Snow report Oberstdorf, 12/12/2018

Snow condition

Sorry, but in real life it's often not like on the www. Even if "Marilou" has delivered everything that was hyped, it's still not enough for the Allgäu. From 900m the landscape is white, or there is something similar to a closed snow cover (picture 2, max. 5cm, north side). From approx. 1,300m the snow slowly becomes more and you can ski on grass (picture 4, approx. 10cm). From approx. 1,500m there is quickly more snow and you can also ski off-piste. With a good eye for the line, a smooth, stress-free descent is also possible. However, every stream is still a problem (picture 4). Above the tree line there is a lot of blowing snow and today it was rather dangerous. That's why my tour ended below it today.

Snow quality

It was cloudless and quite cold in the Allgäu today. Not in the sun, it was pleasant to walk up there without a jacket, which was good for the snow and on the north side it stayed fluffy pow, on nothing.

The bayer. Lawi from today is hereby confirmed. There is too little snow below the tree line for major "snow slide activities". A lot has been transported above.

Overall impression

I hesitated for a long time as to whether it made sense today, but the very good weather and the urge to exercise, which had been building up for weeks, motivated me after all.
That was a good thing! With the restrictions I mentioned, I can finally do something in the Allgäu. If you plan sensibly, e.g. already prepared slopes or an open approach road up to a starting altitude of at least 1,500 m, you can also do something off-piste. For all other tours, you have to carry your skis downhill. My recommendation would be to do something next Sat. while it's still possible and to choose the tour well. From Sun. the forecast is for clear plus degrees again. So winter is taking another break ... From Sat. onwards, the author will take a look at the areas in the Alps where there should already be a lot of snow. More on this in the next CR.
p.s. Two more comments:
1. my journey today was via ABAF Oy. Picture 1 shows the classic there, par excellence. It has already been stormed and run in. However, there is less snow in the Tannheimer Tal (at the same altitude) than west of it.
2. for all those who want to travel via the A7 this winter, there is a test of patience in both directions. The ABK MM is being widened to 3 lanes on both sides (lane narrowing and 60 km/h). I therefore recommend that you train yourself to be calm now. The resulting staus will certainly be kilometers long.