Snow report Arlberg, 12/30/2014

Snow condition

The amount of fresh snow over the last few days is considerable, but it is the first significant snowfall this winter. There is still far too little snow in the forest. Stone contact is hardly avoidable. A foundation has been laid.

Snow quality

The fresh snow is of the fine, cold variety. It's dusty and you can go snorkeling in places, but the contact with the ground makes driving difficult. Below 1,500 m, the snow has become much wetter. The temperature is rising again.

Very tricky above 2,000 m. Here the fresh snow and drift snow lies on top of old, hardened snow and due to the low wind influence of the last 20 cm, the packs are almost impossible to recognize. From very steep terrain, many loose snow chutes and blowdowns are clearly visible. As the forest begins, the situation improves considerably, but there is simply not enough snow here to have any real fun. On very steep forest meadows, a few sliding snow chutes have already gone down. Picture with snow slab: this was caused by 2 winter sports enthusiasts crossing between the avalanche barriers.

Overall impression

If the visibility had been better, it would have been an epic day. After it had ripped open for about 1 hour, the variant terrain was through. Now it's time for long traverses or ascents.