In
skiing, crud is a
snow condition that occurs when
powder becomes somewhat
tracked up, though not
boilerplated or fully packed down (or
moguled up). The general instance of crud is characterised by loose, chunky
snow floating on top of a semi-packed base. While crud is in no way comparable to
untracked powder, it can often be the
next best thing when no such snow (
untracked or slightly
ski-cut) is available.
Crud generally lacks the smoothness of full-blown pow and can be a bit uneven, but is generally much softer than packed stuff. Skiers not used to skiing in crud may find it a bit hard to get used to, and it can in fact be condusive to injuries. Good examples of crud can be found in Pacific Coast ski resorts such as Whistler/Blackcomb or Eaglecrest Ski Area.