Maira and Grana Valleys

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

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

The mostly small wind slabs are in individual cases still prone to triggering. Avalanches can be released in the old snowpack in very isolated cases, especially on steep, little used shady slopes at high altitudes and in high Alpine regions. This applies in particular in case of a large load. In steep terrain there is a danger of falling on the hard snow surface.

As a consequence of highly fluctuating temperatures a crust formed on the surface, in particular on sunny slopes below approximately 2500 m, and at low altitude. Towards its surface, the snowpack is largely stable and its surface has a melt-freeze crust that is strong in many cases. Melt-freeze crusts exist in the old snowpack in particular at elevated altitudes. Weak layers exist deeper in the old snowpack on steep north, northeast and northwest facing slopes, especially in areas where the snow cover is rather shallow. In all altitude zones only a small amount of snow is lying for the time of year.