Whether piste ski tours are “real” ski tours or not is something that is much talked about and argued about. Probably not. But that is not the issue here. The fact is, more and more ski tourers are using the existing infrastructure of ski resorts to get their metres of altitude under their skins safely, quickly, and comfortably. They want to stay fit or simply do something with their touring skis when nothing else is possible due to high avalanche danger or lack of snow.

Where there are advantages, there are of course also disadvantages. However, in order to keep the latter to a minimum and to enable all those involved to enjoy a relaxed and accident-free experience, it is important to keep a few thoughts in mind when undertaking a “piste tour”.

News: Piste ski touring in an epidemic

During the current lockdown and the closure of many ski areas, ski touring is becoming increasingly popular. This is especially true for ski touring on the slopes, where you will hardly get in the way of alpine skiers flying down the mountain on perfect groomers. But is it even allowed to go ski touring on a closed piste and what about safety? We have compiled the most important facts for you to note below.

Geschlossene Pisten sind nicht vor Lawinen gesichert. Es handelt sich dabei um alpines Tourengelände, das ein entsprechendes Können und die entsprechende Ausrüstung voraussetzt.

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• No hazard protection in closed ski areas, no piste preparation: As lifts and cable cars in Germany are currently closed (until at least 31 January 2021), there is also no hazard protection in the ski area.
• Equipment and knowledge for alpine terrain necessary: Closed slopes are unsecured, alpine terrain. Walking on the slopes is at your own risk. Avalanche emergency equipment and good knowledge of how to behave in alpine terrain is therefore also an absolute prerequisite for a piste ski tour.
• The unprepared snow means increased demands on skiing skills. Piste ski tours are currently not an alternative for ski touring beginners and should be avoided at all costs to protect your own health and that of others.
• Other dangers: In order to be prepared for a possible opening of the ski areas, piste bullies with winches are already in use in some areas (also during the day). The winches, which can be up to 1.5 km long, are not always visible and pose a danger to skiers’ lives! Furthermore, the slopes are not signposted, safety fences are missing and snow cannons or poles are not padded.

No piste ski tour when the pistes are closed?

A piste ski tour is de facto not possible when skiing is suspended, as it is currently a ski tour in unsecured, alpine terrain. Please take the closures for piste ski tourers seriously – they are in place for your personal safety! When ski touring in ski resorts, always observe the local regulations and adhere to the rules of conduct described below – this of course also includes keeping your distance from other winter sports enthusiasts!

1. Why go ski touring on pistes?

Despite all the critics, ski touring in ski resorts does actually have some advantages:

• Ski resorts and their slopes are usually easy to reach and are therefore particularly suitable for a short visit or a quick after-work tour with colleagues.
• Orientation problems are rather rare on-piste ski tours. Special ascent routes for ski tourers are usually clearly marked. If there is no touring route, then the edge of the piste (FIS rule no. 7) also provides an orientation aid.
• At the same time, wild animals are less disturbed during their winter rest. Of course, this only works if ski tourers stick to the designated routes.
• The avalanche risk is extremely low to non-existent on open pistes. Although it makes sense to have basic alpine knowledge, it is not a must.
• Skiing in deep snow is not everyone’s cup of tea – especially for beginners or when all that’s left of the powder is ploughed-up slopes or broken crushed snow. On piste tours there are no difficulties here, the descent is on the prepared piste.
• Downhill skiers and uphill tourers can be well separated from each other by separate ascent/descent routes. In this case, the danger of possible collisions is – as a rule of thumb – kept at a minimum.

2. How do I behave as a ski tourer when hitting the slopes?

A good and important orientation is provided by the DAV rules for ski tourers, which are also followed in a very similar format by all other European Alpine clubs. They primarily appeal to common sense, ensuring that everybody gets along, no one is endangered and flora and fauna are left undamaged.

DAV-Rules for ski tourers moving about in an alpine ski resort

Ski slopes are primarily available to users of cable cars and chair lifts! In addition, the following applies:

• Ascent and descent at your own risk and responsibility.
• Only ascend at the edge of the piste (FIS rule no. 7). Walk one behind the other, not side by side. Pay attention to the skiing traffic.
• Take special care on crests, in narrow passages, steep slopes, and when the piste is icy. When crossing the piste, walk individually if possible or keep your distance from each other. Do not cross into unclear areas.
• Always observe piste closures, warnings, and local regulations.
• The pistes are closed for safety reasons when work is being carried out on the piste. There is a danger to life especially when using winches.
• Only use freshly groomed ski slopes in the peripheral areas. Always walk in the dark with your headlamp switched on, wear reflective clothing.
• Be aware of alpine dangers, especially avalanches. Do not go ski touring if avalanche blasting is expected. Only open slopes are safe from avalanches.
• Only undertake ski tours when there is sufficient snow. Avoid damage to plant and ground cover.
• Show consideration for wild animals. Animals are severely disturbed at dusk and at night. Thus, also do not take dogs onto ski slopes.
  Observe regulations at car parks, pay parking fees, travel in an environmentally friendly manner.

Source: Deutscher Alpenverein e.V., Abteilung Natur- und Umweltschutz (German Alpine Club, Nature and Environmental Protection Department), as of January 2019 There are also usually highly visible information boards at the central starting points of the ski areas with information on safety and nature protection. Here, too, please: read, understand and try to the guidelines.

3. Who is liable if something does happen?

Ski touring on the slopes is clearly a trend. But who is actually liable if an accident or collision occurs? The ski area operator? The athlete at fault? Both athletes or even the mountain hut owner? Not so simple. Because: It depends, writes Sarah Lanzanasto of the Austrian Curatorship for Alpine Safety.

• Tipp: In order to be on the safest possible side as a ski tourer, it is important to comply with the duties of care contained in the FIS rules and DAV rules. Gross misconduct can lead to an exclusion of liability or a sharing of liability in the event of an accident.

4. Are ski tours on pistes safer?

When the ski area is officially open, you can say that. Because only when the pistes are open is it ensured that designated ski touring routes are also secured against avalanches and, if necessary, blasting has been carried out. Outside the pistes or when they are closed, as a ski tourer you are in the free ski area and have to take appropriate precautions. This includes assessing alpine dangers, reading and applying the avalanche situation report, having avalanche equipment with you, and being able to use it. After all, avalanches can sometimes occur even in a closed ski area. In many ski areas, the preparation of the slopes is done with a winch/pulley system. This means that a steel cable is tied very tightly along the piste – the snow groomer hangs from it (somewhere). During this work, the pistes are closed. It really would be absolute folly to ski on a slope that is being groomed in such a manner. The rope is sometimes stretched along a slope for up to a kilometre and can behave like a guillotine, should ski into it at speed.

Do I need avalanche transceivers and safety gear when skinning up on the piste?

It never hurts to take (and know how to use) the equipment for avalanche emergencies. You never know what might happen. However, it is not a must and if you are only(!) staying on the slopes and in the secured ski area at the official times, you can do without lugging all the gear up the mountain on that given day.

6. Who benefits from ski touring on pistes?

Smaller and less snow-sure ski areas, in particular, are becoming more and more attractive for ski tourers. The area operators are happy about the extra euros that stay in the cash registers of the huts and parking ticket machines. There is also an extra piggy bank in some huts, the money from which ends up benefiting the snowcat drivers.

7. Do I ( always ) have to buy a ski touring ticket?

In the meantime, a ski touring ticket can be purchased in many of the popular ski touring areas. In some cases, this also includes individual mountain tours and/or parking fees. Information on this is usually provided on the website of the ski area operator. This measure has often been the subject of controversial discussions in the past. Basically, it should be clear that when you ascend at the edge of the piste or on designated ski touring routes as a ski tourer, you benefit from the amenities of the ski areas and the infrastructure provided – even if you don’t use the lift itself. Even on the descent, most ski tourers are happy about first-class prepared pistes – not only when the terrain away from the snow-canons is still green. Cleared parking areas and toilets are also welcomed by most. In view of the increasing numbers of piste tourers, it should be clear that this service cannot be taken for granted as a free give-away.

8. Where can I find ski touring trails and designated routes?

In some ski areas, such as the Classic ski area of Garmisch Partenkirchen, at Kolben near Oberammergau or the Tegelberg in the Allgäu, designated ascent routes have been prepared. Since December 2018, there has also been a dedicated ascent route including a ski touring trail in the Austrian Heutal near Unken. Practically speaking, beginners are taught a portion of their knowledge directly on these routes, which they can apply immediately next time round on a ski tour in the backcountry.

9. Where are evening piste tours possible?

Climbing up to a cosy hut with skins under your skis after work crowns the day of every ski touring enthusiast. And precisely because hut wardens are always happy about a few more guests, but also to control the rush of ski tourers, many ski resorts in Germany and Austria organise ski touring evenings on fixed weekdays. Then (and only then) is it ensured that designated(!) pistes are only prepared after the official closing time of the huts.

Which actually goes without saying: The slopes that are freshly prepared in the evening are meant for the paying piste skiers the next day. It doesn’t help anyone to cause additional trouble and beef just because you want to ski your first tracks before everybody else. The descent should therefore always take place on a designated slope.

10. What is happening in the ski resorts?

At Spitzingsee, part of the ski area which has been closed down is now a popular destination for tourers. The former lift routes and pistes provide enough space for skin tracks and slashing some pow. So no one actually has to ascend on the official pistes of the still open ski area to the Western banks’ fo the lake

• The local regulations for ski tourers in resorts in the German Alpine region can be found in a concise list with the German Alpine Club (DAV).

More about ski touring in the Bergzeit Journal

• Avalanche reports -what are they really about
• Ski touring for beginners: Get it right, from the get-go
• Packing list for ski touring