The best Christmas in the last 20 years!!! A snow depth of 86 cm accumulated on the ground. The valley, completely white wherever you look, is covered in snow on all its slopes and down to low elevations. A near-guarantee of snow for almost the entire season.
Summary of conditions:
Summary of weather data at 2,000 metres:
Forecast: (meteomuntanya.cat and @meteocattv)
On Sunday, strong winds are expected, which will cause drifting snow and blowing snow conditions. Sunday will be a sunny day.
Snowpack:
The snowpack is continuous and with a considerable depth for the time of year. It starts at around 1,400 m on north-facing slopes and 1,600 m on south-facing ones. At higher elevations we find more than one meter of snow. The surface varies greatly depending on orientation and altitude; in recent days, winds from the NW have blown, leaving areas with hardened snow and others with wind-deposited snow. At lower elevations we will find heavier snow with a light crust on sunny slopes.
The avalanche risk is rated at 2 out of 5. The main risk is slab avalanches on S and E aspects, and on N and W faces at higher elevations we may find weak layers that weaken the snowpack. Terrain must be assessed constantly.
Whether you are snowshoeing or skiing, do not forget your self-rescue equipment: transceiver (beacon), shovel, and probe. Their condition should be checked, and it’s a good opportunity to practice whenever possible.
The weather forecast indicates an incoming NW wind that will cause blowing snow, i.e. poor visibility and snow transport by the wind. Sunday will have good weather, but snow conditions may be challenging; pay close attention to the chosen route and to existing wind slabs as well as those that will form.
On the other hand, there is snow on all slopes, making it tempting to take routes that are usually not possible. It may be worth waiting a few days for the snowpack to stabilize further and enjoy the mountains with less risk. Routes such as Puigmal via the Coma de l’Embut or Noucreus are usually safer options.
On the Camí Vell, snow is found from 1,600 m, shortly after the Cremal bridge. This snow is compacted by foot traffic and in many areas is well frozen. Carrying lightweight flexible crampons in your backpack can solve the problem. It is not suitable for people without winter experience.
The track to the Fontalba pass has snow in the last 2 km. The Fontalba route, as it runs around the 2,000 m elevation, has a lot of snow and crosses areas with a high avalanche risk. It is not recommended for people without winter experience. At a minimum, flexible crampons are essential.
The Engineers’ Path is completely covered in snow and is not advised throughout the entire winter season, as it has sections where a slip could have fatal consequences.
