Snow report Alpenostrand, 03/11/2018

Snow condition

As usual, the north-eastern sector of the Veitsch has a little less snow, but still very good snow conditions. Still in the forest too. Our starting point today was at 819m. However, our ascent led through a shady ditch. The Veitsch plateau is also very well snowed in, little to hardly anything has blown off. Weitengrund also looks very good from below (covered by mountain pines, no/hardly any rocks in the final wall).

Snow quality

The upper slopes were actually very good in view of the temperatures (and the low night frost). The weak point was the forest in the middle section (approx. 1000-1400m) with very dull, boggy snow. Further down in the bottom of the trench, the snow was still frozen in the early morning and was still wet at midday.

The wet snow problem was a serious issue due to the light night frost. On the ascent, we passed a fresh avalanche from the previous day. Although we were very early and the trench and the steep slope are north-facing (!), a larger avalanche from the same forest gully that had flooded our ascent track from early in the morning could be seen at the same spot on the way down (see photo). A clear warning!

Overall impression

Single tour and first lines on the Almkogeln at the top of the Veitsch plateau. Interesting and entertaining ascent via forest ditches and gullies. Beautiful views of the easternmost edge of the Alps and close-up views over the Veitsch plateau.