Snow angels

[Frodo Baggins]

Forget not, my friends, that in the book Legolas only ran over the snow, while walking it appears he had to drag through like everyone else. If you run fast enough you can run over custard, or ever water (there is a type of lizard which does such). Legolas says something about elves running over leaves and snow and then takes off. So...the running seems to be a special elfy thing he can do (perhaps the lack of big stompy klunky man boots helps). If Elves still can walk on snow and poke though it then they surely can make snow angels. Or perhaps to the Elves they would be snow Valar.

[Gothmog]

there is a type of lizard which does such

Called "Jesus-lizard" in Swedish

What if elves make snowangels really fast? Are they still visible?

And one more thing I've noticed, Legolas do not only walk on snow. He hardly leaves any prints in grass either! I can't remember the exactly when this occures, but I'm sure I've read about it in LotR. And I'm also pretty sure he did not run at that occasion.

[Frodo Baggins]

My dear Gothmog, I do not recall in the book Legolas actually walking ON the snow. Please if I am wrong point me in the right direction. The only walking atop snow is done in the movie.

Edit: Dude! I started another page.

[Lalwendë]

Legolas watched them for a while with a smile upon his lips, and then he turned to the others. 'The strongest must seek a way, say you? But I say: let a ploughman plough, but choose an otter for swimming, and for running light over grass and leaf, or over snow--an Elf.'
With that he sprang forth nimbly, and then Frodo noticed as if for the first time, though he had long known it, that the Elf had no boots, but wore only light shoes, as he always did, and his feet made little imprint in the snow.
'Farewell!' he said to Gandalf. 'I go to find the Sun!' Then swift as a runner over firm sand he shot away, and quickly overtaking the toiling men, with a wave of his hand he passed them, and sped into the distance, and vanished round the rocky turn.

Well technically he does not walk on the snow, instead he runs on it...

Maybe we shall have some real snow here in Yorkshire soon enough and then I can try out some new experiments...

[Gothmog]

So, my even dearer Frodo, old lad. I think the quote provide by Lalwende proves that Legolas did walk on the snow in the books. Unless you're being technical and calls it "running" on snow? But still, he should have moved at a moderate speed when talking to the others.

But can somebody please confirm my suspicion that Legolas hardly leaves any prints on grass either?

And Lalwende: I'm living like 3000 km north of you and I don't have any snow! But I promise you, as soon as those wonderful, white stars start falling, I'm going to try my best to run on the snow. Maybe if I go downhill...hmmm...... As I said earlier, is it possible that elves had a pair of huge feet the Tolkien forgot to mention?

[Frodo Baggins]

Ok Ok I concede, Legolas can walk on snow. But riddle me this. Can ALL elves walk on snow, or jsut some? We seem to be focusing on Legolas, but what of those such as Elrond the half elven and his 3/4 elven children?

And even more importantly, can they throw snowballs?

[Gothmog]

but what of those such as Elrond the half elven and his 3/4 elven children?

And what makes that question even more interesting is the Maia blood in Elrond. Can divine spirits like the maiar walk on snow? If they can, Elrond (being 1/16 maia, 3/8 man and 9/16 elf. Hope I got that right...) should have greater "snow-walking" abilities than Legolas. Or does the man-blood make him lose some of his skill?