Hochkönig on 11.01.2025 | winterkind

Snow condition

With the cold snap came some precipitation in the form of snow. Around 10 cm - 15 cm of cold fresh snow. The snow cover is still not abundant, exposed areas have been cleared, botany, streams and other traps are still present. Even with good visibility and local knowledge, you have to keep your eyes open in the hilly terrain. Areas sheltered from the wind are an advantage when moving through the terrain. Thanks to forest roads, you can get all the way into the valley on the north side.

Snow quality

Surprisingly good snow quality in the lee. There was probably a gradual transition from rain to snow, as you couldn't feel a hard base despite the manageable amount of fresh snow. Soft as butter and dusty.

The west wind was present in the summit regions and exposed areas. In our area, we only found drift snow close to the crest. The amounts were also manageable (would have expected more). These accumulations were easy to avoid and the snow cover made a fairly stable impression. In some cases, we encountered sleet (on the surface or in the uppermost part of the snowpack).

Overall impression

Heute gab es einen überraschend guten Geländetag mit einer ordentlichen Schneequalität. Hoffentlich dauert die Durststrecke bis zum nächsten richtigen Niederschlag nicht zu lange!