Uphill on the Piste
Going uphill on the piste must also be possible
Dr. Andreas Ermacora, Vice-president, Austrian Alpine Club(OeAV)
Skitourers and snowshoers on the piste annoy lift-operators and can endanger themselves and other skiers. The potential for conflict is great and it affects skitourers and therefore also the Alpenverein.
During last winter, (2005/2006), it was observed that more and more skitourers were using the pistes for ascending. Where, 10 years ago, it was just the odd sportsman who struggled up the steep slope alongside alpine skiers, often slipping and being laughed at, now skitouring on the piste has grown into a widely-loved sport, particularly noticeable at pinch-points in certain ski areas.
Reasons for the boom
The pistes are prepared: the alternative descent in deep snow is not for everyone. An ascent alongside the piste does not require a whole day. Ascending on the piste is a good compromise. While the family takes the lift, parents can take turns to walk up to keep fit. The danger of avalanches is not an issue: you are on safe slopes. You do not need a big rucksack with avalanche kit, and at the top awaits a hut, pub or restaurant with panoramic views. Everything to rejoice about, isn’t there? Thus it came about that an activity practiced by just a couple of individuals developed into an ever-growing boom, also noticed by the wintersports industry. More skitouring equipment was sold last year than ever before.
It is not enough anymore to climb during the day; “moonlit touring” is cool. For example, on clear evenings hundreds of people climb the pistes on the Patscherkofel near Innsbruck. The hut warden is glad of the business.
It was inevitable that not everyone would be happy with this sport. The lift-operators complained, and were at least partly right.
Complaints of the lift-operators
Collisions between those ascending and those skiing down have increased. According to FIS rule 7, the ascending skier must use the edge of the piste. Unfortunately many skitourers do not observe this rule. As ascending straight uphill is too steep and difficult (particularly for beginners) they go across the piste and thus endanger not only themselves but above all the downhill skiers, who do not expect to suddenly encounter people ascending.
Skiers present another problem to the lift-operators in the evening. When the lifts have closed for the day, the pistes are prepared. Many serious and even critical accidents happen in the evening, particularly on steep slopes where the piste-basher has to use a winch and cable for anchoring.
A further factor is that skitoureres out late at night leave their tracks in the soft snow on newly-prepared pistes, seriously damaging the quality of the prepared piste next morning.
All these considerations have led lift-operators to try to limit walking on the pistes.
A charge of €5 was brought in at Gerlitzen in Kärnten. Other operators let it be known in the press that they were considering a charge. Then the OeAV was consulted. After a “piste-toll” was suggested by the operators in Tirol, the OeAV declared its opposition to such a fee, explaining that the mountains were there for everyone, and that sportsmen and women seeking relaxation should not be excluded.
Is a piste-toll likely?
Politicians in Tirol backed up the OeAV and reasoned that tourism depends on acceptance by the locals, and approval for lifts is given because they are in the public interest. Public interest means that everyone must get something from it. Dr Anna Hosp, chief executive of Tirol council, even declared that discussions could be started about a law banning a piste-toll.
Things went differently in Salzburgland. There, the provincial government decided on a corresponding change in the provincial police law. According to this change, the local council has the power to ban night-time skiing. Whoever ignores the ban and is caught in the act can expect a fine of up to €500. Enforcement of the law however, is left not to the police but to the council of each area.
New Recommendations
In Tirol a working group was established under the leadership of Hannes Geschwentner, deputy head of government, which includes representatives of the OeAV and Tirol Friends of Nature, as well as the lift-operators and Kurasi (Committee for Alpine Safety). The recommendations, which the OeAV worked out and published in 2005, have been reworked and, beginning this winter, will be given wider publicity. The goal should be to reach a compromise where skitourers are aware that the pistes are mainly for use by skilift customers and that they are merely guests on the pistes. With this basic understanding, and the observance of the recommendations in the notice below, it is hoped that conflict will be avoided.
This “Tirolean Model” should now be adopted in the other provinces. The people responsible for sport and commerce in other provinces are called upon to get together and find appropriate solutions.
Notice
Recommendations for Walkers on the Pistes
from the Austrian Committee for Alpine Safety
Dear Skitourer! Dear Snowshoer!
You are responsible for your own actions while on the pistes. Danger on the mountain, especially the danger of avalanches, must be assessed by the individual: you must carry proper emergency rescue equipment.
Ski pistes are primarily for use by skilift customers. In order to avoid accidents and disagreements, we request that the following recommendations are observed, in addition to the FIS Rules of the Piste:
1 Obey warning signs and local rules.
2 If a piste is fully or partially closed (gesperrt), do not use it. When piste-bashers are being used – particularly with a winch and cable – or when explosives are being used to release controlled avalanches, this can lead to life-threatening situations. Pistes will therefore be closed for the duration of the work for reasons of public safety.
3 When walking up, use only the edge of the piste, and go in single file.
4 When crossing the piste, choose an open part with good visibility from above, and leave a good distance between yourself and the rest of your group.
5 On freshly-prepared pistes, use only the edges. Tracks left to freeze overnight can seriously damage the quality of the piste.
6 Leave the piste by 22:30 or whatever time notified by the lift-operator.
7 Make yourself easily seen. Use a head torch, reflective clothing etc in darkness or bad visibility.
8 Where ascent routes for skitourers and snowshoers are available, stick to these.
9 Do not take dogs on the piste.
10 Use marked car-parking facilities and pay the required parking fee.
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Last updated: 08 February 2007