Snow report Stubai Valley, 12/28/2016

Snow condition

Still very poor. There hasn't been any heavy snowfall for a while and the strong winds of the last few days haven't exactly had a positive effect on the snow conditions. In the direction of Zuckerhütl, you can already see the bare ice peeking out in some places from a distance. Not only at the top of the north face, but also in the lower part of the ascent, and in the ski area itself the ice is already coming out in a few places. Ice is appearing both on the pistes and on the steep slope between the Daun and Eisjochferner glaciers, and there is still a lot of snow needed for off-piste skiing, even at the very top. If there is fresh snow at some point, there is a very high risk of sharks.

Snow quality

Wind-pressed harsh snow. In some places it is covered in sugar with a few centimetres of drift snow. At the very top of the ridge there is also a lot of floating snow.

Due to the recent strong winds, you should watch out for drift snow. Almost completely transformed floating snow underneath the (mostly load-bearing) harsch cover. This could become a problem, especially after the next major snowfall.

Overall impression

Unfortunately, the touring options are still pretty limited at the moment. The Zuckerhütl didn't look particularly promising. That's why we headed for the Warenkarseitenspitze. In the current conditions, this is an acceptable ski tour with probably better conditions and fewer tourers than the Zuckerhütl.Short tour description:Warenkar (approx. 2800m) - Warenkarscharte (3186m) - Warenkarseitenspitze (3345m)Exposure: EastBy the Wildspitz lift, descend/cross into the Warenkar. Skin up there and ascend in the direction of the Warenkarscharte. At the moment, crampons are recommended for the ascent. From the saddle you can ski back down along the ascent route. If you want to take another summit with you, you can climb from the saddle to the Warenkarseitenspitze. To do this, follow the ridge, preferably keeping a safe distance from the cornices. Crampons won't hurt either. Descent options can already be seen from the ski area. In the current snow conditions, however, it makes the most sense to make a ski depot at the saddle and then descend from there, ascending back to the ski area along the first descent route at the bottom of the Warenkar.