Do You Know How To Build A Snowman?

The news tells us that 2/3 of the USA is in a deep winter freeze, with a ton of snow falling. I feel kind of guilty here in New Orleans. It was 75 degrees yesterday. But let's make lemonade from the proverbial lemon. Or a sno-cone from a bunch of ice.


I am sure you remember the first snow of past seasons, and perhaps making a celebratory snowman.

The snowman still conjures up childhood innocence, and a simple (and healthy) activity that anyone and everyone can do. And don't forget the snowball fights! And the snow forts!
So in the spirit of this first blast of winter I present Jim Sysko who is going to tell us how to build a snowman (in case we forgot).

How To Build A Snowman by Jim Sysko

Assessing The Snow: If the snow depth is two inches or less, don't attempt to make your snowman too big. A five foot tall snowman can be made from a two-inch-deep snow cover using only an area of about 20 feet by 20 feet. If the snow is deeper and you have lots of help, try a 7 - or 8 foot snowman.

Geography: Assuming you have good sticky snow, start by selecting a spot for the snowman that is in the geographical center of the area of snow you will be rolling. Put him in the shade for longest "life."

Rolling Snow: Start by rolling the first ball around the outside of the area, gradually tending toward the middle, all the while making it as round as possible for easy rolling.

When it's big enough or you can't roll it anymore, brace the ball by packing lots of snow around its base.

Roll the second and third balls, remembering that dense snow can be heavy, so be careful when lifting these. Recruit friends to help -the more hands the better! If you are building with a small group, use a wide wooden plank as an inclined ramp to roll or slide your snowballs up.

Longevity: Pack bracing snow at the belt line and neck to keep the guy together. If you want a face to last as long as possible, carve and create the features on the side of the head that is away from the sun.

You will want to show off your creation so place and face your snowman in the direction that gets the most visibilty.

Dress him up...
...and if you have time and ambition, make a whole family to keep him company.

Remember that snowmen usually don't long in this world, except in our memories, so treat them well. Snowmen have a way of paying us back by making us all a little younger.
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Jim Sysko is the engineer who led the team the built the world's tallest snowman (113 feet 7 1/2 inches) in Bethel, Maine, in 1999.

Jim Sysko's World's Tallest Snowman