 Poster: A snowHead
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Samerberg Sue, this is the key. An exceptionally dry and mild autumn was followed by exceptional snowfall in December. Zero to hero in a week. The relatively warm ground was blanketed in deep snow before it had a chance to cool storing up the risk of full depth slides across the Alps (more so in the north) for the rest of season.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I went digging today and found the ground. As my pit was not in Arlberg see http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=78906&start=320#1951981
Sue - ball bearing type ice at the base is I think depth hoar which is more to do with temp gradient inducing transformation of the snow, normally associated with thin snow pack and cold temps, that hasn't been the conditions so far this season.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Samerberg Sue wrote: |
| clarky999, The last big dumps have had a high water content. Someone explained it to me today that the crystals at the lowest levels deform and become rounder and like ball bearings. Hence the glide cracks, especially as this year in many places the base is not frozen to the ground beneath. This is due to the very mild November. |
Hey Sue, I understand the mechanics of it, I just don't get why glide cracks would mean different things in Austria and France?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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clarky999, they don't.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| waynos wrote: |
I went digging today and found the ground. As my pit was not in Arlberg see http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=78906&start=320#1951981
Sue - ball bearing type ice at the base is I think depth hoar which is more to do with temp gradient inducing transformation of the snow, normally associated with thin snow pack and cold temps, that hasn't been the conditions so far this season. |
Hmm, I understood depth hoar was more like 'hollow cup' faceted crystals that are prone to collapse (rather than glide/lubricate) - created by a temperature gradient a bit like:
(Logan 2004, Colorado Geological Survey ROCKTALK Vol. 7, No. 3)
Usually round 'ball bearing' type crystals would be formed by melt-refreeze cycles (could/does this happen beneath the layer of forming depth hoar, ie in the layer giving off the water vapour?) such as with corn snow, riming of the crystal during snowfall (graupel), or during equitemperature metamorphism (which isn't really relevant here, and which generally makes the snow bonds stronger anyway fairly quickly).
Technically a thick snowpack and cold temps would allow greater depth hoar formation anyway though (snow is a good insulator, but if the cover is thinner the ground is less insulated, and so will become colder quicker, reducing temp gradient. Either way, this season there will be a strong temp gradient as the ground was warmer to start with, due to the mild Nov.
I'd always thought snow gliding was more down to free water at the base of the pack though (melt or rainwater), rather than snow crystal types at the base? I still don't understand why glide cracks are considered more dangerous in Austria though - surely in France they are indicating the exact same processes??
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| nozawaonsen wrote: |
| clarky999, they don't. |
Cheers.
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Skied ischgl today, not sure if its in arlberg or if I should report conditions in the austria thread. Basically very windy so all higher lifts closed. This led to busy pistes and moderate queues for lifts. Snow was ok to good, bad on sun exposed slopes, good in shade. Didn't find much off piste but it was the same, cruddy in sun, decent but heavy in shade. Best run by a country mile was 7 and best off piste we found was off four beside it. Am hoping that conditions will be better up high. Flattish light for a lot of today, sun breaking in in parts.
Incidentally have no accommodation for tomorrow night so might end up driving down to St anton, can anyone confirm conditions down there or in lech / zurs? I presume the same.
If anyone knows of a room available anywhere there or along road either please post.
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Also would anyone know where I'd get a guide in ischgl? Haven't seen one ski school or any lessons on the slopes for that matter. If I didn't know better I'd think the people coming here didn't care a whole lot about skiing....
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| 8611 wrote: |
| Skied ischgl today, not sure if its in arlberg or if I should report conditions in the austria thread. |
Ischgl is not in the Arlberg, it is situated in the Paznaun Valley west of Landeck, to the south of the Arlberg, and has in fact a different weather and snow pattern than the Arlberg.
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After a fresh little snowfall yesterday, we have clear blue skies, the wind has died down, but with quit cold temperatures, around -11 at 2000m.
The weather will stay like this for the next 3 days, before the weather is getting unstable again on Wendesday.
Snow, to everybody talking about the snow and why the snow is like it is and what kind of crystals it is, I can't see it belongs in this forum, but on the other hand there is no forum for "snow and avalanches" - moderators maybe that was a job for you guys to start up a new forum, where we can talk about "snow and avalanches"?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| torbs wrote: |
| 8611 wrote: |
| Skied ischgl today, not sure if its in arlberg or if I should report conditions in the austria thread. |
Ischgl is not in the Arlberg, it is situated in the Paznaun Valley west of Landeck, to the south of the Arlberg, and has in fact a different weather and snow pattern than the Arlberg. |
correct - but pedantry is not a good look 
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Looks like top lifts closed here again, at the moment at least. Are lifts in St anton and surrounds closed?
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Beautiful Skiing Weather Today. Always great to make some turns on changeover day, nice and quiet 
Wednesday night we will see another front coming in !
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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All lifts opened in the end today I was going on my ischgl app which said they were closed when I saw the lifts moving on the webcams on the local tv station in my hotel, grrrr.... poxy app, wasted a good hour because of that...
Anyway meh, pistes varied today, powderey bits, hard bits, icey bits, off piste mostly hard and heavy but occasional bits were ok. Parts on way down to samnaun had been completely stripped of all the recent.snowfall by wind.
Just wondering, snow forecast listing st anton as powder off piste today, is that a bit of an exaggeration or how is it?
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Poster: A snowHead
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torbs, Thread drift around a subject is part of Forum life. Even the thread owner drifts on here. If you don't like it, start your own thread and try to control thread drift (if you can).
Off-piste is part and parcel of life in the Arlberg, so talk about snow and avalanches belong here as much as updates about what pistes are or not open and which has the better Après Mooserwirt or Krazy Kangeroo.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Samerberg Sue, Please don't get me wrong, I was just thinking that there might be other people out there in other threads, who could benefit from discussions like these. But I might just start a thread just for snow and avalanche stuff, might be a good idea.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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stanton, I'd appreciate more info on the Larch areas, I ski St Anton 2-3 weeks a year for last 20 years and have never heard of this. Assume you may mean Maiensee run off back of St Christoph run 8, done this before with a guide - would be real keen to hear more about both Larch areas. PM me if it's a secret please?! I'm coming out in 2 weeks and would like to know more.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Markymark29, Lärchen (Larch) is the triangle between black piste no. 2 (Kandahar) and Bachseite, it roughly starts 50 heights meter to the left after the top of Kandahar (piste no. 2), so it's more east facing, whereas Bachseite is north-north-east facing. Bachseite is the long stretch starting to the right of the black piste no. 10 (Arlensattel) continuing past the Tanzboden t-bar to where it goes over into Lärchen.
What's important to notice here is that when Steissbachtal (Happy Valley, piste no. 4) is closed due to avalanhce danger from Mattun and Shindlerkar, then we can ski Lärchen, where we make sure to end up on Stock (piste no. 20) so we're not getting in trouble. What happend last week with the avalanche danger level 4, then Stock (piste no. 20) was closed due to avalanche danger from Mattun, that means we could not ski Lärchen, because we would then end up on a closed piste, also there is a pretty steep section in there, that ofcourse very easy could have avalanched.
If a piste is closed, then we can not end up on it, but we can ski everything we want next to the piste. The lift company can just close a piste or ski route, but not the off-piste terrain, which is very important to remember.
When Steissbach tal (Happy Valley) is closed it's important to respect that, even though many other people are skiing it, but as we've seen lately when the big glide came down from the shoulder of Mattun (known as Pleiss), then you don't want to be in it's path down in Steissbach tal.
I have not heard about any other run called Larch, looks like Stanton is reffering to the Stubner See run but I'm not sure.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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torbs, Many thanks, got it.....looking forward to 28th to ski that fresh powder that is due end of next week, looks awesome can't wait!
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Nice day in the Arlberg today. did a few of the mattun bootpack/couloirs 
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Nice blue day.
Trails getting icy.
More snowfall needed.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Blue sky and sunshine, getting warmer during the day, about -10 at Galzig in the morning but it will quickly raise to a more comfortable -6 degrees.
Still plenty of powder snow out there, avalanche level is a 2 today, relatively safe, but the cracks in the snow below 2500m can still release into a big glide. Also when you go from little to more snow it's a good idea to take care as this is where avalanches can be released.
More snow is expected Thursday to Sunday.
Have a nice day.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
LOL well there is nothing to give away when it's not yours to have
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Good man!
I'm there 28th for a week with others, are you busy that week for a days guiding, would like to do Langen run etc? PM me if you want a day, how much, who do you work for etc?
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Another big storm rolling into town from Thursday onward.
The massive glide cracks up at Mattun, in St Anton, will be cool if the extra snowfall causes them to give way.
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Also looking for some good off piste. I am solo from 23-29Jan...fit and experienced (fully kitted) skier looking for like minded peeps to ski with and/or guided group to join.
Markymark29...if you like could meet up 28th Jan...pm me.
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You know it makes sense.
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snowman, Sent PM
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Ok lads, last q, drove from Ischgl to Zurich yesterday, left about 15.40 and it still took us four hours, big tailback at a traffic light controlled tunnell and again about 60k from Zurich. Not sure if either or both caused by accidents or just traffic.
So, vis a vis future trips, are long delays out of the area normal on a Sunday evening when the weather's been good?
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Poster: A snowHead
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| 8611 wrote: |
Ok lads, last q, drove from Ischgl to Zurich yesterday, left about 15.40 and it still took us four hours, big tailback at a traffic light controlled tunnell and again about 60k from Zurich. Not sure if either or both caused by accidents or just traffic.
So, vis a vis future trips, are long delays out of the area normal on a Sunday evening when the weather's been good? |
Yes.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I've driven the route heading back east a lot never had real problems unless there had been bad weather, a crash or a geisterfahrer.
The journey down the valley from Ischgl can be slow if there is heavy traffic or a slow coach, but slow rather than traffic jams. Traffic is obviously likely to be heavier at the end of a sunny weekend than a quiet weekday.
Heading east the A8 can get a bit sticky.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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8611,
Take the bus to Landeck & train to Zurich next time. way more relaxing !
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Heli up to mehlsack today, awesome run down on cold pow pow
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Mon 16-01-12 18:51; edited 1 time in total
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Folks. Next storm coming in expect 25-28cm untill the 19-20th Jan.
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Another beautiful day in the Arlberg. Went for a tour off the back off SonnenKopf to a peak behind, then a 1500m powder descent to the high way 
Another big tour tomorrow then hopefully powder days thursday/friday....
Happy days.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Someone on here (I think) not that long ago posted a video clip of someone skiing starting from the top of Galzigbahn turning immediately right (under the lift's track) and then going down towards ...? Can someone give me a bit more details about this off piste itinerary please.
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Had a good couple of days off piste guided snowboarding. Mainly tracked but still some good spots. Me and 10 mates (all boarders) dropped in off the North face Valluga today. Quiet a scary initial decent followed by snowboarder hell of flat and traversing almost zero gradient. Advice would be if you are a boarder dont bother with the valluga north face unless you know a boarder friendly route back
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FAQ
