Snowfield
In contrast to firn or a glacier, a snowfield , also known as old snow or old snow, is usually a seasonally limited, ice and snow-covered area. The term is mainly used by hikers and mountaineers .
features
Snow fields form in winter or when there is precipitation in the form of snow and can persist into late summer, especially in the high mountains. Thanks to the annual thawing of the collected precipitation, there is no glaciation in the respective area.
Danger for hikers
Snow fields pose risks for hikers and mountaineers, as they can also be found in supposedly summer temperatures. Snow fields last a long time, especially in shady areas in the mountains and over permafrost . They are often crusty due to thawing and renewed freezing as well as ablation and can only be safely walked on with crampons or modern shoe spikes (chain with spikes). In addition to the risk of slipping, snowfields can also turn into glaciers and cover crevices in the glacier.