Snow report Alpenostrand, 02/01/2020

Snow condition

Snow from the valley. Especially on the shady side with increasing altitude, there was actually not so little (for the conditions this winter). From Wednesday to Thursday there was also considerable fresh snow here. The view down into the Paltental valley also shows a continuous blanket of snow (see photo), even though it's only around 800m high!

Unfortunately, the warming and the weather (previously rain on fresh snow, then clear night with frost), today very warm and sunny (late spring day!) has more than affected the snow quality. The snow cover is completely soaked. In the shade, the crust of melted snow is partially but completely hard and hard as a rock on the north side at summit level. Our west-facing slope ranged from nice and firny to crumbly and hard, depending on the orientation to the sun (every half degree changed the snow consistency). Sometimes even quite fun to ski. But on the whole it was on the other side (see also the photo with the melting shapes in the snow).

There were no fresh slab avalanches from the last fresh snow. Wet snow slides / avalanches from steep (forest) gullies. In the steeper ski terrain (just below 40 degrees) there were tendencies towards (very small) wet sluffs.

Overall impression

After the PowderGuide magazine recently presented the concept of "mountaineering villages" (ÖAV, DAV, AVS), it was time to do a relevant condition report from one of these villages. Which is what happens here - with Johnsbach in the Gesäuse National Park. It's really worth it - it's very beautiful there and there's no sign of mass tourism (it wouldn't even be possible, as there are only 3 inns in the whole valley ...).
The ski day certainly had its highs. Especially the spring-like weather, the fantastic view of the surrounding mountains (especially the Gesäuse peaks) and the view down into the valleys.
In terms of skiing, it wasn't outstanding due to the quality of the snow.