Industry News
An Austrian ski resort has decided to ban all uphilling on its ski slopes. Bad Kleinkirchheim, located in the state of Carinthia/Kärnten, Austria, announced its decision to enforce a ban after an increasing number of conflicts between uphill skiers as well as snowshoers and other paying users of the ski resort. The decision of the resort’s operator, Bad Kleinkirchheimer Bergbahnen, applies without exception both during the day and at night and will be in place from November 4, 2024, until the end of the season in mid-April 2025.
Instead, the resort wants to direct backcountry skiers to dedicated natural snow routes outside the 300-hectare (741-acre) ski area. The Bad Kleinkirchheim ski area offers 103 kilometers (64 miles) of groomed runs serviced by 24 cable cars and lifts. The surrounding Nockberge mountains, the Goldeck, and the neighboring Reißeck group offer a variety of easy and challenging backcountry tours. Some backcountry tours are even suitable for families with children. The “Schafalm-Brunnach” ski touring route, for example, offers a safe, easy, and attractive ascent for backcountry skiers and split-boarders.
There is one exception to the resort’s strict ban, which are four full moon evenings during which backcountry skiing will be permitted. These full moon evenings will allow uphilling on Brunnachabfahrt (Nr. 27) straight after lifts close, on December 15, January 13, February 12, and March 14.
The resort states on its website that it experienced “countless rule violations and dangerous situations” that led to this ban. In previous seasons, the resort had experimented with dedicated hours for backcountry skiers and special uphill passes but came to the conclusion that an outright ban was the only safe solution as some people simply could not abide by the rules, leading to dangerous incidents, both for themselves as well as other resort users and staff preparing the slopes. These incidents occurred predominantly in the morning and at night, when runs were being groomed and snow cannons were operating, posing an unacceptable risk to all involved.
How popular or unpopular the decision will be with wintersport enthusiasts, remains to be seen.
