Chiemgau Alps East

Avoid snowdrifts and glide cracks

Avoid snowdrifts and glide cracks

Avalanche danger is low. Main problem: snowdrift accumulations. Danger zones occur on steep ridgeline slopes above the timberline on NE/E/S facing slopes. Slab avalanches can be triggered by 1 person but are usually small. Danger of falling is higher than danger of being. buried in snow masses. Glide-snow avalanches can still trigger naturally at any time of day, esp. on very steep smooth slopes, in all aspects and at all altitudes. Avalanches can in isolated cases reach medium size. Avoid zones below glide cracks.

The snowpack base is often moist/wet. Above it is weak and moist, dry only on shady slopes. The early part of the night will have clear skies, a melt-freeze crust will form on the surface. In the latter part of the night, westerly winds will set in. The loose powder on shady slopes will, together with the bit of fresh snow, be transported, deposited to leeward slopes, forming new snowdrift accumulations, bonding is poor. On south-facing slopes the snowpack is deteriorating at lower altitudes.

Weather conditions are becoming variable, avalanche danger will increase.