Fresh snowcover in a remote upland catchment is chemically heterogeneous. Coefficients of variation (Cof) for individual major ions range from 5 to 113%, assuming a normal distribution, or 1 to 144 % assuming a lognormal distribution. Aged snowcover is slightly more chemically variable, giving rise to Cof of 19–140 %, assuming a normal distribution, or 2–200 %, assuming a lognormal distribution. In general, the distribution of the concentration of major ions in snowcover is better described by the lognormal distribution. Both vertical and horizontal variability is observed in the chemical content of within-pack snows. Such heterogeneity has important implications for snowpack sampling. We suggest that rigorous methodologies should be devised for the sampling of fresh snowcover. The sampling of within-pack snows should also be performed under tight statistical constraints if representative estimates of the solute content of snowcover are to be obtained.