The Snowy Mountain World Will Wait for Us

The Snowy Mountain World Will Wait for Us - don't go headfirst through the wall and into the mountains at any cost.



If most of the winter has passed marked by modest snow cover and unusually high temperatures, the last days in the mountains have been generous with snow, raising the avalanche danger level to three or four on the five-level European scale, i.e., considerable and in places in the Julian Alps high, levels at which most accidents occur in snowy mountains. Therefore, we advise hikers against visiting the high mountains and recommend they adjust their wishes and plans, choose lower-lying goals and not go headfirst through the wall into the mountains at any cost.







"It was expected that winter wouldn't say goodbye without showing its teeth. If we complained about the scant snow cover and real autumn temperatures, it has finally rewarded us with some whiteness in the last days. On the national weather portal ARSO, we can read that the snow cover in the mountains is gradually building up, and since Monday morning above around 1600 meters in the Julian Alps it has thickened by 50 to 100 centimeters, in the eastern part of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, eastern Karawanks and on Pohorje much less, mostly 5 to 30 centimeters. The snow is light and soft, and above around 1700 meters dry, lower down wet snow fell first, during the day with cooling a few centimeters of dry snow fell. The snow cover is partly frozen, there are many wind slabs, new slabs have formed. Wind-exposed ridges are heavily wind-packed, especially there the snow is hard and icy," describes the current conditions Matjaž Šerkezi, professional associate of the Alpine Association of Slovenia and mountain rescue instructor.





As published in the avalanche bulletin of the Environment Agency of the Republic of Slovenia, avalanche danger above sea level around 1700 meters is considerable, third degree, lower where there is still enough new snow moderate, second degree, while today in the high mountains of the western Julian Alps it will increase to the fourth degree, thus high avalanche danger. Especially dangerous are places with drifted new snow, which due to the strong southwester are mainly on northern and eastern sides of ridges and saddles. On steeper slopes, smaller loose snow avalanches can release, and already with minor snow cover loading, especially at places with drifted snow, you can trigger a slab avalanche. Some avalanche can spontaneously release from steeper slopes. Below sea level 1700 meters on pronounced north-facing aspects, individual spontaneous wet snow avalanches are not excluded. On wind-exposed locations where new snow is scoured to the old base, there is slipping danger.



"To all who wish to visit the high mountains this weekend, we advise changing their wishes and visiting lower-lying areas where there is no or less snow. The third degree on the European five-level scale indeed represents great risk for the inexperienced individual that an avalanche will surprise them or they will trigger a slab that waits like a trap for its victim. Slabs are indeed harder to predict and detect, as it's drifted, hard and compacted snow that releases already with minor loading, and if we end up on such a slab, it usually ends with severe injuries - due to fall over the wall, rocky jumps, head injuries from impacts and high speed - and death," warns Šerkezi and adds: "The advice applies also to enthusiastic ski tourers and so-called powder seekers. Currently in the mountain world conditions exist whose dangers even the most experienced, like mountain rescuers, mountain guides and alpine instructors, can hardly predict. Conditions will slowly stabilize in the near future - depending on temperatures and precipitation - and there will still be plenty of time and opportunities for mountain visits."







Winter mountain visiting is characterized by lower temperatures, shorter day, closed mountain huts and specific snow conditions, for which we must be adequately prepared and head to the mountains planned and properly equipped. Mandatory equipment for every mountaineer in winter is also the avalanche triple, consisting of avalanche transceiver for rough victim location, avalanche probe for fine victim location and avalanche shovel for quick and effective excavation, as survival chance in snow avalanche is highest in the first 15 minutes after burial. Before every tour, check equipment condition and snow conditions in the area we're heading. Besides technical equipment for winter mountain walking (crampons and ice axe), we need all equipment as for summer dry conditions, additionally good winter hiking boots, gaiters for protection against snow entry into boots, quality clothing protecting against wind, cold and moisture with good insulation properties. Sun protection against strong sun is also needed, don't forget spare clothing and headlamp, and due to closed mountain huts more hot liquids and food in the backpack.



"Even when time is more favorable for mountain visits, don't forget complete winter equipment - avalanche triple, ice axe, crampons and helmet. To frequent winter mountain visitors and enthusiastic ski tourers we recommend using backpack with airbag, a device we wish never to use. If avalanche catches us, it's very welcome, as with its structure it ensures we stay on top of the avalanche deposit. However, there must be no complacency to risk more or go beyond limits," lays to heart the PZS professional associate and mountain rescue instructor to mountain visitors and emphasizes that for high mountain visits the only right choice is 12-point mountaineering crampons: "Stick to the advice that trekking poles and crampons don't go together and that due to this combination every year more hikers die or get injured. Crampons on feet, ice axe in hands, on hands mandatory gloves. Keep in mind that crampons are excellent aid, but have their limitations and with their help we can indeed climb almost any summit, but thereby risk a lot."







And finally the most important: "Hikers and all mountain visitors - this wonderful mountain world will wait for us. Sometimes the charm is also to observe it from afar and let the desire to visit slowly burn in us. Don't go headfirst through the wall and into the mountains at any cost."



More information on winter mountain visiting can be found on the Alpine Association of Slovenia website under the Safer to the Mountains tab:



Safer to the Mountains,

How safer to the mountains in winter.