Old snowfields: the underrated danger of early summer
Most early-summer mountain accidents do not happen on climbing moves. They happen on innocent-looking snowfields, where one slipped step on hard firn is almost impossible to stop.
❄️ Check a route for snow →How it works
- Plan the route — Peakflow checks automatically whether it crosses snow.
- If it does, the snow layer appears (satellite data, about 10 m resolution, refreshed every few days).
- Check the altitude: where does the snow start, and how steep is the ground there?
- Decide: take spikes and poles, change the route, or wait a few weeks.
Why firn is treacherous
In the morning old snow is as hard as concrete; by afternoon it is soft. Go early and you need spikes; go late and you break through into cavities above streams. The first is the dangerous one: on hard firn steeper than 30 degrees you slide a long way.
What the satellite layer can and cannot do
It shows areas from about 10 metres and is a few days old. Small remnants in gullies it will miss, and cloud cover delays the image. So it does not replace looking at the terrain — but it answers the question nobody could answer before: is there any snow left on my route at all?
Rules of thumb for early summer
North faces hold snow weeks longer than south faces. Gullies and cirques collect it. Above 2,000 metres expect remnants into late June. And remember: the path under the snow is not waymarked — navigation becomes a problem of its own.
Frequently asked
Do I need spikes or crampons?
For short, flat fields poles and light spikes are enough. Steeper than 30 degrees or longer crossings call for an axe and experience.
How current is the snow layer?
The satellite images are a few days old; with continuous cloud it can take longer.
Does this matter in autumn too?
Yes — fresh snow from September makes paths just as slippery, and Peakflow then shows the snow line for the coming days.
Related
- Send a GPX route to your Garmin watch — no cable, no subscription
- Hiking time: how long does this walk really take?
- The SAC hiking scale: T1 to T6 explained
- Offline hiking map: navigate without a signal
- Plan a loop: come back a different way
- All guides
- Races with route profiles
Was du mit Peakflow machen kannst
Kostenloser Routenplaner für die Alpen – ohne Abo, ohne Konto-Zwang.
Wander- und Trailpfade statt Luftlinie – mit Untergrund, Steigung und realistischer Gehzeit.
Jede Änderung an der Route rechnet Distanz, Auf- und Abstieg sofort neu.
Route mit einem Tipp an Garmin, Suunto oder Coros – oder als GPX exportieren.
Wetter direkt auf der Route, Stunde für Stunde – inklusive Schneegrenze und Gewitterrisiko.
Haltestellen und Fahrpläne auf der Karte: Tour planen ohne zweites Auto am Startpunkt.
Öffnungszeiten, Bergbahnen und Wasserquellen entlang der Strecke – alles an einem Ort.
