Gletscher

The period of southern storms is over and this week we are dealing with slightly early April weather. A mix of sun and clouds and a few showers here and there characterize the picture. Winter might make a comeback over the weekend!

The Alpine Forum was divided into three thematic blocks, whereby we were primarily interested in thematic blocks one and two: "What has changed in the mountains?" & "Mountain professionals: consequences in everyday working life and training?". We also got hold of the analyse:berg issues and would like to give a brief overview of selected content here.

A group of young women are standing on the glacier. One of the women is carefully lowered into a crevasse. She practises crevasse rescue with her rope team and climbs out of the crevasse with ice axes and crampons. The glacier is then surveyed with scientific equipment before returning to the expedition camp. So many women on a glacier? Even in times of legal equality, this is a rather rare sight. However, the idea of Girls* on Ice Austria (GOI) is not to be intimidated by this, but to go on an all-female expedition for this very reason.

Our colleague Orakel has already announced it: The südstau is back and the next few days will be turbulent. The traditional Easter snowfall will only fall as snow at very high altitudes on the main ridge and south of it. Otherwise there will be rain and foehn winds with very high temperatures.

The series of southerly storms seems to be over for the time being and the medium term looks like (south)westerly weather. Otherwise, we have various "Miscellaneous" blog items this time.

Even if there isn't much sign of winter at the moment, it is slowly approaching and the first motivated skiers are already out on the glaciers. It's time for us to wake up from our summer slumber. Every year, we kick things off with a list of the ski resorts opening in the Alps.

It is difficult to write about winter when it "does not" exist. It becomes a reminiscence that is objectively supported by a multitude of measurements and scientific studies and comparisons, but is subjectively nourished by a feeling that increasingly fades the longer and more often it is absent. At the end of the Snow of Tomorrow season, PGler Jan reflects on the past winter that wasn't one and those that are yet to come.

Warm, dry winters, perfect grip on the rock: what sounds like a dream for sport climbers is a nightmare for enthusiastic freeriders and ski tourers. Yes, there used to be heatwaves and dry spells - in summer and winter alike. And yes, they still exist, the winter days with minus 20 degrees and fat powder, when you suddenly feel like you're in Hokkaido.

With double-digit temperatures and plenty of sunshine, February now feels a lot like spring. Only there's usually more snow in spring... The next few days will finally see some movement in the weather. Large amounts of snow are not in sight, but it will at least be wetter again and the chances of a small refresh are increasing.

After a long break, the PowderOracle has brought us good news. Maybe there will even be another alarm at the weekend? Thanks to a strong north-westerly current, the next few days will be pretty wintry and at least the north will gradually get a base layer in mid-altitudes too! Also: New glacier study with predictably bad news for the ice in the Alps.

As every year, we present a list that is probably incomplete and for which we cannot provide any guarantee! Many ski resorts seem to be starting a little later this year. On the other hand, some glaciers have been open since October 1st despite the unfavorable starting conditions and thanks to fresh snow.

Long awaited and now finally here after a long, hot summer: the first snowflakes at below 2000m, sugared mountains, push messages from the avalanche warning services. Even with a lot of motivation, it's not quite enough for ski tours yet, but we're still happy about the first hint of winter mood.