Ive only messed around with HDR on a couple occasions. It is not something I really seem to have an ambition for but would like to learn how to do this a little better. These two examples are pretty much what I envisioned, except for the grey snow. Is there any way to reduce that or get rid of it or is that just a product of HDR. It seems like snow would have to turn grey in some areas due to the different exposure levels.

Also, is there an ideal step in exposures for HDR? Is it 3 steps, 5, 10? I really have no idea what the exposure was for these, but I know I started really under exposed, then took progressive photos til they were extremely over exposed. Is this the correct initial process?