Snowflurrying with the SnowFlurry itself
A brief description of the snowflurrying workshop from the SnowFlurry itself: Under the motto "What's the point of sporadically digging a snow profile myself?", we got a taste of the basics of profiling on the Alpspitze - embedded in a fantastic firn descent. We were able to clarify important questions such as the location of the profile recording, basic parameters of the layers and the most important basics of the snow types relevant to the profile. On a steep north-facing slope below the Grießkarscharte, we spotted the weak layers near the ground from early winter with a clear demarcation between the December good weather period and the January cold phase. Here, the effects of the build-up transformation could be recognized by the transition from glassy to pure white layers and, above all, could be felt due to their grain size and structure. Above this was snow, which was characterized by degrading or melting transformation. This allowed us to learn about all the basic processes of snow transformation in a single profile.
The workshop was not only characterized by the "work" part, the shovelling of snow by the participants, but also by the "store", i.e. where to get snow tools. Used and taught as a representative activity until the 1990s, snow profile digging has become an unnecessarily prestigious activity. Now it is experiencing a resurgence in understanding and empathy for the snow - from a former representative to a demonstrative purpose. The bottom line remains: An exact snow profile survey requires properly linked knowledge and a lot of experience and is only possible for a few - nevertheless, a look at the snowpack with a stability test every now and then helps immensely in understanding the situation report and thus in your own touring activity.
LVS workshop with Fabiano and Walter from ALPsolut
Since last winter, PowderGuide has been working with ALPsolut on the ConditionsReport, among other things, and was able to win Fabiano Monti and Walter Steinkogler as speakers for the final meeting. ALPsolut is an association of skiing scientists who pass on their knowledge of avalanche science in courses, conferences and discussions at the final PG meeting. As a start-up company, they also take care of avalanche forecasting in Livigno and offer other snow-related products. As Fabiano and Walter were unfortunately only able to arrive from Livigno in the morning, their workshop was held directly in front of the hut from the early afternoon. Despite the extreme snow conditions, the two decided not to bury the avalanche transceivers in the mud, but were nonetheless able to impressively demonstrate how the range of the various devices changes due to the process power used when marking several buried victims. After the first marking, the range of some devices halved until the next signal - others only lost about a third of their range. After the second marking, another third was lost. During the subsequent discussion, it quickly became clear that the recommended search strip widths (40-50 m) were only sufficient for a signal in a good coupling position, depending on the device. If the coupling position is poor and the marking function is activated (first victim found and marked, then search for the second), significantly smaller search strip widths should be used. The influence of electronic devices in the vicinity of the avalanche transceiver was also examined in detail and impressively - both when searching and when transmitting. Current recommendation: When searching, no electronic devices should be closer than 50 cm to the device, and when transmitting, no closer than 20 cm.
The further discussion then focused on the definition of risk (probability x hazard exposure x vulnerability) and which factors are really influenced by us humans, e.g. when we maintain exposure distances (probability), plan ascent routes in more moderate terrain (hazard exposure) or have our safety equipment with us (vulnerability). Furthermore, very different opinions were expressed about which method of risk management really helps to reduce the number of accidents without having to give up freeriding completely. And there was also philosophizing about the influence or danger that the danger level scale has for us skiers in the risk assessment.
