The Tyrolean Mountaineering Guides Association warns about the consequences of climate change for mountaineering! “The risk situation in the Alps has changed significantly as a result of climate change,” emphasizes President Thomas Rabl. Dangerous situations would change “almost daily”.
An example is the risk of rock falling, which would be favored by drought and high temperatures. Winters with little precipitation or severe thunderstorms would also increase this risk. This would change the “time windows for safe trips, both winter and summer”. Partly due to the melting of the glacier, some tours have to be closed at short notice or are no longer accessible at all.
“Don’t underestimate the dangers”
The rapid changes meanwhile need to be “reassessed daily by local experts”, but such information is “just not available in real time,” explains Rabl. Whether alternative tours can be offered also depends on other factors, such as whether the cabins are open. The association calls on alpinists not to underestimate the dangers and points out the importance of good tour planning.
Mountain guides as security service providers
On the one hand, Rabl also refers to the effects on the professional profile of mountaineers – who are increasingly becoming security service providers – and on the tourism development of regions. “As the opportunities for guided, safe mountain tours in our Alps and their reliable bookability diminish, guests will transfer to other regions and countries or set out on their own,” he said.
Climate change is a topic in training
This is exactly what concerns Rabl, which is why he urges alpinists “not to underestimate the changed boundary conditions in alpine terrain and to make use of the expertise of trained and certified mountain guides”. In the future, education will “take greater account of climate change”.
According to its own information, the Bergsportführerverband Tirol has about 3,000 members. Every year, about 140 people follow the training to become a mountain guide, mountain and ski guide, sports climbing instructor or canyon guide.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
