In my one and only true powder experience, which I experienced in near zero visibility, I encountered the worst case of vertigo I ever had.
Obviously, first time in powder + zero visibility = one nearly dead Andrew so I stopped for a rest before I truly killed myself. Then my skis started vibrating. 'That should not be happening' I think to myself. Eventually, I realize I'm not about to die in an avalanche because my skis are vibrating because despite what my brain is telling me, I'm actually sliding down the very steep hill sideways. I give up trying to dig in and try to ski to what I think is my right where the crazy guy who took me here assured me I could find a more gentle slope. I wisely left a trail of puke from the combination of exhaustion and insane vertigo, just in case I had to double back.
PS,
Thanks from me too Labdriver. Two of my good friends were rescued out somewhere east of the Grand Banks by a S&R crew in very nasty weather. Brave work indeed!!
