Snow report Stubai Valley, 03/19/2021

Snow condition

Actually, the snow conditions are already good, some variants in the upper part of the ski area have more snow than in some other years. The north-east-facing slopes in particular look really good. The variants to the middle station and into the valley are also all skiable. You could give it 4 stars if there weren't the typical Stubai sharks lurking in many places. As my ecologically sustainable surface suffers at the slightest stone contact, I can't give it 4 stars today. However, many other skiers also picked up a stone or two today. It is therefore not advisable to ski completely without the handbrake.

Snow quality

In the exposures and altitudes where we were traveling, there was beautiful powder snow with little wind influence. However, the amount was limited, it must have been around 25 cm. Maybe a little more in places. But we're probably just a bit too spoiled from the days on the Arlberg and the Nordkette this week. We went home again late in the morning, so I can't judge the snow quality later. Also, we weren't out and about in south-facing terrain and at lower altitudes, so I can imagine that the snow was much wetter and heavier there.

Overall, the snow cover makes a stable impression. In any case, the last fresh snow fell with little wind influence and was still unbound. Attempts were made to blast in some places, but for the most part you could only see the holes, but almost nothing came off. In one place (steep slope on the east side of the Daunferner T-bar lift towards Eisgrat), a blown-in area with a high tear-off edge could be blasted. Otherwise, in my opinion, the main danger at the moment is from loose snow avalanches from steep, sunny slopes. With increasing wind, you will also have to pay much more attention to drift snow again, as the snow surface is currently very loose and easy to blow away.

Overall impression

Beautiful morning on the Stubai Glacier! Bright blue sunshine in the morning, beautiful powder snow and a few first lines, but it was soon quite busy and the standard variants were quickly ploughed up.