Hi i realise currently with the weather, avalanche risk is pretty low but this maybe of interest. I kite surf and so also trying kite snow boarding. I have done a
few mountaineering courses in Scotland ( Mountain Craft and Outward bound )and Ice Climbing courses and have dug avalanche pits. I am no expert by any means but have some basics but today ( 23rd Jan 2011 approx 13:00 hrs i was at the Grand Col Les Arc just a little bit further up off piste from the chair lift). Wind was very light so in the end i did not set up the kite and also noticed approx 10cm of snow ontop of a frozen Granular Snow, not sure the French name sorry. ( i could stick my fist into the snow so very weak layer ) and the top layer was breaking off like a typical slab avalanche so in the end i came onto the piste. Ok just for your interest but i think the snow in some parts is still not good but maybe it has stayed stable at the moment due to such low temp at the moment. But as i say im no expert this is just what i have noticed.
Les Arc Top Grand Col - evidence of weak layers - surface hoar and depth hoar
Just been catching up on blogs and trip reports this afternoon, first time free for ages. You have made some good observations about the conditions on the Grand Col, although Les Arcs are posting level 1 each day and some very steep lines are being done. The under layers are not well bonded in the places I have looked either and I agree, when the weather does change slides may well start very quickly. There was a slide on the 23rd on Bellecote that day, but nobody was hurt.
Hi Kite,
a very good observation. I received the avalanche bulletin from météo france yesterday morning lowering the avvy risk to 1. Suffice to say i was very surprised. The snowpack has consolidated over the last period but according to my observations, cannot justify a 1 rating. Here in Valfréjus, i continue to find very fragile non-cohesive layers within the snowpack which to me still represents concern. Something to watch in future with the added weight of new snow and eventual changing temperatures (heavy fluctuations). For this reason i instructed ski patrol to remain on 2 out of 5 on the avalanche scale rather than following the French weather rating. A rating of 1 is something you usually find end of season, thinning snow cover and subject to a strong thaw/refreeze cycle. This is certainly not the case at the moment. In my book, you made a good & smart reading of your surroundings and acted accordingly. Key words here in your phrasing 'i could stick my fist into the snow so very weak layer'. As for Meteo France, i am not sure what they are thinking here. I would love to know what you think Henry.
Cheers
Lou Politini
Assistant Ski Patrol Director
Valfréjus
HAT Team
I agree Lou, I found that that when I put my pole through the top layer, the snow lacked cohesion on all the NE to NW slopes that I skied today above 2400m. I am concerned about the weak layer at the base.
I am also concerned about the surface hoar that is forming. It is creating fantastic top layer to ski on at the moment, but when we get new snow it will be dangerous.
Chris Radford
HAT editor and webmaster
Hi Lou thanks for your comment and i hope this just keeps people thinking that even a RISK 1 does not mean that in every area that this is the case. Maybe where i was, was just particular to that area but i think you need to be aware all the time. Somtimes when out on the mountain i hear some friends say "there is never going to be an avalanche today" i did not make any comment as i know i may upset them more but i hate the word NEVER as it can still happen even when you dont think it can which has been the case it seems this year. Appologies if im going on.