Go Ski Touring SAFELY

The cable car operators must prepare the pistes before the expected start of the winter season and impose corresponding closures. Special care must also be taken on the other pistes: Until the start of skiing operations, "piste tours" are equivalent to ski tours in open terrain in terms of potential danger. Use is at your own risk, as danger spots are not secured and avalanches can occur as in open terrain.

Ski Area "Out of Service"
When a ski area is “out of operation” or officially “closed”, all pistes are considered open terrain. Winter sports enthusiasts use them at their own risk, unless the piste has been explicitly closed by the operator for safety reasons. The piste operator may close runs at any time due to safety concerns or for grooming work.

Please note that ski tours in areas that are out of operation involve particular risks. These include hazards that you are unlikely to encounter when touring on open pistes during regular operating hours.

Anyone choosing to use a piste in a closed ski area does so at their own risk and, for their own safety, should adopt a cautious, defensive approach when skiing downhill.

If a ski area is "out of operation", this means that there is no piste preparation and no protection against avalanches and other hazards. Strictly speaking, there are therefore no "piste tours" as we know them until the ski areas open. The following points must be taken into account when planning a tour:

Avalanche danger:
Even in ski areas where nobody normally thinks about avalanches, an avalanche on the piste cannot be ruled out before the ski area opens. We would like to point out that the standard equipment for ski tours (avalanche transceiver, probe, shovel) is definitely required before the start of the season, even for piste tours. If avalanche safety measures (e.g. avalanche blasting) are carried out in ski areas, we urge you to respect the barriers for your own safety.

Technical dangers:
Bear in mind the possibility of open snowmaking pipes and snow cannons that are almost covered in snow.

Securing Hazardous Areas:
In closed ski areas, you cannot assume that the piste continues safely beyond the next ridge. Tracks left by snow groomers or individual groomed sections do not guarantee that the entire piste is prepared or secured. You are in open terrain and proceed at your own risk.

The cable car operators must prepare the pistes before the expected start of the winter season and impose corresponding closures. Special care must also be taken on the other pistes: Until the start of skiing operations, "piste tours" are equivalent to ski tours in open terrain in terms of potential danger. Use is at your own risk, as danger spots are not secured and avalanches can occur as in open terrain.

Natural English Translator said:You won’t spot a snow groomer anywhere nearby – it’s hard at work on two steep slopes further down. Yet just a few hundred metres above, the high-tech machine is anchored in place by a thin steel cable. With its fully automatic onboard winch, even the steepest pistes can be groomed to the highest standard.

But this winch cable poses a serious risk to ski tourers. Due to its length and the shape of the terrain, the cable may be stretched taut above the ground like a tripwire or lie concealed beneath the snow – either way, it’s nearly impossible for winter sports enthusiasts to detect, especially in the dark.
Sudden changes in the direction of pull can cause the cable to lash sideways through the air for up to 100 metres – a life-threatening hazard for anyone within this hard-to-see danger zone.

Several ski resorts offer a special service for piste tourers: On some evenings, piste grooming starts later in order to enable a safe ascent after the regular piste operation.

Compared to the speed of a downhill run on skis or a snowboard, even the fastest climbers in skintight racing suits and speed skins are virtually motionless. So the often-cited comparisons with “ghost skiers on the piste” are greatly exaggerated. Downhill skiers who follow the FIS guideline “Every skier must ski in control and be able to stop or avoid other people” will not collide with uphill ski tourers.

BUT: Other “stationary” obstacles – like snow cannons or piste markers – are always positioned right on the edge of the piste wherever possible. If they can’t be avoided, they are clearly marked and secured, much like a warning triangle on the road: think of the orange impact protectors on lift pylons, or skis planted in the snow above an accident scene.

For this reason, ski tourers should also make it second nature to keep to the very edge of the piste. This simple step can greatly reduce the risk of collisions – especially in narrow sections, on bends, and in areas with limited visibility.

In areas with a piste tour guidance system, the ideal ascent route was determined by professionals. In doing so, piste crossings have been reduced to a minimum, while at the same time ensuring that the route is as comfortable as possible. Please observe these signs - this is how we create a conflict-free and accident-free coexistence!

With careful and well-planned route selection on the ascent, most piste crossings can be avoided. However, in some cases a crossing is still necessary – for example, when taking a turn-off towards the intended tour destination. In such situations, the following points are crucial:

• If available, follow the signposting for ski tourers!
• Never cross in front of blind spots such as crests or tight bends! This is where the risk of collision with downhill skiers is greatest.
• Cross the piste quickly and with plenty of space between each other. This leaves enough space for downhill skiers.
• Use flat sections for crossings! Crossings on steep slopes is technically very difficult and strenuous, especially on hard artificial snow.
• Don't forget: Once you've taken off your skins, you become a downhill skier yourself. By then at the latest, careless crossing manoeuvres will annoy and endanger you too!

Tyrol has had its own guidance system for piste tours since 2016. "Safe & Fair" - that is the primary goal of the campaign. Those who adhere to the signage minimise the risk of collisions and support efforts to ensure conflict-free coexistence between lift users and ski tourers.

The pistes are usually groomed in the evening and at night. This results in life-threatening dangers, especially from winch ropes. To make it possible to "burn off energy" on a piste tour after a long day at work, there is a special offer: in the spirit of "Safe & Fair", some pistes are not groomed until later and can be used by ski tourers beforehand.

Natural English Translator said:For your own safety, make sure you remain visible when taking part in authorised evening ski tours. Headlamps and reflective clothing improve both how well you can see and how well you can be seen – helping to prevent accidents.

In the worst-case scenario, if something does happen, a torch can be used to signal an alpine emergency. Lights and reflective clothing also help rescue teams locate accident victims more quickly.

Dedicated ascent tracks for piste tourers serve to ensure safety and to separate the flow of skiers. In 2016, the Tyrolean piste touring guidance system developed a standardised nationwide signage system with orange "piste touring signs" to signpost the ascent tracks and guide piste tourers. They provide information about the difficulty, the distance to be covered and metres in altitude and also leave space for the logo of the piste operator or sponsor.

Rescue missions in the mountains are not free of charge! If you take out mountain cost insurance in good time (e.g. travel insurance from Europäische Reiserversicherung or as a sponsor of the Tyrolean Mountain Rescue Service, as a member of the Alpine Club, via ÖAMTC/ADAC or credit card and private accident insurance), your mountain costs can be covered by the insurance up to the amount defined in each case.

Attention! Health insurance companies do not pay for rescue from alpine emergencies!

Due to the scarcity of food, wild animals reduce their metabolism in winter and are unable to compensate for energy losses when disturbed. Therefore

• Avoid twilight (time of feeding and grazing) - it is best to plan your tour from 90 minutes after sunrise and up to 90 minutes before sunset. Night hikes and descents should be avoided if at all possible.
• Avoid feeding grounds and feeding areas over large areas (300 metres) (observe restricted areas!).
• Only observe animals from a distance, never chase them.
• Behave calmly and do not shout.

Only healthy young trees can grow into a strong forest that protects us from dangers such as avalanches, mudslides or rockfall - skis, snowshoes and careless behaviour can severely damage young trees. The following therefore applies: Do not enter reforested areas and young forests.

Dogs are perceived as a threat by wild animals and should be kept on a lead - this also prevents problems with other winter sports enthusiasts.

We also ask you to use dog waste bags and not to leave them lying around, but to throw them in the nearest rubbish bin.

Nature is a precious resource! Rubbish has no place in nature and belongs in the designated rubbish bins! So please take your rubbish with you into the valley - otherwise it will still be there the next time you visit.