Border Graie Alps

Weak layers in the old snowpack are difficult to recognise.

Weak layers in the old snowpack are difficult to recognise.

Weak layers in the old snowpack can still be released in some places in particular along the border with France. Avalanches can penetrate deep layers and reach medium size in isolated cases. In addition the avalanche prone wind slabs should be taken into account. They can at their margins be released, in particular by large loads and reach medium size. In the other regions the avalanches are less common.

The fresh snow and the wind slabs are lying on a crust below approximately 2300 m. Towards its base, the snowpack is faceted. In all aspects snow depths vary greatly at high altitudes and in high Alpine regions, depending on the infuence of the wind. Field observations and artificially triggered avalanches indicate that the stability of the snowpack varies greatly within a small area. Adjacent to ridgelines and in pass areas at elevated altitudes hardly any snow is lying. At low and intermediate altitudes from a snow sport perspective, in most cases insufficient snow is lying.