Stubaier Alpen

On a sunny Saturday early in the season - at a time when the snow conditions were still manageable and many ski tours were simply not feasible - we had the same brilliant idea as hundreds of others: Up to the Zuckerhütl, the highest peak in the Stubai Alps, popularly known as the "Hiatl". And so we found ourselves in the middle of the action, torn between a genuine mountain experience, magnificent scenery - and a tour that at times felt more like a queue than alpine solitude.

On the weekend of 10.11-13.11, the annual Intersport Snow Days took place on the Stubai Glacier. Under the motto "Rent what you can", visitors were able to test the new products for the 22/23 ski season. Up to three items could be borrowed at the same time for a period of 90 minutes. A total of 36 outfitters gathered at 2900m at the Eisgratbahn mountain station and offered everything winter sports enthusiasts need, from ski goggles and helmets to equipment for their feet.

From 12 to 13 December, a warm front swept in and quickly dashed the anticipation of a white Christmas. Accompanying the rise in temperature, it rained in some areas up to around 2000-2300 m, but the amount of rain was quite low. During the night from 13 to 14 December, the temperature dropped again and it cleared up. The snow surface, which had been moistened by the warmth and rain, cooled down again and a cover formed - resulting in broken slush.

On December 15, a medium-sized slab avalanche was triggered on the Pirchkogel in the Stubai Alps. No one involved came to any harm. The skiers hit an area with a thin layer of fresh snow and were thus able to initiate the break, which ultimately spread over a large area in the weak layer.

Avalanche warning services, PowderAlert and WeatherBlog have intensively discussed the current situation regarding the intensive new snowfall in the south and the build-up of old snow cover. That's why we're devoting ourselves here to an exemplary snow profile from mid-November. How do you read it and how do you interpret it?

A few days with very poor snow quality and extremely high temperatures due to the foehn are behind us. With the right exposure, slope steepness and altitude, it was already possible to ski a preliminary firn stage.

The great early winter conditions south of the Inn are continuing. There is now another 20 cm of fresh powder locally. Avalanche conditions, snow quantity and snow quality are in an optimal range for early December.

In the Southern and Central Alps there is often already a very thick snow cover. Weak layers that have been built up (old snow problem) can only be found on glaciers directly on the glacier ice. In other words, where the snow from early fall has remained. Otherwise, the snowpack structure is very good - and will most likely remain so in the snow-rich regions.

Those who embark on this 3- to 4-day ski crossing will immerse themselves deep in the glacier world of the Stubai Alps: Two exciting crossings, a bit of an alpine challenge and a Stubai Parade 3000 meter peak are on the program. In addition, there are magnificent descents and plenty of potential for steeper gullies, in other words everything the downhill-oriented ski tourer is looking for.

In an existing ascent track or on tracked slopes, the avalanche danger can be greater than on the same slope in untracked condition. What sounds absurd at first is easy to understand on closer inspection.

In order to counteract the "I-only-understand-the-station" mentality when viewing snow profiles - whether in a snowflurry or on various avalanche warning service portals - we turn back to explanatory examples. As an introductory explanation, we recommend How to read and interpret a snow profile.

The assessment of the avalanche situation on a large scale is carried out for us by the situation report. We have to use this basis to assess the local hazard potential ourselves. This can be very easy today, very difficult tomorrow and hardly possible the day after tomorrow.