I saw news on Friday of a study on bacteria in snow, but didn’t get around to checking it out until this morning. It’s a matter of some concern to any outdoor athlete.

I carry my own water, most times, but I’ve also used snow to quench a thirst. I like to sip snow from the higher boughs of a white pine, reasoning that it probably hasn’t been contaminated by any of the stuff that winds up on the ground in the woods.

I’ve always known that snow (and rain) tends to form around solid particles in the air, and the study published Friday in Science magazine found that bacteria are the most common nucleus (over dust). That sounds gross, or even dangerous, but read on: the vast bulk of these bacteria are plant pathogens; they would have no effect whatsoever on humans.

I would still rather eat snow than suffer dehydration. I recommend a rule that has mostly served our species well for millenia: if it tastes bad, spit it out.

The original article in Science requires registration, but here’s a summary article, from Science Daily.