Since yesterday (6 May) we have reports both from Emergency Headquarters of Tirol and from winter sports enthusiasts of additional, sometimes large-spread avalanches: Saumspitze, Verwall (about 3000 m, north), Mittlerer Spiegelkogel, Ötztal Alps (about 3300 m, north), Schrankkogel, Stubai Alps (about 2800 m, northeast), Taschachferner, Pitztal (about 2800 m, north) Schartenkogel, Stubai Alps (2800 m, north), Hochgall, Main Alpine Ridge, East Tirolean sector (3270 m, north) , Defereggental (2800 m, north). In several of these avalanches, persons were involved, In one case (Saumspitze in Verwall) two persons were injured.
In these avalanches, the cause in all likelihood is to be found in the weak layers as described in the
last Blog - in other words, either from faceted crystals (dp.4) or graupel (dp.9). This was corroborated by explorations in outlying terrain in the Kaunertal today (7 May) at 3000 m on a NW-facing slope, where we found a striking metamorphosed weak layer atop a melt-freeze crust with snowdrifts on top of that. A stability test resulted in a smooth fracture (ECTP14). All the avalanches we know of released in the aspect / altitude band referred to in that blog as perilous, namely,
north-facing slopes above 2800 m.
For review, here are a few shots of these avalanche releases. Photos often say more than words can describe...
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| Schartenkogel (photo: 06.05.2020) |
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| Saumspitze overview photo: 07.05.2020) |
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| Saumspitze detailed view incl. ascent track (photo: 07.05.2020) |
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| Precipitation on 5-6 May in Tirol. Maximum amounts were in western regions. |
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| Mittlerer Spiegelkogel (photo: 07.05.2020) |
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| Taschachferner (photo: 07.05.2020) |
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| Schrankogel. Probably a remote triggering by persons. (photo: 07.05.2020) |
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| Avalanche in Defereggental, 2800m, north, atop graupel (photo: 07.05.2020) |
