Etta James sang it best: “At laaaast, my love has come along.” And here at Ski Lodge Engelberg, our number one love is a powder day. You’ve probably heard the news. This weekend was nothing short of epic here in Engelberg. With over 50 cms piling up on Saturday alone, Sunday, December 3rd was one for the history books.
Snowy Saturday
The storm cycle kicked off warm and wet, and we were all a bit apprehensive of what that might do to the conditions out there. When we woke up on Saturday, however, things were changing. The temperatures had dropped and the snow that had fallen overnight was simply not stopping! It was a classic storm skiing day: low vis’ and high vibes. Wise friends opted for the Brunni side, as the forest is perfect for a foggy day. Brunni is full of secret stashes, and it is soo special when we’re able to ski all the way down to town!
Sunny Sunday
On Saturday evening, we started to feel the temperatures dropping lower and lower. Sunday morning brought us clear skies and frosty air, and the 30 hours of constant snowfall was about to deliver. It’s probably been two years since we have had a day as glorious as Sunday. The cold air sucked the moisture out of the snow, so it was feather light and DEEP! Our friends skied all of the major lines on Sunday, in amazingly good conditions for the first week of December. We could try to explain more, but a picture speaks a thousand words, right? (See below)
Oh and did we forget to mention? Langlauf (cross country skiing) season is here! The trails in town are groomed and looking beautiful. For a map of the langlauf trails and updates on trail openings, use this link: https://www.engelberg.ch/en/open-trails.
We’d say we’re off to a pretty fantastic start to the season, and according to the forecast there’s more to come. Let’s go skiing!
Hard Facts
Snow depth Mountain (slope, 2149m): 133 cm
Snow depth Location (1.050m): 44 cm
Latest snowfall: Sat, 02.02
Avalanche alert level: (from WhiteRisk avalanche bulletin): Considerable, Level 3-
As a consequence of a strong southwesterly wind, avalanche prone wind slabs will form by the early morning over a wide area. Avalanches can be released by a single winter sport participant and reach dangerously large size. Some natural avalanches are possible, this applies especially during the course of the night. Backcountry touring and other off-piste activities call for experience in the assessment of avalanche danger and careful route selection. Gliding avalanches In all aspects more small and medium-sized gliding avalanches are to be expected below approximately 2000 m. Areas with glide cracks are to be avoided.
Snow pack (from WhiteRisk avalanche bulletin):
The moderate to strong southwesterly winds will transport the loose snow. Snowdrift accumulations that are prone to triggering are developing in many places.
All the freshly fallen snow and the snowdrift of the past week is settling and stabilising. Especially in the inneralpine regions of Valais and Grisons and on the southern flank of the Alps, weak layers deep in the old snowpack may still be released in some places. Below around 2000 m, layers of the snowpack that are near the ground are sometimes moist. This means that gliding avalanches are still to be expected.
In many areas, there is about twice as much snow as there normally is at the beginning of December. Only on the southern flank of the Alps are snow depths below average.
Weather and Conditions in Engelberg
http://www.bergfex.com/engelberg/schneebericht/
https://www.meteoblue.com/de/wetter/vorhersage/woche/engelberg_schweiz_2660902
https://whiterisk.ch/en/conditions/bulletin
http://www.titlis.ch/de/titlis-gebiet/wetter
// Snowy Regards from Your Friends at Ski Lodge Engelberg
