Snow report Stubai Valley, 12/26/2013

Snow condition

Despite the large amounts of fresh snow of just over 50cm (and significantly more in blown-in areas), the snow conditions are still well below average. Most variants are now possible (especially above about 2500m) but even at the highest altitudes you can still catch some stones. Below the Fernau middle station there was almost nothing left before the snowfall, the amount of fresh snow is also less (30-40cm), you can get down into the valley with difficulty (as well as contact with stones and mountain pines), but this is not yet particularly useful. All in all, not amazing, but at least better than in the last few weeks.

Snow quality

Actually quite usable snow. Not the fluffiest unbound powder (due to the wind and low temperatures), but by no means bad. Wind influence is actually noticeable everywhere, the snow is also bound everywhere. Nevertheless, there was a decent sinking depth, in flat areas it was necessary to get stuck and push despite wide skis.

Critical. Lots of fresh snow with wind, plus a mostly completely hard/icy base. Lots of loose snow avalanches and a few snow slabs, most of which had already fallen during the snowfall or were triggered during blasting work. In the course of the morning, I observed 2 snow slabs triggered by skiers in terrain that was actually not too steep, as well as 2 spontaneous avalanches. If there hadn't been so much snow already, more would certainly have happened. From midday onwards, a strong foehn wind came up again, which again moved a lot of snow. Avoid steep terrain at all costs.

Overall impression

That wasn't so bad after all! One of the best days in the Stubai for a long time, and above all reasonably relaxed as there were almost only tourists out and about. They were falling over every slope in groups of 8 to 10 like ants, but only when there were already tracks. So it wasn't until lunchtime that the tracks were full. As not all the lifts were open, there might even be something left for tomorrow if the wind doesn't ruin everything...