Zillertal on 12.12.2021 | ChevChelios

Snow condition

On the north side, you can already get started in the forest. High bushes, mountain pines etc. are not really closed yet, but help to train your slalom skills. Above the tree line, ridges are blown away and hollows are blown in, so be careful of stone contact on terrain crests. The south-facing valley descent is possible almost without ground contact thanks to the meadowy surface, but in the lower part there is no more than 30 cm of snow and sliding snow slopes and still open cracks demand attention when choosing your line.

Snow quality

The snow quality depends on exposure and altitude. The best snow is generally found at forested altitudes where the wind has not had a strong influence. Above the tree line there is more wind influence and the snow is therefore much more bound. The sun has already made the snow a little heavier during the course of the day, at least on the south and south-east side.

Above the tree line, the situation was tense due to drifting and old snow problems. Defensive route selection certainly makes sense, avoid blown-in areas and steep terrain, in the forest and on flatter slopes you could also have a lot of fun with considerably less risk. On the south side, there was a lot of sliding snow on steep grassy slopes.

Overall impression

Very nice freeride day with over 9000m descent, almost exclusively off-piste and hardly any other people on the way. From 8:30 am to 3:30 pm lines in fine powder snow, my thighs are burning, but Monday is a rest day anyway :D Unfortunately, the rain will now do a lot of damage to the beautiful white splendor :/