snow sculpting

I didn't make the wolves by rolling up big snowballs or build them up by packing snow together. I made a big pile of snow, and then carved it. Because of this, it doesn't really matter how wet or dry the snow is. When it is all piled up for a day or two, it freezes together. When I was shoveling up that pile, there was some really icy snow on the patio. It was slippery like shoveling salt. I was a little worried that I'd carve into it, and it would all slide right out, but I never had any trouble with it. My only trouble was with hitting icy chunks.

So here's how you do it. shovel a bare spot on the ground. Shovel all the snow and then some back on, in a big pile. Carve it. I used a garden trowel, and occasionally a little hand rake, and the big shovel. You have to clear the ground first, or you'll have a soft layer underneath it, and it might collapse.

Alternatively, use a drift. It has to be a solid one, though, or you won't be able to do any undercuts. And be mindful of what was under that drift. It may be that the drift that was there before the latest snowfall has turned to ice, and you'll only get halfway in.