Stubai Valley on 28.03.2021 | ChevChelios

Snow condition

The snow conditions are still good at the moment. The valley descent is still easy and there is also plenty of snow in the off-piste terrain. However, exposed, steeper slopes have been blown away and are rather rocky in places.

Snow quality

The snow quality varies greatly. You can still find good powder snow on higher, north-facing slopes. However, these must be protected from the wind. Otherwise, the wind has blown and pressed exposed, somewhat steeper slopes. In the flatter, north-facing slopes you can also still find settled powder snow. Apart from that, you can currently find the whole range from broken harsch, too hard and blown away, to soaked snow. All in all, you need a bit of luck to find good powder snow. Our first gully was a bit more open and therefore hard and blown away. The second gully, which was also exposed on the north/north-west side, still had good powder snow as the gully was much more sheltered from the wind.

You should watch out for drift snow at higher altitudes. Overall, avalanche conditions are favorable at the moment. With the rising temperatures, the daily increase in avalanche danger should be taken into account. Older, wet loose snow avalanches have been seen from sunny terrain, which have also triggered small snow slabs.

Overall impression

2 beautiful lines on the Stubai Glacier combined with easy ridge climbing. All in all, a fine day of touring away from the crowds that hiked to the Zuckerhütl. Caught the first line in rather semi-optimal conditions, but the second gully had even better snow to offer. However, it won't be easy next week to find good powder snow in attractive terrain.