Snow angels

[Roa_Aoife]

I don't know how well this applies to Tolkien's Elves, but in general folklore and mythology regarding Elves, they are supposedly less substantial than humans, being more ethereal. This makes them very light, and they leave very little impression on the surfaces they come in contact with. The idea of Elves being small came from this- an Elf our size is light enough that one could easily lift him/her, and this was later recounted as them being lesser in staure rather than density.
In the more religious mindsets from the era of fairytales, Men are more dense becuase they were formed from dust, where as Elves were some form of fallen angel. In Tolkien speak, this places them closer to the Valar and the Ainur than Man.
In the same vein, I suppose Dwarves would be somewhat denser than Men.

So, from this, I would say it's not really something they do on purpose, or a skill of any kind, but a natural occurence. Could they make snow angels? Probably, but it would be very shallow. A bonus would be that they wouldn't ruin it by standing up.

EDIT: Also, the core of the Tolkien Elves have a core of flame, which would also make them less dense.

[Farael]

I know this is all but dead, yet today we got some snow so tomorrow I will probably try out walking in the snow and not sinking on it. For the time being I think I will try running on the snow starting on the snow itself, gathering speed outside the snow and then going in the snow, walking normaly in the snow and walking carefully in the snow. Anyone has more ideas of what I should try?

[Roa_Aoife]

Be less dense than the snow?

[alatar]

Back in my college days, when I had more adrenaline than sense, I decided on one boring day that I would attempt running in snow barefoot. The temperature was about zero degrees Celsius, there was little wind and the sun was in the sky. In the apartment complex in which we lived there was a courtyard that was boxed by the apartments, and there was a toppled snowman sitting in the middle about 25 yards out that we had built some days before.

My plan was to run out to the snowman, stand on top of the body, then run back. I wore tropical shorts and a flannel shirt to...ahhh...keep me warm and stylish.

Note: don't do this, it could be fatal.

Well, I ran out and the first thing that I noticed was that the snow felt like sand to the touch, and instead of being cold, which I would have expected, it actually burned. I made it out to the snowman without incident, but on the way back I started to feel very sluggish. By the time I made it to the warmth of the apartment my heart was racing so fast (trying to compensate for my stupidity) that I was sure that it was going to exit my chest.

It took over 30 minutes to recover, and at the time I was pretty fit.

So whatever you do, think it out first. You're not an elf, you're going to feel cold and you will sink.

And elves did not wear bunny slippers.

Note that the attached image shows when I at least had sense enough to wear boots.

[Farael]

Don't worry Alatar but in this city you learn to respect the cold, as it can get pretty bad. Although I have to admit that
-Playing snow football I didn't realize my fingers were turning blue, although I still had sensitivity on them and they did not feel sluggish or anything
-I went toboganning when it was -50 C with the windchill. The first five minutes were alright, but after another five I had to run back inside because I Was freezing

Yet my plans were to try running on the snow wearing boots!! my excuse for that would have been that it'd give me a larger surface area and therefore there'd be less pressure on the snow.

I'll write again later with the results.... although odds are, I'll just make a lot of tracks in the snow.

Be less dense than the snow?

I'll take that as an attempt at humour rather than offense. But please, as written words do not convey expressions very clearly, make sure you clarify next time.

[Farael]

Well, after a while of fun experimentation (wish Science was just as fun) I have found that.... I cannot walk on snow without leaving a BIG imprint. No matter if I run, walk, starting from the snow or from a surface next to it, it won't make much of a difference. If anything, I have found that running from a hard surface into snow increases the chance of winding up with a facefull of snow I felt like such a kid.

[alatar]

I just walked through the thread again, and what an interesting read!

Just some thoughts:

• Do elves have some helium-producing gland that offsets their weight?

• Elves and humans have to be somewhat similar as they can create offspring (I think that that is the definition of a species).

• Dancing with an elf would be cool. Not only would they be the best 'moonwalkers,' but if they stepped on your toes, you'd never know.

• Tom Bombadil seemingly wards off rain by waving his hands. Do elves wave their hands downward and sing songs of lightness?

• The build up of lactic acid within your muscles is what makes you tired. Elves have better enzymes.

• Anyone who cuts grass knows that you leave a trail - you do, not just the mower.

Well, as the local forecast includes possible snow, I must go and perform my civic duty, which is to act like a few inches of snow falling in winter constitutes the end of civilization/the apocalypse. Snow?!? In winter? When did that ever start?

After disregarding all traffic laws and throwing common courtesy out the window, I will buy up all the bread, milk and toilet tissue that I can hoard then retreat slowly back to my domicile (as everyone else is out doing the same thing, and so the dry roads are clogged with panicked shoppers). For those who don't understand this behavior, you must understand that the news media (supported by many grocery chains) makes sure that each snowfall is an event, whether snow falls or not. And as this might just be the big one, I might not be able to go shopping for...24 hours at the most. The way some people react you'd think that cannibalism would set in after 4 hours without shopping.

But more likely, if snow does come, I will take advantage of the moment and go outside with the kids to make snow angels, as that's what life's all about.

Thanks for posting.