Ski touring in the Pitztal: First ski touring park in Tyrol opened

"Cappuccino route", that sounded comfortable. And now you are panting up the steep hill, and one skier after the other shoots past. That's the way hiking has to feel next to a motorway.

Those who used to joke about those who laboriously fought their way up the slope instead of taking the chairlift for a single descent often trudge themselves uphill for hours with touring skis: Ski touring has become a trend sport - to which the winter industry now reacts.

With the first ski touring park in Tyrol, Gletscherbahn and Tourismusverband want to lure the growing number of piste tourists to the Pitztal, west of Innsbruck. Three ascent tracks were marked: a light blue, a medium red and the black "cappuccino route", which leads over 620 vertical meters to 3440 meters. The tracks are aimed primarily at beginners who have difficulties in the downhill snow, who are not worried about avalanches and do not want to hire a mountain guide for a lot of money. And on endurance athletes, for training.

Initially, many lift operators in the Alps were not very enthusiastic about the new guests, who were marching up their expensive groomed slopes without buying a ski pass. But as the tour-goers became more and more, some people scented a shop: tour days on changing slopes were fixed, pastures remained open for party people with headlamps longer. Some even switched off their lifts and concentrated entirely on the mostly young trend athletes.

So now a ski touring park, sponsored by a ski manufacturer. It would not actually need it in the Pitztal, says the mountain guide Burkhard Auer: "For us, it is not such a problem that ski touring and alpinists get in the way." This conflict is much more intense in the ski areas around the big cities.

To be on the safe side, the blue and red ascent tracks are still separated from the runway by a snow cover, like a bike path next to the road. Away, Auer climbs up the red track, first along the track, then through a half-spurted powder snow slope. It's a walk for the 34-year-old. If the weather is right, he runs several ski tours per week.

Rise without fear of crevasses, depart without fear of avalanches

After one and a half hours, Auer is at the top of the Mittelbergjoch, at 3150 meters. From here you have a tremendous view over the glacier to the Wildspitze. Austria's second highest peak, 3774 meters, has a big name and is relatively simple. "Not steep and not technically difficult," says Auer. "You should be able to ski well and have already done some tours, then it is not a problem." The customer review has been automatically translated from German.

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In good weather, more than 100 tourers often climb the summit on the weekend, especially in the spring. Locals go up without rope guides, some even alone. "Without security, without expertise," says Auer. "Every year we have two or three crevasses." The danger was heightened by the hot summers. "There are gaps that have not been seen for years." And some would only be covered by unstable snow bridges that can break quickly.

All the more many tour operators appreciate the safety of a groomed ski area. Rise without fear of crevasses, depart without fear of avalanches.

Of course you will not find a special nature experience in the ski touring park. Initially, the "Cappuccino Route" has its own ascent track next to a ski lift. Then it flows into a runway. After the first flat piece it goes steeply uphill, at some point you have to fold the second climbing aid under the heel. And on the last 200 meters of altitude before the reward apple strudel only switchbacks help.

In order to get the necessary technique and condition for all the beautiful tour mountains all around, the park is optimal. And those who have made the "cappuccino route" will not only get coffee and cake in the summit restaurant at the end of their efforts. But also a panoramic view from the observation deck to the summit of Tyrol.