Backcountry skiing on the ski slopes has become more and more popular over the past few years. In order to guarantee the safety of all winter sports enthusiasts despite the vast numbers of backcountry skiers on the slopes, the Snow Space Salzburg ski area has come up with a new guideline.

There are now four marked tour routes available for backcountry skiers in the Snow Space Salzburg ski area – Flachau – Wagrain – St. Johann. Use of the routes is free of charge, however, the lift companies request compensation for their work and effort, for the signposting, piste preparation and provision of parking space for backcountry skiers – by way of a voluntary donation for the Caritas Salzburg. At the ski tour access points donation boxes have been erected, where the backcountry skiers can give their donation. The total money collected goes towards charitable institutions in the district of Pongau – such as the Lerncafé in Bischofshofen, the mobile palliative teams or for emergency situations, for example after severe storms. “Thank you very much!“

The four backcountry ski tour routes in Wagrain, St. Johann plus on the family mountain monte popolo in Eben are between two and eight kilometres long and run partly along the edge of ski slopes and partly along hiking and forest trails. On easy to medium-difficulty ascents up to 1,180 m elevation gain can be conquered. Ecological aspects were also taken into account when choosing the routes. Wildlife reserves and feeding areas are extensively bypassed in order to protect the habitat of forest animals.

SKI TOUR ROUTE WAGRAIN 

• Access: Valley station of the “Rote 8er” cable car
• Elevation gain: 915 m
• Parking: right by the cable car
• Marked route along the edge of the piste up to the mountain station of the “Rote 8er” cable car
• PISTE CLOSED: 6.00 pm to 8.30 am

SKI TOUR ROUTE ALPENDORF-KREISTEN-GERNKOGEL

• Access: Alpendorf
• Elevation gain: approx. 1,000
• Parking: Heating plant in Alpendorf
• Marked tour route – partly along the edge of the piste, on the upper part through the forest
• PISTE CLOSED: 7.00 pm to 8.30 am

SKI TOUR ROUTE ON THE HAHNBAUM IN ST. JOHANN 

• Access: Valley station of the Hahnbaum chairlift or Hetzenbichl drag lift
• Elevation gain: 595 m
• Parking: Valley station of the Hahnbaum chairlift or Hetzenbichl drag lift
• Two marked routes: main route and Zachalegg
• PISTE CLOSED: no piste closure

SKI TOUR ROUTE IN EBEN ON THE MONTE POPOLO

• Access: car park/practice lift Topolino I
• Elevation gain: 790 m
• Parking: right by the lift car park
• Marked tour route with two different variations
• PISTE CLOSED: 6.00 pm to 8.30 am

Photo credits: Snow Space Salzburg, Katja Eggenhofer,