Mountain-Knowledge? or in non-English and slightly less hip terms: Moutain knowledge. Here we provide you, at least in theory, with our concentrated snow-how. But beware! Knowledge is silver, application is gold?
Slope gradient
The steepness of a slope is given in degrees ° and not in the percentage % that many people are used to. A 45° steep slope has a gradient of 100%. To assess the avalanche risk, the steepest part of the slope must be measured or estimated.
It is important for freeriders to be able to estimate the steepness of a slope, as just a few degrees steeper or flatter can determine whether a slope is at risk of avalanches or not. You can learn to reliably assess the steepness of a slope extremely quickly, but it takes some practice.
Rules of thumb:
- Steep slopes interspersed with rocks,
- Glacier-built scree slopes, known as moraines,
- Slopes that are not suitable for avalanches. moraines,
- slopes on which loose snow avalanches start,
are steeper than 39°.
Slope exposure: the direction in which the slope falls
The slope exposure is the direction in which the slope falls. In the morning, an east-facing slope receives direct sunlight. At midday, the sun is at its highest point - the radiated (heat) energy is particularly high - south-facing slopes receive the most intense solar radiation. From the afternoon until sunset, the west-facing slopes receive particularly intense sunlight.
Low sun - long shadows
As long as the sun is very low above the horizon in early and mid-winter, even the smallest terrain shapes have a strong effect on the snow cover - every stone casts its shadow.
Terrain formations
Every freerider should know some important terrain formations and their special features:
Cuts in the terrain and saddles
Cuts in the terrain and saddles cause a sharp increase in wind speed and snow drifting. Large amounts of drift snow are deposited on the lee side.
Ridges and ridges
Ridges and ridges form cornices that can overhang on the lee side. The snow is transported from the windward side to the leeward side.
The flatter and wider the ridges are, the more snow is transported to the leeward side. Winds parallel to the slope transport the snow to the lee side of the gullies. Drift snow gullies are highly prone to avalanches. Chutes are avalanche paths! No matter how tempting they may seem:
Avoid gullies, look for the back! Drift snow is also deposited in hollows and behind terrain obstacles.
Treacherous terrain traps
Terrain traps: V-shaped trenches can become deadly traps. Even "small" avalanches can bury you extremely deep. Trenches and depressions at the end of a slope are particularly dangerous. Flat sections at the end of steep slopes are traps: If you trigger an avalanche, you have little chance of escaping.
Therefore: avoid "terrain traps" as far as possible or leave them quickly!
Unstructured steep slopes
Unstructured steep slopes are smooth, steep mountain sides where the snow cover is only weakly supported. As an avalanche triggered on such slopes can quickly turn into a huge avalanche, unstructured steep slopes should always be treated with extreme caution and are only reasonably favorable in very good conditions.
Cuped terrain
Coppiced terrain offers the best freeriding opportunities, as the terrain is varied and offers everything freeriders are looking for: jumps, cornices, gullies, etc. Coppiced terrain often gives the impression of being avalanche-proof. However, large avalanches do not stop in stepped and hilly terrain either. The depressions and small valleys can then become dangerous traps in which you can become deeply buried.
Glaciers and crevasses
Glaciers are slow-moving masses of ice. Cracks form due to the movement, terrain under the glacier and the enormous pressure of the ice masses. These crevasses can be up to 100 meters deep! In winter, they are often covered with snow on the surface. The snow bridges can break. As the ice flows, the crevasses are constantly changing. Climate change is also causing the glaciers and their crevasses to change...
