Munich (dpa / lby) - Because of the exceptionally mild temperatures and the associated lack of snow, Bavaria's ski areas have to restrict operations. The ski area on the Brauneck in Lenggries, which is equally popular with locals and Munich residents, closed its last piste that was still drivable on Thursday evening. Because of its location at 1100 meters above sea level, Spitzingsee in the Miesbach district, which is actually considered to have snow, should still have two of the ten slopes open on Friday, as the Alpine railways there announced on their website.
It is extraordinary that a ski area has to stop operating completely in January. A similar situation last existed seven years ago, when the start of the season was very delayed due to unusually high temperatures: "We actually had almost the same phenomenon at Christmas 2015," said Antonia Asenstorfer, spokeswoman for the four "Alpen Plus" areas, which include both the Brauneck as well as the Spitzingsee belong. "Back then, during the Christmas holidays, we resumed summer operations at the Taubensteinbahn on Spitzingsee." This cable car is otherwise only in operation in summer.
At the Brauneck, the operators cover many slopes with artificial snow. But if the temperatures are too high, even a snow cannon is useless. The artificial snow base has melted away in the past two weeks.
The situation is better at Sudelfeld above Bayrischzell, where, thanks to artificial snow, 15 of the 27 were reported passable on Friday. There are also several slopes in the Garmisch "Classic" ski area and on the Nebelhorn in Oberstdorf.
The fact that the ski areas in the comparatively low Bavarian Alps are located too low for a reliable winter season was already an issue decades before the climate change discussions began. The formerly well-known ski and climbing guide author Walter Pause criticized this in his works as early as the mid-1960s.
The winter had started promisingly for the mountain railways in December. "We had a dream start this winter with snow and very cold temperatures," said Asenstorfer. "Then the almost traditional Christmas thaw set in, which is unfortunately particularly pronounced this year."
Skiers and cable cars remain hopeful: "In any case, some snow is predicted for next week and as soon as the temperatures allow it, we will make additional snow again," said Asenstorfer.
