Border Graie Alps

At transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack, when entering gullies and bowls for example the likelihood of avalanches being released is greater.

At transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack, when entering gullies and bowls for example the likelihood of avalanches being released is greater.

As a consequence of new snow and a strong wind from southerly directions, sometimes large wind slabs will form in the course of the day especially in gullies and bowls and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. The new snow and wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant in particular on steep shady slopes above approximately 2100 m. Avalanches can be released in deeper layers also. Whumpfing sounds and the formation of shooting cracks when stepping on the snowpack and natural avalanches serve as an alarm sign.

Field observations have shown the unfavourable bonding of the snowpack on steep shady slopes. Faceted weak layers exist deeper in the snowpack in particular on wind-protected shady slopes. Adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. The soft wind slabs are bonding only slowly with the old snowpack.