Stefanie Höpperger

Today I'm showing you the relevant layers for us before and after the snowfall at the beginning of March using several profiles. It's expected to snow heavily again in the northern Alps next week - so it's all the more important to know what's underneath the fresh snow!

When it comes to merino baselayers, most people automatically fall back on brands such as Ortovox or Icebreaker, but Mons Royale's merino underwear is certainly impressive and can easily keep up with the better-known names.

In today's SnowFlurry we discuss a profile in which you can see that the susceptibility of the weak layer to disturbance has improved. In the last flurry, the same weak layer was even easier to disturb.

In today's Gestöber we discuss a snow profile from January 24, 2021. The profile was dug and recorded in the Mieming, on the Simmering, on a 34° steep, SE-facing and rather snow-poor slope.

In addition to the constructive and degradative transformation, which have often been discussed in SnowFlurry, there is also mechanical transformation. Today we ask ourselves: What happens to snow crystals during mechanical transformation? What does the formation of drift snow have to do with it and how does it actually develop?

We are currently hearing from many friends and acquaintances who are developing a surprisingly strong passion for baking bread from sitting at home. Snowstöberin Steffi also knows a thing or two about it and is sharing her standard wholemeal bread recipe with us today, including instructions on how to make sourdough. It's sure to taste great for ski tour snacks, if you ever get the chance to make it again!

The melting transformation is the transformation process of the snow crystals in the snow cover, which occurs when the snow reaches a temperature of at least 0°C due to heat input. In other words, the transformation from snow crystal to water and back to ice when the temperature drops again. The corners and edges of the snow crystals begin to melt, become rounder and move closer together. The melting transformation can occur in all winter months, but is most common in spring.

PowderGuide snow rummager Steffi is also staying at home at the moment. As a qualified health trainer, she deals a lot with sensible nutrition for athletes in her job. For a while now, she has been making her own energy bars for her ski tours. As many of us have a little more time than usual at the moment, she shares her recipe with us - maybe someone will feel inspired to go on an adventure in the kitchen!

When it comes to safety equipment, not only the avalanche transceiver is important, but also the probe and shovel. Good equipment is available from many suppliers. The important thing is that you like the way it handles and that you get on well with it. As we all know, rescuing your comrades in an emergency is crucial for survival and every second counts.

Due to the current situation caused by COVID 19 and the resulting curfew, we snow rummagers are also staying at home and using the time to share old, interesting profiles or technical knowledge with you. If you refresh and expand your snow and avalanche knowledge now, you will be all the better equipped for the next season - because it is sure to come.

Hazard pattern 4 - cold on warm, warm on cold - occurs when there is a large temperature difference (more than 5°C) during the snowing process or between the snow surface and the fresh snow. As the name suggests, it can occur in both temperature directions, regardless of whether it snows cold on a warm surface or vice versa.

The warm temperatures continue in February. Where it is more like spring in the valley, the touring conditions at altitude are still good, even if the snow depth in Kühtai is slightly below average for mid-February.