Winter sports
 
Mass tourism in the mountains has existed for over 50 years.
Certain resorts multiply their number of residents by 100 percent during the winter season, creating environmental issues and large amounts of pollution.
 
  • The Eco- Rider attitude
    • The accumulation of thousands of people’s daily actions acts has considerable consequences: Pollution, destruction and erosion. In the summer, when the snow melts the winter’s pollution is revealed: Under a 10-pylon chairlift the Eco volunteers collected no less than 30 000 cigarette butts!
    Clean air, powder, board sports: If we want to continue enjoying these, we need to change our behaviour.
 
  • Your every day act of green
    • One discarded cigarette end pollutes up to one cubic metre of snow! So put your cigarette ends in a pocket ashtray or in a separate pocket!
    • An aluminium can takes up to 500 years to disintegrate! Put your rubbish back into your bag and take it to the recycling bin.
    • The forests serve as a refuge for animals during the winter. When a chamois runs 30m in the snow, it uses up to the equivalent of eight days’ of summer food reserves.
      Do not go off-piste skiing or snowshoeing in areas that have been marked as protected.
    • There is life under the snow: Young trees, stoats, grouse and voles. Don’t go off-piste in protected areas. If you have any doubts ask the ski patrol.
      Above 2000m / 6000ft conditions are very harsh; if possible avoid disturbing wildlife in these areas.


Security
Crevasses, cornices, avalanches: Off-piste skiing is dangerous for both yourself and others. Ride in the areas secured by the ski patrol.
Don’t over estimate your capabilities.
Check the weather reports and snow conditions.
Never go out riding on your own
and at best with a professional.
Remember to be properly equipped: Take with you warm clothing, food, water, an avalanche transceiver, a shovel, a probe and a helmet.