Border Graie Alps

Individual avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular in steep terrain at intermediate and high altitudes.

Individual avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular in steep terrain at intermediate and high altitudes.

The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs represent the main danger. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in pass areas and on steep, little used slopes. At elevated altitudes these avalanche prone locations are more prevalent and larger. The avalanches are medium-sized and can mostly only be released by large loads. In very isolated cases avalanches can also be triggered in the old snowpack and reach large size. The avalanche prone locations are barely recognisable because of the poor visibility. Careful route selection and spacing between individuals are recommended.

The avalanche prone locations are to be found especially on wind-loaded slopes. The wind slabs are lying on soft layers in particular on shady slopes. Towards its surface, the snowpack consists of rounded crystals and its surface has a melt-freeze crust that is not capable of bearing a load, especially on steep shady slopes. Faceted weak layers exist in the bottom section of the snowpack on shady slopes, especially at intermediate and high altitudes.