Snow report Upper Black Forest, 02/16/2014

Snow condition

Above 1200 m, you can now give it two stars. That's far from good, but that doesn't matter much. Below 1000-1100 m, there is simply no winter in the low mountain range this winter.

Snow quality

Relatively warm, therefore moist fresh snow. Approx. 25 cm above 1200 m. Due to the strong wind, however, that's up to over a meter of fresh snow in places. In places exposed to the wind, it has blown down to the turf in many places. The snow is massively influenced by the wind. In places where there was less wind (which is rare), the snow was quite good, but mostly rather cementy with all kinds of covers and crusts.

Huuuiiii, watch out. There were massive avalanches again in the previous days. I wonder where the snow actually comes from and why the mild temperatures with occasional rain don't stabilize the snow cover. A massive avalanche has gone down in the "big" couloir of the Zastler-Loch. Until at least 50-100 cm of snow has fallen over it, there is no need to ski the old minefield. On the leeward sides of the ridges, more than 150 cm of drift snow has been deposited in places. Even short steep sections were impassable yesterday (Sunday).

Overall impression

What the heck: it's winter, but it's just not a good one. A long working day was sweetened by the descent under a full moon that was just rising. (PS: Sorry, no photos as I forgot my camera)