heavy and toppling over. You want to shoot for a 3:2:1 ratio, but it doesn't have to be exact. Remember, the first and biggest ball needs to support the weight of the other two, so a larger, reinforced base is always the best plan.

If you only need your snowman to last long enough for a quick family picture, that's one thing, but if you want to see him every time you look out the window on your trip, you need to make sure to put your snowman in the right place. Whether you're embracing the snow-capped beauty in Missoula, Montana, or staying in Vermont to visit one of the East Coast's incredible ski resorts — the spot you decide to build it matters the most.

If you've seen "Frosty the Snowman," you already know what a snowman's greatest enemy is: melting. To make sure your snowman lasts a long time, you want to choose a shady spot. Under a tree, at the base of a hill, or in the shadow of a building can work well to protect your snowman from the sun. Don't build it on a paved driveway, though. Blacktop heats up quickly in the sun and keeps that heat for a long, long time, so if you're not careful, you could be warming up your snowman from below.