Snow report Upper Black Forest, 02/12/2021

Snow condition

Actually, 3 stars is almost too many for the time of year. Up on the Feldberg there is still a lot of snow in places, well over 2 meters in drifts. Below 1000 m there is barely 10 cm. Above that, where the rain has raged, there is hardly any more. Otherwise there is a lot of old snow. The extremely strong easterly wind has immediately blown the extremely light snow away from the wind-exposed areas.

Snow quality

Extremely heterogeneous. The fresh snow of the last few days is ultra-fluffy. Unfortunately now in the areas protected from the wind. So basically only in the forest or its edge, and that is taboo on the Feldberg. So all that remains for the average ski tourer is the old snow, colored with Sahara dust and as hard as a rock, peppered with windswept rocks and a bit of pressed powder. That was much better three weeks ago.

Massive drifts due to the strong east wind. Almost everything that is not between trees or old snow has been blown away. On the route from Stollenbach to Feldberg, there is a much greater risk of chunks of ice just below the fluffy blanket of fresh snow.

Overall impression

Arctic conditions on the Feldberg. Freezing cold due to the biting easterly wind despite the sunshine. Unfortunately, the rain of the last few weeks has almost completely wiped out the previously excellent snow conditions. What's left is only above 1000-1100 m (and not everywhere here either). The fresh snow looks nice, but unfortunately not much came down (max. 25 cm), and it has already blown away quite a bit today, so that in many places on the route to the Feldberg, meadow is already peeking out again. Due to the great nature experience today, I give it a very close 3 stars. But if it only rains once on it, it looks completely different again. Oh well, quite a lot going on for a weekday...