Snow report Dolomites, 01/11/2014

Snow condition

There is plenty of snow, and significantly more than in the northern Alps. I would describe the snow conditions as good for the beginning/middle of January, even if there is still a long way to go before there is any enthusiasm. Most of the variants and tours are possible in terms of the amount of snow, even if there is still a lack of snow at lower altitudes in the forest and in many of the classic steep gullies.

Snow quality

Still quite good in places, but there is a lot of broken harsch. On south-facing slopes right up to the top, but also on west-facing and east-facing slopes, there is melted harsch, as well as a lot of wind harsch. Powder can still be found, but it is no longer all that easy. The snow is often very settled or has a light cover. At lower altitudes (up to approx. 1100m) it rained during the last snowfall.

Relatively relaxed, but you have to watch out for drift snow. Wet snow slides can also be an issue at lower altitudes, and the base is often transformed to build up.

Overall impression

Not really good but not bad conditions either. Nevertheless, I would give it 0 stars if that were possible, but because of the way skiing is now understood in the Dolomites (with the exception of the Marmolada). You're used to the lift not running/running, you don't get an easy ascent or you do get information. I also don't want to complain about the large police presence and the general bans on leaving the slopes. Also, the fact that lifts from which no slopes go down can only be used with a mountain guide (who then drive around with customers but without a backpack) is almost no problem. But when you are stopped by the police while cruising on an empty slope (at a speed that is also preferred by Elfriede and Erwin, the retired couple from North Rhine-Westphalia), with the advice to slow down, you start to wonder what you are supposed to do in the beautiful ski areas of the Dolomites...