It was NPR so it MUST be true.
Although I suspect it may be an old wives tale ... they have old wives in Maine, I heard about it on TV ... ask around before you spend an inordinate amount of time trying to recreate a pipe dream in prime snow smashing season.
If the worst possible situation happens, I've already come up with a couple of ways to possibly cheat and just recreate it visually - and not recreate the way nature makes 'em.
I'll probably spend like an hour dropping various balls of snow onto various slopes and give up. I'll then probably just use a spray bottle and some sort of tube. I'll probably try a few ways to see which one makes the most visually similar snow doughnut.
By that point, I'm quite likely to have gotten distracted by a squirrel, rabbit, or other furry woodland critter.
In my head, I can think of a few types of snow/conditions that'd make that possible. Finding those exact conditions is going to be problematic. I'll probably cheat.
There may be grant money in this, if you were to apply yourself and ask. Hell, maybe even a Nobel prize! The Governor of Maine may just invite you to a pancake breakfast. All this is assuming you can pull this off without getting distracted. I know how that is ... I myself have been distracted by many a critter in the woods. I've never attended one of those furry conventions though ... and I don't see it as a hole in my life.
I thought the same thing.
Now, I've learned of snow doughnuts.
A hole, Owly... A hole...
I don't have a goddamned snow doughnut! I've never even seen a snow doughnut!
I may have to try to recreate one. Soon, it'll be snow smashing time! I will have ample snow to try to recreate one.
I've made similar, but nothing quite like that. Yes, yes I do roll snow around by hand. I also make snow angels. I also build forts and snowmen. I love me some snow!
Now, I need a snow doughnut. I'm already trying to think of ways to recreate it.