Even before the first flakes of the year fall, many people are looking forward to winter. Because then it's finally time to explore the world of snow again and hurtle down the slopes at full speed. To ensure that this fun remains as safe as possible, there are avalanche commissions - including on the Zugspitze. The team checks the current snow conditions on a daily basis, documents them and blows them up where necessary.
“Our advantage is that many of us are authorized to blast - including myself,” explains Christian Hornung. He is the deputy slope manager on the Zugspitze as well as the deputy avalanche commissioner. “Normally, avalanche commissions notify the responsible municipality when blasting is required. They then take care of everything else. We don't have to do this loop, which saves us time.” Much to the delight of the skiers. Because Hornung and his team cannot open the slopes and lifts until they have been blown up if necessary.
Off-piste at your own risk
However, another sport is currently giving alpine skiing a run for its money: ski touring. Ski tourers climb the mountain on foot with their skis on their backs. They then ski back down off the groomed slopes and through untouched snow fields. Great fun on the one hand, but not entirely without danger on the other.
“We from the avalanche commission are responsible for the slopes,” explains Christian Hornung. “We make sure that it is only opened when it is safe for our visitors.” However, he emphasizes that there is of course never a one hundred percent guarantee. After all, nature remains unpredictable. “However, in my 25 years with the Zugspitze Avalanche Commission, no one has ever been buried on our slopes. Our experience helps us immensely, of course.”
But what happens off-piste is no longer the responsibility of the commission, he continues. So anyone who goes outside the groomed area does so at their own risk. Christian Hornung points out: “Avalanches don't always happen on a large scale. A small slope is often enough - if it starts to slide, there's nothing you can do about it.”
The best way to prepare
The avalanche safety expert therefore advises caution: “Alpine skiers are best advised to stay on the slopes. I can only recommend that ski tourers prepare themselves as well as possible.” On the one hand, this applies to equipment: avalanche transceivers, shovel, probe, avalanche backpack - they should always be with you on a tour. “However, you can no longer say that people aren't well equipped these days,” says Hornung. “We often see the best of the best - so that shouldn't be a problem. Unfortunately, however, only a few people know how to use the materials properly.”
For this reason, it is also highly recommended to familiarize yourself in detail with avalanche awareness. Ideally as part of a course: Participants are taught everything they need to know before going on a tour together. “If you're going off-piste for the first time, you should always do it with a mountain guide,” says Christian Hornung. “They are familiar with the region and know what to look out for. This allows you to slowly approach the topic of snow and avalanches.”
If you feel more confident over time, you can also go on a tour without a guide. But even then, if there is an avalanche risk or a route is closed, you should stay away - no matter how much experience you have.
