PowderGuide

The SLF issued its first avalanche bulletin on December 21, 1945. Since then, avalanche risk forecasting has developed significantly. However, despite all the technical advances, specialist knowledge and the assessment of experts are still required today.

Even in this very unusual season, we hope that all PowderGuide users will have a wonderful Christmas time and have the opportunity to give presents to their loved ones (or themselves). If you are still looking for last-minute ideas, here, as every year, are the PowderGuide editorial team's material wishes. Unfiltered.

A reliable avalanche bulletin requires up-to-date information from the terrain. To this end, the SLF maintains its own network of around 200 observers in the Swiss Alps and the Jura. On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the avalanche bulletin, the SLF presents some of them in short portraits.

With the new edition of Endless Winter, Michael Neumann is once again bringing an illustrated book onto the market that will make a powder fan's eyes light up as they read it. And the best thing about it: we're giving away five of the popular copies, so watch out!

The Freeride Nights in Innsbruck have become a popular monthly fixture for the Tyrolean freeride community in recent years. People meet up for a beer (or two or three), see the usual suspects, watch a few videos together and chat about the latest powder days. As this is unfortunately not possible as usual at the moment, the Freeride Nights are now virtual! Positive aspect: You don't have to be in Innsbruck to take part!

The Swiss Avalanche Bulletin is entering its 75th season! Congratulations and thank you for the great service! To mark the anniversary, PowderGuide.com (as well as the SLF homepage) will be publishing various articles about the work of the SLF over the next few weeks.

The Tyrolean clinics have informed the ORF that heart-lung machines are in short supply. These are also repeatedly used to treat avalanche victims. At present, the clinics cannot guarantee that they will have enough equipment in the event of a serious avalanche accident with one or even several buried victims.

PG partner Julbo presents a versatile new ski goggle with a special design. The Shadow One Line was designed by the two Julbo pros Manuela Mandl and Eva Walkner. The goggles are specially designed for small and medium-sized faces, have a particularly large field of vision and a reactive lens that ensures the best contrasts in all light conditions. We asked Manu how she spends the lockdown and what the design of the goggle strap is all about.

The PowderGuide weather service is available again as usual from today. We hope the winter will give us a jolt and our PowderMap will soon be really colorful again! As before, there are SNOWGRID and sunshine maps as well as a short text forecast.

Many things have been canceled this year and some measures will certainly remain with us throughout this year's ski season. Unfortunately, this also applies to many of the ski film premieres that have always put us in the mood for a great season. Warren Miller has been with us winter after winter since 1950. And this year? We have good news!

The annual Alpine Forum will also take place digitally this year due to the restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 situation. On November 13 and 14, the Austrian Board of Trustees for Alpine Safety will present online lectures, live streams, webinars and tutorials.

An almost normal summer was followed by a relatively snowy, early fall season with the first days of skiing on the glacier. Even in October, with a little imagination, you could still convince yourself that everything was somehow almost normal, although the worsening of the coronavirus crisis had been looming for some time. November is now characterized by new lockdowns throughout the Alps.