Winter storms and the first ice in the high regions of the Alps

At the end of October, the mountain conditions in the Alps have been divided depending on the altitude and exposure of the slopes. Below 2000 meters, the routes remain mostly dry, but on the shaded slopes between 2000 and 2200 meters, snow is already expected. In particular, in the southern Birkkar Cirque, solid snow cover begins at 2200 meters, and impassable snowdrifts have been recorded at the upper entrance to the steep Eggersgrün couloir in the Kaisergebirge massif.

Much more precipitation fell on the high Swiss peaks. In the Bernese and Valais Alps, as well as in the Bernina massif, at altitudes above 2,800 meters, about half a meter of fresh snow fell, while on the glaciers of Austria the snow cover is gradually increasing. In the German lowlands, the weekend will be mostly cloudy, and the most sunny hours are predicted in the Black Forest above the fog level.

The Alpine Club recommends setting off on routes on Friday or Saturday, focusing on the western ridges. Due to the night frosts, wet sections of the trails freeze, so tourists are advised to definitely bring trekking poles, micro-climbers or ice axes, as well as headlamps due to the rapid onset of dusk.