Lechquellen Mountains

Backcountry touring terrain: weak old snow. Slight daytime rise in wet-snow activity.

Backcountry touring terrain: weak old snow. Slight daytime rise in wet-snow activity.

In the lowermost part of the snowpack above 2000m there are marked weak layers evident. Wherever the snowpack is melt-freeze encrusted and not capable of bearing loads, avalanches can in places be triggered by one single winter sports enthusiast, particularly in little-skied terrain in west-, north-, and east-facing aspects, as well as on steep sunny slopes above 2600m. Danger zones occur especially in spots where the snow is relatively shallow, and in transitions from shallow to deep snow. In addition, below 2200m moist slab avalanches can often be triggered by winter sports enthusiasts in the weak old snow. Avalanches can trigger down to deeper layers inside the snowpack and grow to large size. On steep grass-covered slopes, isolated glide-snow avalanches are possible despite lower temperatures. Avoid zones below glide cracks in the surface. In addition, below 2200m moist wet-snow avalanches can be triggered by winter sports enthusiasts.

On shady slopes at higher altitudes there are large-sized cup-shaped crystals widespread in the lowermost part of the snowpack, without bonding. The deep fresh snow and drifts from last week blanket this poor fundament. During nights of clear to cloudy skies, the snowpack surface freezes only poorly. As a result of solar radiation and daytime warming, the snowpack rapidly softens during daytime hours.

Dry mountain weather, slight foehn-wind tendency, intermittent sunshine. Cloudbanks will pass through during daytime hours, cumulus clouds will generate in the mountains. Clear and bright nighttime skies with a full moon on Monday night. Temperature at 2000m: 0 degrees; at 3000m: -6 degrees. Light westerly-to-southwesterly winds at high altitudes.

As a result of daytime warming and solar radiation, danger of wet-snow avalanches increases somewhat during the course of the day. The persistent weak layer problem persists, causing a difficult-to-calculate situation in outlying terrain.