Snow report Central Switzerland, 01/30/2014

Snow condition

It is never really easy to assess the snow conditions on the Titlis - at least if the last snowfall was a few days ago. The whole thing is to be judged after the first day. In any case, the ridges and crests are blown off, as everywhere in Central Switzerland. The culprit is called Föhn and is a southerly wind. The rest is easy to ride. Stones only appear where everyone is riding through or sliding down. For example, in the entrance foliage. It's supposed to snow again in the next few days, and that certainly won't do any harm in Engelberg either - even if the snow conditions have already been a lot worse this winter.

Snow quality

Due to the warm southerly wind - aptly called Föhn in Switzerland - a thin layer of broken snow has also formed at 2500 meters, but it's easy to ski through with rocker skis. I already noticed this yesterday on the Klewenalp: In the higher elevations, the slush is more pronounced than in the lower areas of the slopes, where you can even find some heavy powder in places. I think this is due to the warm southerly wind blowing over the tops into the north-facing slopes. Apart from that, the snow quality on the Titlis can be described in one word at the moment: rutted!!! I'll give it 1 star - 1-2 would be fair, and if you put your skins under your feet and put up with a few hundred meters of ascent, you'd certainly give it even more stars. But we were too lazy today.

SLF has corrected the avalanche warning level for Central Switzerland from 3 to 2 today. That fits. Snow has settled - even where drift snow has accumulated.

Overall impression

These stars... Despite everything, I give it three. What counts in the end is the experience, the day in the fresh air, the skiing. Even if the conditions could have been better: It was fun and tiring. And in the end, that's all that counts. I would definitely like to go again. But I have to work at the weekend. Have fun and take care - especially in the south...