Snow report Upper Black Forest, 04/27/2016

Snow condition

From approx. 900 meters closed snow cover in all exposures. The start was at about 950 meters at the valley station of the Rothausbahn, then via the pass towards Grafenmatt (1360 meters). At the start about 15 -20 cm of fresh snow on 0 base. At the top of the mountain definitely 30-40 cm, in some places even more. Despite the poor base, contact with the ground was avoided throughout.

Snow quality

It was already a little warm. Strange, but it's only the end of April. According to the radio - 5 degrees on the Feldberg, I had the feeling it was a few degrees warmer. But well, at least 10 degrees colder than on Saturday at 2500 meters. Accordingly, the upper 200 meters of altitude were still a fairly easy affair, but then it got harder at the bottom. On our second lap, I had the feeling that a thin cap had already formed.

The latest fresh snow has fallen with a good wind. I don't know whether the usual suspects are still hanging where they always do. We were out and about on the slopes of the Feldberg ski area. The situation there was very relaxed.

Overall impression

What an evening! I don't know what's crazier: the amount of fresh snow in the Black Forest at this time of year or the fact that you can still make the last descent in daylight at 8:30 p.m. We set off at around 5:30 p.m., and after our first lap we were back at the car at 7:30 p.m., very excited. "Again?" "Yes!" It was too late for a complete ascent lap. But why are there super nice Italian pensioners from Tübingen who quickly pack up 3 guys with skis and drive up to the pass - if the snow had been a bit fluffier - 4 stars would have been due. For the fun factor alone, it definitely gets 5!