Ever since my year abroad in Norway in 2022, I’ve been trying to spend every winter in the mountains somehow. From an Erasmus exchange in Svalbard to a cross-Alps hike with a tent to an internship with the avalanche warning service in the Pyrenees—I’ve done it all. This winter, I ended up in Davos at the SLF, where I’m helping to further develop the models for avalanche warnings.
Linus Langenbacher
Written articles
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SnowFlurry
SnowFlurry 2 2025/26 | "Under the magnifying glass"
01/26/2026 • Linus Langenbacher & Lydia Knappe"Under the magnifying glass" is a series of articles by Lydia and Linus. We are both at the SLF in Davos this winter, where we are studying snow from a scientific perspective. As we regularly take a close look at the snow in our surroundings - both during our field work and at weekends - we'll be taking you with us from time to time this winter. We will explain our snow profiles to you, what the individual observations mean and what snow science topics arise from the current profiles. Today: How the orientation of a slope - i.e. its exposure - influences the development of the snowpack and why north-facing slopes often offer particularly good snow, but also the most dangerous conditions. -
adventure & travel
Learning to read the snow: avalanche awareness in the Pyrenees
01/08/2026 • Linus LangenbacherI packed my thick backpack, the giant ice hockey bag and the two-metre-long ski bag onto the Flixbus, hugged my flatmates once again and the big bus sets off. From above, I could see my friends trying in vain to make out which of the darkened windows I had sat down behind. So that was it for Heidelberg, off to the mountains! -
SnowFlurry
SnowFlurry 1 2025/26 | "Under the magnifying glass"
12/24/2025 • Lydia Knappe & Linus Langenbacher"Under the magnifying glass" is a series of articles by Lydia and Linus. We are both at the SLF in Davos this winter, where we are studying snow from a scientific perspective. As we regularly take a close look at the snow in the area anyway - both during our field work and at our weekends - we'll be taking you with us from time to time this winter. We explain our snow profiles, what the individual observations actually mean and pick up on various snow science topics that arise from the current profiles. Today: How the weather conditions at the start of the season can help shape the rest of the winter season - and how the weather in recent weeks has changed the snowpack. -
adventure & travel
Crossing the Alps Part 2 | All good things come in twos
01/07/2025 • Linus LangenbacherWhen Hugo and I had to take a break from our ski traverse of Switzerland due to illness only ten days into the trip (see part 1) we were not quite sure how our epic 7-week adventure of ski touring through the Swiss Alps could keep going on. Camping in a tent, suffering through all sorts of weather and knocking on people’s doors in posh ski resort towns in hope of finding a place to crash had all taken a toll. But after a one-week break during which I managed to recover decently, we were ready to give it another shot and met again in the Sagliains train station in the Inn valley. -
adventure & travel
Crossing the Alps Part 1 | Heavy packs and high hopes
12/24/2024 • Linus LangenbacherSeven weeks of ski mountaineering: waking up, suffering through putting on your frozen boots and packing up the iced-over tent. Seven weeks of taking the weather as it comes – spending entire days in complete whiteout, being blown over by 120 km/h gusts of wind, and waiting out storms in alpine huts or (more often) on people's couches in the valley. But also seven weeks of being amazed by the ever-changing scenery, of being stunned by the beauty of snow-covered mountains every single day. A trip shaped by incredible encounters and people’s hospitality, depending on the kindness of strangers and meeting inspiring individuals. Seven weeks of raw adventure - this is "Crossing the Alps", the story of Hugo and Linus traversing Switzerland on skis.
