Snow report Upper Black Forest, 01/16/2021

Snow condition

At 500 m approx. 50 cm, at 800 approx. 80 cm, at 1000 then the meter and at the very top something between 1 and 1.5 m. As I wrote yesterday, this is even better (2006), hence only 4 stars ;)

Snow quality

Fluffy from 1150 to 450 m. It couldn't be better. Only completely south-facing slopes below 900 m have a small cap from yesterday and there is a lot of blowing at the top due to the wind. In the forest or sheltered areas or on the Wieder 1a.

No danger on our tour, except perhaps from snow breakage. Basically, however, you could feel the very strong influence of the wind at the top from the heavily compressed snow cover...

Overall impression

Yes, everything done right today. In fact, the words "lonely" and "northern Black Forest" don't really go together on big days like today. Up on the Black Forest High Road, signs from all over Germany. It makes you wonder... But if you get a bit creative (taking into account the nature reserves etc.) you can do a lot and avoid the crowds very well. Apart from at the very top of the Hornisgrinde (although there are "alternatives" here too), we only met two other ski tourers and two snowshoe hikers. Not a brilliant descent, but rather a clever series of steep forest trails and open spaces, but still 700 m of ski touring in the northern Black Forest, high winter conditions and very good and above all enough snow all the way down! In the Alps this would be 3-4 stars, in the northern Black Forest I can hardly imagine it getting any better. Therefore 5 stars!