Oberstdorf on 02.01.2022 | htg_other spring ski tour, with sun, lots of annoying wind, bruchharsch and ski carrying.

Snow condition

i had assumed that after the heavy rain, there would be no more snow cover below 2000m. it didn't turn out to be that bad, but the snow situation is quite sobering, not only in comparison to before the rain, but also in absolute terms. i was on the gr. daumen today. neither the slope up to the käseralpe is still passable, nor the toboggan run to the schwarzenberghütte is still completely covered in snow. both times you have to unbuckle and carry your skis. if you break through on the descent, stone contact is unavoidable. south and west side def. no longer worthwhile. north and east look better, but are probably still hard as nails at the top and totally crumbly further down. the road to the giebelhaus is free of snow, except for a few shady bends.

Snow quality

above 1700m there was no firn today. below 1500m you don't need to go south anymore. between 1500 and 1700m the snow collapsed down to the ground (but it's not that deep, max. 30cm).

above the ascent track, after the käseralpe, i saw some sliding snow mouths. these are not visible from the valley. so it's better to go further to the right! it was too hard at the top today and further down there's simply too little snow for avalanches.

Overall impression

it's going to get worse with the forecast rain. i won't go until it has snowed extensively down to the valleys. it's getting scarce on the south side.