Ski touring on the piste in the ski areas of South Tyrol is a winter sport that is becoming ever more popular. More and more people are discovering the appeal of enjoying nature and the quiet of the mountains away from the crowded pistes. For some years now there have been numerous ski areas that provide ski tourers with their own ascent tracks or with their pistes, including outside opening hours. There are, however, a few rules to observe:
- Take warning notices seriously and comply with local rules.
- Closed pistes or sections of piste must not be entered. When piste machines are in use – especially with winches – or during avalanche blasting and the like, life-threatening situations can arise. For safety reasons pistes are therefore closed for the duration of the work.
- Use only marked ascent routes and pistes released for descent.
- Only ascend at the edge of the piste and in single file.
- Only ski on freshly groomed pistes along the edge. Tracks that freeze solid overnight can badly affect the quality of the piste the next day.
- Where evening rules apply: leave the pistes by the set time. The time is fixed by the operator of the ski area.
- Make yourself visible. In the dark or in poor visibility use a headtorch.
- Do not take dogs onto the pistes.
- Use the designated car parks and pay any parking fees due.
- On the pistes too, ski tourers are out on their own responsibility. Take alpine hazards into account and assess situations for yourself.
The following ski areas offer a purpose-built ascent track or a specially groomed winter walking trail for piste tourers: Reinswald ski area, Rittner Horn ski area, Plose ski area (only in the evening on certain days), Schöneben-Haideralm ski area, Gitschberg Jochtal ski area, 3 Zinnen Dolomites ski area, Speikboden ski area, Meran 2000 ski area, Ladurns ski area, Pfelders ski area, Watles ski area, Schwemmalm ski area, Klausberg ski area (evenings only)
Evening piste touring options are also proving more and more popular. Here is a list of the days on which the ski areas open in the evening for ski tourers:
- Monday: nothing on offer
- Tuesday: Schöneben-Haideralm
- Wednesday: Rittner Horn, Pfelders
- Thursday: Reinswald, Gitschberg Jochtal, Meran 2000, Schwemmalm, Klausberg
- Friday: Rosskopf, Plose, Watles
More detailed information can be found on the websites of the ski areas listed or at https://alpenverein.it/unterwegs/bergsport/pistentouren/
Legal provisions
In principle, in South Tyrol, ascending with skis on your feet while the lifts are running and after the pistes close is not permitted. But there are exceptions and local rules! Many areas do have a specially marked and separated ascent route, or they allow ascents on touring skis on certain evenings after the lifts close. So that this willingness is maintained in future, we would urge ski tourers to comply with our rules of conduct and the local rules of the ski areas!
New legal provisions for winter sports from 01.01.2022
The new Legislative Decree no. 40/2021, which regulates winter sports at national level, has been in force since 01.01.2022.
In essence it contains three important points that could also be of interest to ski tourers and piste tourers, snowshoers and winter walkers.
1. Ski tourers, freeriders, snowshoers, winter walkers and so on who go into areas where there is a danger of avalanches must be equipped with an avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel.
2. Everyone who uses ski pistes must have valid liability insurance that covers damage to third parties (not accident insurance). This means that ski tourers who ascend off the piste and descend wholly or partly on a piste must also be able to show liability insurance. Please note: the AVS liability insurance only covers this risk during organised club activities. The AVS advises all members to find out for themselves whether their private insurance (liability insurance) covers this risk. A special agreement has been reached with Tiroler Versicherung under which all AVS members receive a discount when taking out private liability insurance. All the info on that here!
3. It is forbidden to ski while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The decree does not speak of a limit of 0.5 per mille as in road traffic, but it is sometimes interpreted that way. In any case it has to be recommended that you strictly avoid consuming alcohol or mind-altering substances before, after and during skiing on ski pistes and in their surroundings.
