Sometimes our snow can be so dry that XC skies will sink clear to the ground in knee deep snow, literally. Snowshoeing when it's like that can be workout you really don't want.
Yep, with an anecdote: In extreme cold on a late moose hunt we had the lightest, fluffiest snow I've encountered: three feet deep and snowshoes would sink to within 4 inches of the ground. Without snowshoes we'd sink to within an inch or so. A friend and I toiled all day and covered 3 miles taking turns breaking trail. We would try snowshoes for awhile, decide it was easier without them so pack them for awhile, back and forth. Cloudless sky in bright sunshine. The air sparkled and if we stood still we could hear a musical tinkling, frozen water vapor bumping in the air I suppose. It was astoundingly dry. Ice evaporated out of clothes, containers etc. without freezing, just shrinks and dissappears.
