Pollein and Saint-Marcel

Dry slab avalanches are still possible. Backcountry touring and snowshoe hiking call for meticulous route selection.

Dry slab avalanches are still possible. Backcountry touring and snowshoe hiking call for meticulous route selection.

Avalanches can be released in the weakly bonded old snow, even by a single winter sport participant. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack serve as an alarm sign. Remotely triggered avalanches are possible. In addition the wind slabs should be taken into account, in particular on very steep northeast, east and southeast facing slopes, and in gullies and bowls, and behind abrupt changes in the terrain above approximately 2300 m. Maintaining distances between individuals and one-at-a-time descents are recommended.

Weak layers exist in the snowpack especially on steep west, north and east facing slopes. Reports filed by observers and artificially triggered avalanches confirm the unfavourable bonding of the snowpack on shady slopes. Since Saturday above approximately 2400 m several small and medium-sized avalanches were released. When freeriding, bear in mind that many off-piste routes have barely been used at all this winter to date. Snow depths vary greatly above approximately 2000 m, depending on the infuence of the wind.

Up to 15 cm of snow, and even more in some localities, will fall above approximately 1800 m. The danger will persist.