Snow report Grisons, 01/05/2017

Snow condition

The wind has done a great job and distributed the 30 - 40 cm of fresh snow from the last few days unevenly, ridges and crests have been blown off, while gullies and hollows are full to bursting. With the poor base (practically non-existent on the south side up to 2500m, 30 cm at best on the north side), sharks are omnipresent companions. Near the tree line and below, ground contact is also the rule rather than the exception. However, if you set your lines skillfully, you will sometimes get through without "klack-ggrschh"! All in all, however, a clear improvement on the previous snow conditions - powder skiing is back on the cards!

Snow quality

With so much stormy wind, no champagne powder was to be expected, but the wind-pressed snow is still quite dusty! The extremely low temperatures (in the morning: air -22°C; snow -26°C) make for pretty "dull" snow that requires some speed to make progress!

Considering the gale-force winds and the unfavorable old snow cover (if present), it can make you feel queasy. Warning level 3 is definitely justified - the countless blasting attempts by lift operators near the ski area were mostly successful. In addition, spontaneous slab falls with sometimes considerable heights in all exposures are omnipresent. The choice of route in the terrain is therefore difficult in several respects: blunt wind-pressed snow, sharks and snow slab traps in many places narrow the scope considerably.

Overall impression

Despite the tense avalanche situation and arctic temperatures, it was an auspicious start to the New Year - the sun and spirits definitely shine brighter in a real winter landscape!