PHOTO: Elias Lundh
At it again…
Monday was really warm down in the village and it was raining quite a bit, was for some days, unfortunately, but we tried to keep our heads up and accept the waiting game. Over 1950 m it was snowing both Sunday and Monday, midday Monday It was snowing heavily above 1800m (puking down). Tuesday morning we could ski untracked on 20cm while it was still snowing a lot.(photo proof above!) We could see some sluff/very shallow avalanches coming down from exposed places (steep ones) that weren’t triggered by skiers, so It could be that the new snow isn’t sticking as good as it should. Since it was quite warm before the snow came it might be hardpacked /ice under the new layers. Yesterday we could see the immediate result. Sun was shining and the white carpet lay without visible tracks from the day before. Still, with the knowledge about the stability, we tried our way down Steinberg, with great results. The snow was only giving away sluff and no immediate dangers. Although sluff, if in very exposed places, will take you out. With care and a smart line of choice, you were safe and sound. Great success! (made by smart choices we might add, since locals reported washouts in couloirs and steep ridges)
Hard Facts:
Snow depth Mountain (slope, 3.020m): 655 cm
Snow depth Location (1.050m): 10 cm
Snow condition: Powder!
Latest snowfall: Tuesday night
Avalanche alert level: Significant
Danger description
Fresh and somewhat older snow drift accumulations are prone to triggering. Single snow sports participants can release avalanches. Mostly these are small.
Avalanches can additionally in some places be released in deeper layers. Caution is to be exercised in particular on steep north facing slopes. Backcountry touring and other off-piste activities call for experience in the assessment of avalanche danger.
Wet avalanches as the day progresses, Full-depth avalanches
On steep sunny, slopes full-depth and wet avalanches are possible.
- The northern flank of the Alps from the eastern Bernese Alps to the Alpstein region: 10 to 20 cm, but up to 30 cm in some localities
Weather and conditions:
- http://www.bergfex.com/engelberg/schneebericht/
- https://www.meteoblue.com/de/wetter/vorhersage/woche/engelberg_schweiz_2660902
- http://www.slf.ch/schneeinfo/index_EN
- http://www.titlis.ch/de/titlis-gebiet/wetter
// Ski Lodge Team
