We were on a visit to Ischgl and whilst the majority of the ski area was closed because of high winds, the increasingly perilous avalanche situation was a factor.
Today was not a day for sun terraces, the driving winds and blizzard conditions were tough to ski in. But for a short time, this morning, the conditions were manageable and the off-piste was sensational. The sections underneath the Sassgalunbahn chairlift were fantastic as were the sections on the edge of piste 25. These represented the best visibility and easiest to access terrain in the area. By mid-morning the winds were blowing hard and the snow was seriously heavy. The avalanche danger was raised to a level 4 high (from a maximum of 5) and it was time to get off the mountain.
The high risk of avalanche exists throughout much of western and southern Tirol so expect detonations, closed lifts and mostly likely, some pretty significant avalanches. For the ski pistes the new snowfall is excellent news after so many skiers and boarders have been pounding the slopes over the new year period.