I haven't been going to the Bavarian Alps long enough to see when the real "winter" starts.

But I can't think the current situation is normal for late November.

http://www.zugspitze.de/livecams/cam4.htm Wankcam view over Jubilüumsgrat etc.

And http://alpspitze.de/wetterz/WETTER1.HTM showed 18.3C/65F yesterday at Garmisch-Partenkirchen!

I was hoping to get a few days on snowshoes before Christmas.

Maybe I can have a couple of normal mountain hikes up to about 1900m - 2000m instead now?

Whatever, normal fluctuations in fall. We have warm air from the Mediterrean coming over, that is a normal thing (our weather data goes only back to a hundret years or so - from where should we have an idea what "normal" is?)
I do not know how much it has snowed in this part of Bavaria, but over here (Salzburg/Bad Reichenhall) there is not that little snow - it really depends on the mountains. Some have little or no snow (the more exposed ones), in other ranges I think above 1500 m snowshoes are appropriate.

Just go and try. Take the snowshoes and leave them on the way if it is too little snow, but take them just in case. It varies quite a bit at the moment

Cheers,
Peter

In the Bavarian Alps there were about 10° at 1500 m at the last weekend.
There is nearly no snow at 1500 m.
At 2000 m is little snow.
Some skiing areas like Oberstdorf wanted to open at 1st december. But at the actual situation they have to wait 2 weeks longer.
Last year the snow conditions were better at this time. So we just have to wait for the snow!!!
Greets
Thomas

Thanks guys.

Very helpful information Thomas.

If you need further informations, write a pm. I´ll check them daily.

schmid_th wrote:If you need further informations, write a pm. I´ll check them daily.

Thanks very much. I'll be in touch nearer the time of my next trip.

Meanwhile after a light fall of snow high up last night, it reached 17 degrees, (nearly 63 F), in Garmisch-Partenkirchen today!

It´s really unbelievable! I want it cold and snowy now!!! Had enough warm temperatures...
But for the weekend it is said that it will snow till 700 m and in the higher areas up to 30 cm fresh snow! Really hope so!

It hasn't got any better!

http://www.wallgau.de/index.shtml?w_panoramakamerawebcams

The top two web cams show conditions near Mittenwald, overlooking the Karwendel. There was more snow than that early in June last year.

It's already reached 50 degrees today, (10 C), and all of last weeks snow has long since gone from the valley and it's also gone up to quite a height.

From the forecast it looks like there is no chance of me heading out to Bayern for at least a couple of weeks.

And last year was chaos with some death due to heavy snow-falls.

Sebastian Hamm wrote:And last year was chaos with some death due to heavy snow-falls.

Not good.

And now, at ten o'clock at night early in January the temperature in Garmisch-Partenkirchen has risen to 14 C, 57 F!

Don't know about global warming, but we've certainly got Garmisch warming!

There is snow when you know where (went on a ski tour on Wednesday before university), plus one can go mountain biking or sip a coffee outside, no?
Whatever, make the best of it. There were Januaries with warmer days than that in the recent years.

OK you guys who live nearer to Bayern than me!

It looks like winter is arriving now, although I think the snow levels are still very low in the height range I hope to walk and snowshoe in near GAP, (say 700m up to 1800/2000m).

So, anyone got a "reliable" forecast of what early February could be like?

And nice as your ideas were Thin Air, I don't really want to spend a lot of money coming from the UK for a winter trip and then not snow walk or snowshoe

If the weather in Bavaria is too crappy for this time of the year (i.e. too warm and dry), one word: biergarten.

The northeastern U.S. had been really out-of-character warm for this winter up until just recently. I wonder if there is a link between the recent cooling here and in Europe?

Gareth wrote:If the weather in Bavaria is too crappy for this time of the year (i.e. too warm and dry), one word: biergarten.

The northeastern U.S. had been really out-of-character warm for this winter up until just recently. I wonder if there is a link between the recent cooling here and in Europe?

We quite often get your weather a few weeks later, or at least the remains of it.

But at least now winter has come to Bavaria Bryan. I´ve even got my first ski tour planned for next Saturday......

charles wrote:

Gareth wrote:If the weather in Bavaria is too crappy for this time of the year (i.e. too warm and dry), one word: biergarten.

The northeastern U.S. had been really out-of-character warm for this winter up until just recently. I wonder if there is a link between the recent cooling here and in Europe?

We quite often get your weather a few weeks later, or at least the remains of it.

But at least now winter has come to Bavaria Bryan. I´ve even got my first ski tour planned for next Saturday......

Sounds good Charles. Enjoy!

I'm planning to come out some time in the middle/end of next week for just over a week. Fingers crossed winter will last that long.