Snow report Upper Valais, 12/27/2018

Snow condition

There is hardly any snow in Unterbäch at 1200. You can ski down, but it's more of a white ribbon in the green and no fun all the way down. From 2200 there is enough snow for off-piste skiing. Above the tree line there is a lot of wind and there are large piles of snow in hollows. Summit ridges heavily blown off.

Snow quality

Unfortunately, it rained on it until over 2000, which means that everything in the forest that would otherwise be nice to ski on is unfortunately covered and crusted over. Above the tree line, the snow is windblown and therefore varies greatly from one turn to the next. Hard as a pickaxe and almost icy to powdery.

Officially, the SLF indicates warning level 3. We observe a slab avalanche 20 meters wide and approx. 30 meters long, which was triggered laterally on Wednesday (26.12.) by a group of 5 ski tourers on the descent from the Ginalshorn. Nobody was buried or swept away, as it was only a side avalanche. Avalanche situation very difficult to assess due to massive wind and old snow problem. There are also spontaneous avalanches, especially on north to east-facing slopes.

Overall impression

Sun, no wind and only 3 other tourers on the way apart from us. But it was definitely a day for the condi and nothing for special cheers in the powder or special lines. Otherwise a nice easy-peasy-laissez-faire tour from the end of the last tow in Unterbäch to the Ginalshorn with a great view of the Bietschhorn the whole time!