Winter review 2022-2023

Summer is here and it's time to look back on the past winter.

Come on a guided ski tour with us!

Summer is here and it's time to look back on the past winter. One thing is certain, the winter season got off to a rocky start. There was very little snow until the beginning of February and it wasn't until mid-March and especially April and May that the snow arrived. Nevertheless, we were able to do some cool tours, such as the New Year's tour days with Florian in the Bedretto Valley in northern Ticino, where most of the snow was at that time. By the way, every year we do Grandiose New Year tours!

Powder and sun on New Year's ski tours — New Year's touring days in the snow-covered Bedretto Valley.

So it was good that we were in Norway for a fortnight at the beginning of March. Jonas spent a week in the Lofoten Islands (Ski touring trip Lofoten) and a week on a sailing boat around Harstad (Ski and Sail Norway). Powder right down to the sea, great views and a fantastic atmosphere! It's just as well that it snowed in Switzerland after his return.

Ski touring in Norway — Ski touring spectacle in Norway

Intermediate stages in the avalanche bulletin

This winter, the SLF has introduced the intermediate levels of the avalanche danger scale. Now there is not only a considerable (3), but also a considerable plus, equal or minus (3+/=/-). Previously, this gradation was hidden within the SLF and in the text section and was only helpful for experienced bulletin readers. We at Bergschaft think this new feature is great. Especially in levels 2+ to 3+ it brings great added value, in the lower levels the differences are small and in the higher levels you should avoid all terrain above 30° anyway. More on this next year at our avalanche theory evenings and avalanche courses. Details can be found on the Page of the SLF. You can find out more in our Avalanche courses!

Ski tour to the Finsteraarhorn — On the ascent to the Finsteraarhorn

Reflection

Take time to reflect on your own tours. This is the only way to turn good mountain enthusiasts into old mountain pros:

Have I planned my tours well?
Did conditions - terrain - people fit together?
Was my self-assessment realistic?
Have I had situations where I risked more but luckily nothing happened?
What lessons have I learnt and what would I like to do better next year?

Learn all about mountaineering in wintry terrain!

What does the current snow situation mean for the upcoming tours?

The months of April and May were snowy. The snow from these months is important for the glaciers because it stays put and is not blown away as powder snow. We are starting the alpine touring season with a good snow cover! There is still snow up to approx. 2300m on the south side and 2000m on the north side. For many tours, ice axes and crampons are still urgently needed. So slowly but surely the alpine touring season is starting and the following points are currently to be observed: