Full slopes, clogged roads: the ski areas in the Ländle have literally been stormed in recent days. For many winter sports enthusiasts, however, the ski day ended with a frustrating experience or even in the hospital.
The conditions for skiing in Vorarlberg couldn’t be better at the moment. Just in time for Christmas, it snowed across the country, and the freezing temperatures also made it possible to produce artificial snow in large quantities. And last but not least, the mountains are currently presenting themselves from their most beautiful side: while the valley floors are drowned in mist, bright sunshine shines at an altitude of 1000 meters and not a single cloud clouds the sky.
Traffic jams in the side valleys
In that respect, it was no wonder that Vorarlberg’s major ski areas have been stormed in recent days. With all the negative consequences: on Saturday, for example, there were large traffic jams in the early morning hours in the Bregenzerwald, Montafon, Kleinwalsertal and Klostertal and in some cases motorists had to plan up to an hour of extra travel time. Due to the expected crowds, the so-called driving ban on the Arlberg highway (S16) was imposed in Klostertal for the second time this winter to ease the burden on neighboring communities. The measure seems to work: only a few motorists – probably mainly those who know the area – drove into the villages to avoid the traffic jam on the S16.
Battle for parking spaces
When they finally arrived at their destination, the following unpleasant surprise awaited some day guests: there was a lack of parking spaces. The parking lots at the Sonnenkopf in the Klostertal and in the center of Warth were completely overcrowded – many winter sports enthusiasts had to interrupt their ski day before it had even started. But even in the Montafon and in the Mellau/Damüls ski area, there was hardly any free space to be found and the access roads were blocked accordingly.
Slope rescuers in constant use
What has also become clear in recent days is that skiing can be a dangerous sport – especially if your skills are limited and you don’t follow certain basic rules. Due to the high frequency on the slopes, there were significantly more accidents than in the same period last year, and the slope and mountain rescue teams were constantly busy at times. Things became turbulent, especially on Christmas Day in Lech. Several people were injured in a collision in Madlochkompression, and a piste hooligan also “mowed down” a piste rescuer.
Tourism experts are cheering
However, the run on winter sports destinations is unreservedly positive for the country’s tourism professionals: the cable car companies can look forward to record sales of ski tickets and the hoteliers can look forward to overcrowded houses.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
