Anita Ericson
To grow! We have to grow. Bigger, farther, higher. The ski resorts have long been committed to the general economic growth craze. 160 kilometers of slopes there, 80 there - what could be closer than a merger so that you can play in the top league again? The connection takes place via a few new slopes on previously untapped terrain, which makes the guests happy. "The skier wants it that way," is the tenor of the drivers who want to tame the last bit of Alpine wilderness - "No one needs 200 kilometers or more of slopes. You can't even do that on a vacation, ”Liliana Dagostin doubts Austrian Alpine Club this argument, "It's grotesque: the number of guests is declining and the ski areas are becoming increasingly gigantic."
The ecological concerns about new developments are massive: So far, largely untouched natural spaces cut and reduced. Danger-sensitive and endangered species are increasingly marginalized. With monstrous machines, the terrain is trimmed to plan and leveled, if necessary, half mountains are blown away. "Slope planning, access roads, clearing forests and the elaborate construction of snow-making systems have left a trail of devastation in our mountain landscapes," says spatial planner Dagostin. "The construction and operation of winter sports centers also affect the stability of the landscape. This can trigger or intensify landslides and mudflows ”.
Natural snow, so nice
So are you calling for the abolition of the ski areas? You don't want to go that far, Dagostin: “They already exist, we don't oppose them per se, we are also well aware of the economic side. And many ski areas put a lot of effort into saving energy in winter and piste maintenance in summer. We are only demanding a final expansion limit - and we are already seeing it now. However, there is one thing to be avoided: the large-scale snowmaking that is common today. The magic word is XNUMX% guaranteed snow, regardless of how wintry it is all around. Since climate change has become noticeable, this has only worked with technical snowmaking - which in turn requires even more buildings (storage ponds, pumping stations, supply lines), energy expenditure and interventions in ecological processes. This is how you start with basic snowmaking in November, which shortens the natural growing season - at the end of the season, huge amounts of water run down over compacted areas.
The bottom line for environmentally conscious skiers can only mean: choose smaller ski areas that also rely on natural snow. But be careful: the slopes, which are particularly snow-sure, can often be found on glaciers that are particularly environmentally sensitive. Skiing here meets the least regenerative ecosystems in the Alps, and at the same time the richest in zone endings. The selection is very small, if you want to have fun on the slopes with ecology on your winter holiday. And the dimensions of just a few kilometers of slopes that you have to get used to (again) are small. Of course, this has the advantage that everything is much more relaxed, authentic and, above all, quieter than in the modern megaski swing. If you see it as a withdrawal from overconsumption, less is suddenly more.
INFO: Effects of skiing
Bavarian landscape ecologist Alfred Ringler examined the ecological effects of four decades of ski tourism across the Alps and presented the study in spring 2017. The ecological impact index of almost 1.000 larger ski areas was determined, taking into account, among other things, the area size, claimed altitude ranges, the extent of leveling, changes in terrain and erosion areas and the proportion of cleared mountain forest area. The front runners of the landscape pollution are French and Austrian ski areas, the ski area with the worst ecological footprint in the Alps is Sölden in Tyrol.
In more than 100 ski areas, insufficient vegetation cover, erosion and erosion processes were found on more than 50 percent of the slope length. In Austria, 29 ski areas were classified as at risk of erosion, since in these areas more than half of the length of the slopes show insufficient greening, deep erosion processes, slides or cracks. Active mass movements, landslides or earth currents of threatening proportions were also found in ski areas in Tyrol (5) and Vorarlberg (5).
75 percent of the existing slope area in Austria is regularly covered with snow, for this purpose at least 335 artificial snow storage facilities have been built. This means not only space and enormous energy consumption, through water retention or withdrawal, the water balance of mountain lakes, torrents or spring biotopes is changed and the habitats of aquatic communities deteriorate.
Alternative ski tours: the magic of a winter landscape
In pure natural snow scenery, the winter experience is again comprehensive - hand on heart: skiing on white bands in an otherwise almost aper landscape is not even half the fun? The original and holistic winter experience is also what is causing more and more people to find their winter fun on skis but away from the smoothly groomed slopes. People like to put in a lot of effort, not only feel the tingling of the icy winter air on their skin but also the muscles in their bodies, but also hear the silence that is only interrupted by the crunching of their feet: ski tours through magically snow-covered landscapes promises incomparable winter experiences for all senses. In order for this booming winter sport to remain compatible with nature, the most popular ski touring areas have introduced visitor guidance with protection zones for forest and game. Beginners can slowly approach ski tours in special courses, an advanced avalanche workshop is recommended for all advanced skiers.
Alternative hiking in the snow
If deep snow runs in open terrain are suspect, snowshoeing gives you magical winter and nature experiences similar to going on a ski tour: Instead of skis, you strap on snowshoes and trudge through the deep snow. This way of getting around is ancient, and in prehistoric times the inhabitants of snowy landscapes were already on the move. Although you sink less with the large plates on your feet than without, the effort required for such a tour should not be underestimated.
In order to ensure that pleasure does not become a danger, you should also strictly adhere to the routes that are available in different regions, or that you should be guided. For those who prefer to take it easy: Even when hiking on cleared and well-groomed trails, the winter experience is perfect.
Alternative cross-country skiing - gliding through winter
Return to the slats. Although the reputation has improved somewhat, cross-country skiing is still somewhat boring. It is exactly the opposite - at least since the invention of skating technology, it has become a fast-paced endurance sport. From a sports medical point of view, cross-country skiing is a profound full-body training anyway, around 95 percent of the muscles are trained in a way that is gentle on the joints. It is definitely better than a gym: gliding through the quiet snowy landscape at your own pace at high speed, is just good for body and soul. If you want, you can also try biathlon, where concentration and feeling into the body are also well trained.
Alternative ice skating - on the ice
One glides even faster and is just as environmentally friendly when ice skating. The Eldorado for ice skaters is the Weißensee in Carinthia, the largest constantly freezing and also prepared natural ice rink in Europe. From mid-December to the beginning of March, ice master Norbert Jank and his team took care of the ice rink, ice stock rink and ice rink, as well as the ice skating rink. Winter hikers and horse-drawn sleighs are also encountered on the ice sheet, which is up to 40 cm thick. Otherwise, the largely undeveloped Weißensee is used for gentle tourism, tobogganing, snowshoe and ski tours, cross-country skiing and biathlon complement the winter offer. The region was also awarded the "European Tourism and Environment Award".
Last but not least, a special tip for everyone who feels comfortable in the saddle: plowing through deep snow at a gallop, feeling the warmth of the horse under one or two snowstorms on the neck - that has something! We highly recommend the Mühlviertler Alm, which is far from any mass tourism.
INFO: Alternatives to skiing
Natural snow slopes - Natural snow ski areas can be found in Vorarlberg am Sun head (30 km), on Boedele (24 km) and on diedamskopf (40 km, fun park, 25% snowmaking). They are smaller in Styria Planner alm (15 km) and the Aflenzer Bürgeralm (15 km, ski tours for beginners) and in Salzburg the High wedge (10 km, snow park, ski tours). On www.tirol.at twelve small ski areas can be filtered out, which have less than 50 percent snow-covered slopes.
Ski touring, snowshoeing and winter hiking - The most popular among ski tourers are Lesachtal, Johnsbach in Gesäuse, Villgratental and Hüttschlag in Großarltal, all members of the Mountaineering villages as well as the Salzburg Lungau , They are all good points of contact for snowshoe and winter hikers, as is that Kleinwalsertal and the Fischbacher Alps, More on visitor guidance www.bergwelt-miteinander.at.
Cross-country skiing - The Nordic center of Austria is the Ramsau, excellent trails are also available on Fuschlsee, in the Olympic region Seefeld as well as in the Bohemian forest, All of these regions also offer beautiful winter hikes.
Slide - The most beautiful ice rink in the Alps is the Weissensee in Carinthia.
Riding - Riders are on the Mühlviertleralm happy.
Tip - You can find more ideas for your off-piste winter holiday at www.austria.info, if you enter "touring ski", "snowshoe", "winter hiking", "cross-country skiing" or "ice skating" in the search field.
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Photo / Video: Shutterstock.
