Snow conditions in Western Alps

Looks like there have been more than 6:

http://pistehors.com/watch-out-say-swiss-mountain-guides-23147387.htm

Hi Dave

thanks for flagging this up.  If any other members have useful links or recent experience it would be useful to share it here. 

Phil Jardine

some useful links here courtesy of Julie-Ann Clyma and Andy Perkins.  if anyone has more please let me know.  Pete Lancaster has suggested I send an email to al members flagging this up.

http://www.slf.ch/praevention/lawinenunfaelle/lawinenunfaelle/unfaelle_aktuell/index_EN
http://www.anena.org/6611-bilan-provisoire-des-accidents-d-avalanche-2013-2014.htm

https://www.thebmc.co.uk/alpine-avalanche-experts-explain-current-snow-conditions

http://www.slf.ch/lawinenbulletin/schneedecke_wetter/index_EN

It's not looking good in Canada either. The general advice given there applies here:

‘Bottom line? This is not a time to let your fun-meter over-ride your smart-meter. . . . Don’t be the next statistic. . .  . We live in hope that the winter will come around but some years you just have to put away the idea of riding those big lines completely and wait for a better season—this winter might just be one of those times.’

Karl Klassen

See :

http://blogs.avalanche.ca/category/forecaster-blog/

for a detailed look at how the snowpack has been building in British Columbia 

Norway is looking better however:

http://www.varsom.no/en/Snow-avalanche/Romsdal/ 

I don't think I've ever had so many warnings here in Verbier, Valais, Switzerland, for avalanches from such a wide variety of people than over these last few weeks.

There have been lots of fatalities and near misses here, most notably in Nendaz, and the extent of the heat in the sun has turned some pistes from amazing powder runs to rocks and tarmac in just 2 days at 1700m.  Most of the usual suspects have avalanched, but quite a few other things have gone too in the last few days.

Everywhere on the mountain you can see evidence of this activity and after last weekend it seems people are finally being more cautious here.

Anyway, here is a more light hearted article for you to read on one of the most important things to consider when heading out in the mountains:

http://www.backcountry.com/explore/how-to-spot-a-bad-mountaineering-or-skiing-partner

So, whether you're heading out with a mate, or organising a tour with people you don't know yet, pick up on all of those subtle hints people give out about there ability and knowledge without knowing it.

Stay safe out there, and fingers crossed the pack can only get more stable.

And, I can really recommend the White Risk app, for those of you skiing in Switzerland with a smart phone - it gives you loads of information about snow, the daily bulletins etc...

Iona

Thanks Iona,  - spotting a 'douchebag' is nice read, commonsense and still worth saying. Also for the White Risk Ap. 

Ali 

With the first snowfall in late November I feared we might be in for trouble. I couldn't make a snowball, it wouldn't bond. The snow below 1600m has all melted. But at higher altitude, as we all know, over extensive areas a buried layer of unconsolidated snow persists at ground level, due to the snow's original non-bonding quality, or metamorphosis. As explained in the posts above, the greatest care must be taken, and the Valais police are still asking Jo public to stick to the pistes. I attach the police report of the fatal avalanche near Mase, with a photo which clearly shows the terrain trap of the level ground below the couloirs. The police report states that the avalanche started in a steep couloir where the guided party, on a two-day avalanche course, had not been. They were on the flatter ground, it was around 2.40pm, they had finished for the day and were heading back to base. I don't know if the avalanche was remotely triggered by the party, or occurred naturally. In the current conditions, the former could have been possible in my view.

The avalanche fatality at the head of the Val Ferret a few days before, concerned a Valais man who was ski touring on his own. His family called the rescue services when he had not returned home at 7.30pm. They located his car, then the avalanche, with helicopter search lights, and the buried victim with special detection equipment suspended below the helicopter. He died later in hospital. The rescue services are considering investing in expensive, remotely operated avalanche search drones.

Steep northern aspects at altitude, that is SE to SW through N, are still considered particularly hazardous.

http://www.policevalais.ch/communiques-pour-les-medias/mase-avalanche-les-quatre-victimes-sont-decedees/

Apologies for the geographical hijack...

Has anyone heard whether the Dolomites have experienced the same meteo/avalanche conditions?

Specifically around Corvara, but generally Alta Badia, or even more widely still.

The avalanche bulletins I can find are fairly standard brief updates, unlike the recent warnings/announcements from meteoFrance and the SLF

Martin.

A friend living near Venice sent this about a week ago 'we  have now lots of snow, altogether with avalanches ( level 4) and very mild temperatures'. She did go out but further east in the Julian Alps and (from the photos) on fairly low angled terrain. I hope this helps. 

The sentiments expressed in Canada but which apply in the Alps:

'By now it should be totally obvious how unstable the snowpack is. While the peak of this avalanche cycle will likely soon be over, these dangerous conditions will persist for a long time. Weak snowpacks like this take months to heal. This is a winter to put your big plans aside; maybe things will improve for the spring.'

From the Canadian guides Mountain Condiitions Reports pages

http://www.acmg.ca/mcr/archives.asp

Then click avalanche close calls

Here's a recent summary from Chris Davenport on managing risk: http://www.redbull.com/en/adventure/stories/1331628410484/expert-chris-davenport-s-avalanche-tips

There is still a high risk of avalanche in the Southern French Alps. A recent avalanche triggered by a snow boarder off-piste at Auren, on a slope previous 'shelled' to no effect, is illustrated here...... http://www.data-avalanche.org/listAvalanche/1390844522078.

What is concerning is the last photo, showing the snow pack at the slab face - the facetted snow layer at the bottom of the snow pack is still very obvious. And this appears to be a south-facing slope, where stabilizastion should have been fastest.

As touring secretary I am very happy to receive information from members about recent tours both on the programme and member to member.  I have had good snow reports recently from both the Pyrenees and the Dolomites.

Phil Jardine