For backcountry skiing and freeriding tours, in most parts of the countryside there is still not enough snow. Only along the Main Alpine Ridge are we receiving reports of high-altitude, mostly shady slopes where conditions are acceptable.
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| Wintery conditions on shady slopes at high altitude as above, south of the Venediger Group. (Photo: 28.11.2018) |
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| Far less snow on south-facing slopes (Photo: 28.11.2018) |
Powder snow good enough for skiing is found on shady slopes at high altitudes, and practically nowhere else. Most often it was deposited on top of an old snowpack capable of bearing loads stemming from the last rounds of snowfall, e.g. 19.11, 23+24/11 and 27/11.2018.
As the weather fronts passed through, winds from varying directions prevailed, sometimes blowing at strong velocity.
Small, rather isolated snowdrifts accumulated at high altitude, some of which can be triggered (on steep, shady slopes). With experience, these drifts can be easily recognized and circumvented.
Studying the snowpack a bit more closely, the words from the last blog still apply: weak layers exist, it is currently possible but unlikely that they will unleash.
Thus, in the regions with ample snow, favourable conditions still prevail. The danger from rocks and stones is more threatening than from avalanches. Otherwise worthy of mention: last week was used for technical snow production.
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| Precipitation and development of snow depths last week in Kühtai. |
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| The snowfall on 27.11 was to a greater extent in North Tirol, on 23.11 more in South Tirol. |
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| Powder snow in the vicinity of the Stubai Glacier (Photo: 28.11.2018) |
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| Powder snow deep in the Ötztal (Photo: 28.11.2018) |
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| View towards Galzig, Arlberg region, before the snowfall of 27.11 (Photo: 26.11.2018) |
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| View towards Galzig, Arlberg region, following snowfall of 27.11 (Photo: 28.11.2018) |
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| View towards Galzig, Arlberg region: rising temperatures plus solar radiation amplify snowmelt (Photo: 29.11.2018) |
As the weather fronts passed through, winds from varying directions prevailed, sometimes blowing at strong velocity.
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| A wind-exposed spot: the Patscherkofel, south of Innsbruck. Initially, southerly winds prevailed, shifting to northerly on 26.11 as temperatures dropped. Then another shift to southerly. |
Small, rather isolated snowdrifts accumulated at high altitude, some of which can be triggered (on steep, shady slopes). With experience, these drifts can be easily recognized and circumvented.
Studying the snowpack a bit more closely, the words from the last blog still apply: weak layers exist, it is currently possible but unlikely that they will unleash.
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| A sequence of crusts and unbonded layers near the upper surface is currently not a problem, but we have to keep an eye on it. Stubai Glacier. (Photo: 28.11.2018) |
Thus, in the regions with ample snow, favourable conditions still prevail. The danger from rocks and stones is more threatening than from avalanches. Otherwise worthy of mention: last week was used for technical snow production.
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| Snow cannons full throttle in Kühtai. Skiing operations will be launched this weekend. (Photo: 28.11.2018) |
