Snow report Montafon, 01/09/2021

Snow condition

Disaster, that's all I can think of. There is hardly anything lying around. At 2500m there are stones, bushes and other garbage sticking out. At 2400m we had to cross an open stream that babbled merrily along... that's not normal. You can start walking from about 1200-1400m. It doesn't get any better than that anyway. Many great descents look like early November.

Snow quality

We were heading towards the Rotebühlspitze and then climbed up to 2 lonely ridges, both north, 35-45 degrees steep, 5-10cm powder on top that doesn't hold, on bottomless old snow. With a speed of 100 km/h and wide skis it's possible, with a tourer it's rather limited fun. You almost can't ski there anyway, what can you say, it's January and I'm losing the desire to ski...

In the high northern slopes from 2200m something is brewing that can become quite a hot potato. 2400m north you are hip-deep in old snow. Zero binding! On top 5cm of thick, fat frost. The last time I saw something like this was in the old snow winter and the base is really bad in my opinion. I'm not going on a tour next week with all the fresh snow that's forecast. It will be too hot for me. Explicitly Novatal, hochjoch, gargellen and Golm. Probably similar towards Davos. I'd rather leave a few lemmings in front and see what happens, otherwise stones are the biggest danger. I was last in the group and on the first turn at the top, skis on stone, completely released, head on stone tomahawk a few meters. We were still debating whether the slope wasn't too hot, wanted to get through the section as quickly as possible - the plan didn't work out. When you're standing hip-deep in this muck, boots on stone, snow up to your bib, you almost start praying. Beautiful is different. When I'm looking for my second ski, the snow just flows past me. Well, what I want to say is: watch out ⚠ Otherwise you run the risk of being overrun.

Overall impression

No, it's not worth going into the mountains right now. If you want to sit on a summit with 50 other people and ride moguls after a 1000m ascent: go go go. For everyone else: you're not missing anything. If you're moping around and want to cross the border: save yourself the trouble or head south. Nothing works here.

Alas, it's abominably cold. -12 to -16 degrees...brrrrrr...