Snow report Upper Bavaria, 12/11/2019

Snow condition

Shortly before Spitzingsee, one wonders where it is supposed to have snowed. After a few bends it was much better and it was even possible to start skinning from the parking lot. There is 20, sometimes 30cm on nothing or very little. There is virtually no base and stones and grass are sticking out in places or are barely covered. On the south side in particular, it started to snow out slightly. Somewhat protected and shaded hollows, however, allowed an almost stone-free descent. Nevertheless, miserable snow conditions compared to other regions, but not too bad for December.

Snow quality

Powdery, beautiful to look at 20 cm of fresh, sparkling snow, but what lies underneath spoils the mood and therefore the rating as it is not really relaxed to ski. A stone ski is better here.

Little to no wind influence and only 20-30 cm on grass, so no relevant danger signs, but we were also traveling flat and at altitudes between 1000 and 1600m. The Bavarian avalanche warning service has not yet started work either, apart from a brief comment. Fresh drift snow is certainly a bigger problem at higher altitudes and on steeper slopes. On the Taubenstein and Raukopf, it was more the many stones that were exposed at the saddle that endangered lives and equipment

Overall impression

Beautiful weather and fresh snow as well as a lack of a base make for a day when you want to spend a long time at the summit and actually just walk from summit to summit on skins. You don't have to go out here yet because of a magnificent descent. With the coming snowfall, this may change at the weekend, but it will take a lot for deep winter touring to be possible here