Snow report Stubai Valley, 04/19/2019

Snow condition

Start at a good 1600 with the skis. Despite the north side, it soon gets thin on the summer trail. At the moment there are only 3 very short patches of ice, more warmth will change that soon. But really good for April. Thick snow from 1800. On the glacier still very wintry. South-facing slopes are already covered in snow further up. Ruderhof, for example, should require longer carrying routes.

Snow quality

Extremely hard snow at the bottom up to approx. 2200 m. Due to the downhill skiers in the ascent track, the ascent was sometimes very demanding and time-consuming. Tracks from the previous day frozen as hard as a rock. Above that, wind-influenced but mostly soft. On the descent on the glacier, the finest slab powder, then briefly firn, deep and rotten at the bottom. But we were also a bit late.

Not completely frozen through at night due to clouds until 02:00. Still super safe in the morning. Felt safe on the glacier despite the wind. From midday, lots of wet snow slides on softened east-facing slopes. There is still a lot hanging on steep walls that could come down at any time. At one point a fresh avalanche of wet snow over the ascent track from the morning. An extremely early start was absolutely essential. Half past 6 was too late.

Overall impression

a lot of things didn't fit together for us yesterday: we lost a lot of time at the bottom due to tough conditions in the fall terrain, a cold and a lack of condoms, plus backtracking due to a lost cell phone. all of this cost us the summit. We then turned back at the previously agreed time limit at around 3000m.
All in all, great spring conditions with room for more weeks up there. But always take your crampons with you.