Safe ski touring

Cable car operators must prepare the slopes well before the expected start of the winter season and put up appropriate barriers. Particular caution is also required on the other slopes: Until the start of the skiing season, “slope tours” are, in terms of potential risk, equivalent to ski touring in open terrain. Use is at your own risk, as hazardous areas are not secured and avalanches can occur just as they would in open terrain.

If a ski resort is “out of operation” or “closed”, all slopes are considered to be open for skiing. Winter sports enthusiasts use these slopes at their own risk, provided the slope has not been closed by the operator for safety reasons. The slope operator may close ski slopes at any time for safety reasons or to carry out grooming work.

We would like to point out that ski touring in ski resorts that are out of operation involves particular risks. These are hazards that one would not normally expect to encounter whilst skiing on the slopes in an open ski resort during operating hours.

Anyone who nevertheless uses a ski run in a closed ski resort does so at their own risk and, in their own best interests, should adopt a defensive approach, particularly when descending.

If a ski resort is “closed”, this means that the slopes are not being groomed and no safety measures are in place to protect against avalanche risk and other hazards. Strictly speaking, therefore, there are no “off-piste tours” as we know them until the ski resorts open. The following points must be taken into account when planning a tour:

Avalanche risk:
Even in ski resorts, where people normally do not think about avalanches, an avalanche coming down onto the slopes before the resort opens cannot be ruled out. We would like to point out that, even for ski runs, standard ski touring equipment (avalanche transceiver, probe, shovel) is absolutely essential before the start of the season. If avalanche control measures (e.g. controlled avalanche blasting) are being carried out in ski resorts, we urge you to respect the barriers for your own safety.

Technical hazards:
Bear in mind the possibility of exposed snow-making pipes and snow cannons almost buried in the snow.

Safety measures at hazardous areas:
In enclosed ski resorts, you cannot assume that the piste continues beyond the next hill. Any tracks left by snow groomers or groomed sections of the piste do not mean that the entire piste has been groomed and made safe. You are in off-piste terrain and are skiing at your own risk.

Cable car operators must prepare the slopes well before the expected start of the winter season and put up appropriate barriers. Particular caution is also advised on the other slopes: Until the start of the skiing season, “slope tours” are, in terms of potential risk, equivalent to ski touring in open terrain. Use is at your own risk, as hazardous areas are not secured and avalanches can occur just as they would in open terrain.

There’s not a single snow groomer to be seen far and wide, as it’s currently ploughing its way through the snow two steep slopes further down. However, the high-tech vehicle is secured a few hundred metres higher up – by means of a thin steel cable. Thanks to a fully automatic winch carried on board, the ski slopes can be groomed to the highest standard, even on the steepest sections.

However, this winch cable poses a huge danger to ski tourers. Due to the length of the cable and the topography of the slope, this inconspicuous cable can either be stretched taut in the air like a tripwire, or lie well hidden in the snow. Both scenarios are virtually impossible for winter sports enthusiasts to spot, particularly at night.

If there are then sudden changes in the direction of the pull, the rope whips sideways through the air for up to 100 metres – an absolute life-threatening hazard for anyone within the danger zone, the extent of which is almost impossible to gauge!

Several ski resorts offer a special service for off-piste skiers: on some evenings, piste grooming does not begin until later in the day to allow for a safe ascent after the regular piste opening hours have ended.

Compared with the speed of a skier or snowboarder on a downhill run, even the fastest climbers – in their skin-tight racing suits and with speed skins – seem like stationary objects. Frequently cited comparisons with “skiers travelling the wrong way down the slope” are therefore completely exaggerated. Downhill skiers who adhere to the principle set out in the FIS rules – “Every skier must ski within sight” – will not collide with those ascending the slope.

HOWEVER: Other ‘stationary’ obstacles, such as snow cannons or piste signage, are also always positioned right at the edge of the piste wherever possible. Where this cannot be avoided, obstacles are usually secured – much like a warning triangle on the road: everyone is familiar with the orange impact protectors on lift poles, or the skis stuck into the snow above the scene of an accident.

That is why it should also be second nature for ski tourers to always stay right at the edge! Particularly in narrow sections, on bends and on terrain with limited visibility, this can drastically reduce the risk of collisions.

In areas with a piste route guidance system, the ideal ascent route has been mapped out by professionals. In doing so, the number of times the piste is crossed has been kept to a minimum, whilst at the same time ensuring the route is as comfortable to walk along as possible. Please pay attention to these signs – this is how we can ensure we all share the slopes without conflict or accidents!

By choosing your route skilfully and with foresight during the ascent, you can avoid most crossings of the slopes. Sometimes, however, a crossing is still necessary, for example when you need to take a turn-off towards your destination. The following points are important:

• Where available, follow the signage for ski tourers!
• Never cross in front of blind spots such as hilltops or tight bends! This is where the risk of a collision with skiers or snowboarders is greatest.
• Cross the piste briskly and keeping a good distance from one another. This leaves sufficient space for skiers and snowboarders.
• Use flat sections for crossings! Especially on hard artificial snow, crossing steep slopes is technically very difficult and exhausting.
• Don’t forget: once you’ve removed your skins, you become a skier or snowboarder yourself. By then at the latest, careless crossing manoeuvres will be annoying and dangerous for you too!

Since 2016, Tyrol has had its own guidance system for off-piste touring. “Safe & Fair” – that is the primary aim of the campaign. By following the signage, you minimise the risk of collisions and support efforts to ensure that lift users and ski tourers can coexist without conflict.

Slopes are usually groomed in the evening and at night. This poses life-threatening dangers, particularly from winch cables. To still allow skiers to “wind down” with a run on the slopes after a long day’s work, there is a special offer: In keeping with the “Safe & Fair” philosophy, some slopes are groomed later in the day and can be used by ski tourers beforehand.

For your own safety, you should ensure you are visible even on authorised evening ski tours. A head torch and reflective clothing improve your visibility and make you more noticeable, thereby helping to prevent accidents.
In the worst-case scenario, should an accident nevertheless occur, a torch carried with you can be used to send an alpine distress signal. Lights and reflective clothing help the rescue team to locate people involved in accidents more quickly.

Dedicated ascent routes for ski tourers promote safety and help to separate the flow of skiers. To signpost the ascent routes and guide ski tourers, a standardised, province-wide signage system featuring orange ‘ski touring signs’ was developed in 2016 by the Tyrolean Ski Touring Guidance System. These provide information on the difficulty, the distance to be covered and the elevation gain, and also feature space for the logo of the ski resort operator or sponsor.

Mountain rescue operations are not free of charge! If you take out mountain rescue cover in good time (e.g. travel insurance from Europäische Reiserversicherung or as a supporter of the Tyrolean Mountain Rescue Service, as a member of the Alpine Club, via the ÖAMTC/ADAC or through credit cards and private accident insurance), your mountain rescue costs may be covered by the insurance up to the specified limit.

Please note! Health insurance funds do not cover rescue from alpine emergencies!

Due to food shortages, wild animals slow down their metabolism in winter and are unable, or only barely able, to compensate for energy loss when disturbed. Therefore:

• Avoid twilight (when wildlife is feeding and foraging) – it is best to plan your trip from 90 minutes after sunrise until 90 minutes before sunset. Night-time walks or ski trips should be avoided wherever possible.
• Wildlife feeding points and resting areas should be given a wide berth (300 m) (observe restricted areas!).
• Observe animals only from a great distance; under no circumstances should you chase them.
• Remain calm and do not shout.

Only healthy young trees can grow into a strong forest that protects us from dangers such as avalanches, mudslides and rockfalls – skiing, snowshoeing and careless behaviour can cause serious damage to young trees. Therefore: Do not enter reforested areas or young forests.

Dogs are perceived as a threat by wildlife and must be kept on a lead – this also helps to prevent problems with other winter sports enthusiasts.

Furthermore, we ask that you use dog waste bags and do not leave them lying around, but dispose of them in the nearest bin.

Nature is a precious resource! Rubbish has no place in the countryside and belongs in the bins provided! So please take your rubbish back down to the valley with you – otherwise it will still be there the next time you visit.