Snow report Salzburger Land North, 02/23/2018

Snow condition

As has been the case for most of this winter, the snow conditions in the Berchtesgadener Land vary greatly, especially within a certain altitude range. Today we had to carry about 150m and ski down about the same amount very carefully. Between 1100-1200m, sometimes even 1300m, there is simply not enough snow for skiing in dense forests and on rough ground, and at 1400-1500m there are already big snow packs, sometimes well over a meter.

Snow quality

Up to about 1500m you can feel the compact, hard old snow cover, there is only about 10 cm on top. Above that, in the sparse larch forest is clearly the place to be: 30cm deep powder, sometimes a bit capped, but still great. Above the tree line there is a lot of wind-pressed, hard snow and only rarely powder.

None at the bottom because no snow, and a relaxed situation in the forest above. On the one hand, a lot of snow was blown away in the higher areas, on the other hand, there are very different snow qualities in a very confined space. There were also some, mainly small, loose snow slides from steep faces exposed to the sun, and some steeper, large flanks were made today. Nevertheless, we were high, but rather defensive.

Overall impression

Very contrasting conditions. Partly very dense fog up to almost 2000m, unfortunately also where the good snow was.
Above that, a gigantic view of the winter wonderland, but very little really good snow.
A lot going on overall on the mountains throughout the valley, but in the large areas it was of course still good.