Snow report Bormio, 02/08/2014

Snow condition

The permanent southerly wind has left its mark on the alpine terrain, which is reflected in the very different snow distribution in the orientation of the valley - hence only 3 stars for the high altitudes. Below and in the forest there is a lot of snow - you can go full throttle in the forest. Therefore 5 stars for it. 5+3/2 makes 4 in total.

Snow quality

After the heavy snowfall last weekend with quite warm temperatures (which didn't have as bad an effect in Livigno as elsewhere at the same altitude), another 20-30cm of cold powder fell by Thursday and then another 15cm without any wind by Saturday. From Saturday to Sunday there was another 10cm. The upper 15-20cm were perfect - below that there was a soft base (sinking in hip-deep in places when skinning down - tracks were borderline exhausting.

Level 2 was issued in the forest and 3 in the Alps. Fresh drifts on north-facing slopes (the wind picked up at midday on Saturday) and the uneven amount of snow in the Alps had to be taken into account.

Overall impression

I only give 5 stars on exception days. Saturday was definitely 4 stars with great cruising in feather-light powder at Bluebird until 3 o'clock. Sunday was touring in the forest in poor visibility until the early afternoon. However, the treeskiing was at a very good Canadian level - I give it 4.5 stars.