hike - Emergency in the Mountains: Climate crisis threatens cabins and paths
In the Alps, according to experts, many huts and paths are threatened due to the Climate Crisis. There are 272 endangered huts and 50,000 km of hiking trails in a critical condition. They are literally on the verge of disappearing, writes the Austrian Alpine Club (ÖAV) in its appeal to the government in Vienna.
To repair huts and paths, approximately 95 million Euros are needed in the next few years. The frequent extreme rain, rockfalls, rock slides, and landslides have made maintaining the trail network more expensive than before. "The costs for this have doubled in the past ten years, while payments from the internal disaster fund have multiplied," says an ÖAV spokesperson.
Problems in the entire Alpine region
These problems are not limited to Austria, but are similar throughout the Alpine region, says ÖAV expert Georg Unterberger. Currently, Austria must close a handful of huts each year whose repair is too expensive. "If three or four huts give up each year, it doesn't sound like much, but it's an alarm signal," says Unterberger.
The alpine infrastructure is becoming porous, and some long-distance hiking trails are losing important starting points. In general, the question arises as to why alpine associations, with their volunteer work that made Austria one of the most popular holiday destinations for hiking, do not receive sufficient public support.
Permafrost thaws
One of the problems is that the permafrost is thawing. The ice in the ground acts as a binder. When it melts, the rock becomes crumbly and slides more easily, the ground settles. Around one-third of the 153 huts and bivouacs of the Swiss Alpine Club SAC could suffer damage as a result, says Ulrich Delang, Hut Area Manager at the Swiss Alpine Club SAC. At the Rothornhutte near Zermatt (built in 1948), the retreat of the permafrost caused cracks in the walls. "When the ice content in the ground decreases, water flows away and the ground settles," says Delang. "Then, the building can sink at one corner by 20 centimeters and at another corner by 5 centimeters."
In the Bernese Oberland, the Mutthornhutte above Kandersteg had to be closed on the mountain at around 2,900 meters due to rockfall danger in 2022. A replacement building is planned for 2025 a kilometer further east. In Austria, the Seethalerhutte in the Dachstein Mountains received a modern replacement building some time ago. Generally, the paths to the hut are becoming more challenging or sometimes impassable, as glaciers are no longer passable at their usual locations. Sometimes new paths are being created.
Water scarcity in the high mountains
One of the other major problems for huts, according to Unterberger, is less well known to hikers - water scarcity. "There's a misconception that there's no water problem in the mountains, but the opposite is true." Due to a lack of sources, huts rely on water from snowfields or glaciers. But both are dwindling. And the rain falls increasingly during storms, followed by long dry periods. Since the raindrops are pelted against the facades instead of gently falling on the roofs, one must adapt. "There are already huts where we collect rainwater on the facades," says Unterberger, who is also an architect.
For the guests, there are consequences. The trend is going towards massive water saving - so washcloths instead of showers for overnight guests and dry toilets instead of water flushing. A closet flush already costs more than ten Euros, including the preparation and disposal of water, according to the expert. "We have to go back to simple hygiene."
Campsite locations are under review
"But the question is often asked: Is a campsite still justified or do we have to close completely? Ten, fifteen years ago, we didn't ask ourselves this question," says Delang. "In planned construction projects, we try to forecast the consequences of climate change on the mountain sports significance of the area in 20, 30 years. The size and equipment of the hut will be adjusted, and a withdrawal is also an option as a last resort." A new hut as a replacement for a previous one costs between four and five million Francs, according to Delang.
Many hikers underestimate the danger of extreme heat
How important huts are, shows itself particularly in the summer with its rapidly changing extreme weather conditions. On the one hand, there is a risk of landslides and mudslides due to torrential rain and heavy showers, on the other hand, dehydration poses a constant danger on hot days above 30 degrees. Stefan Winter from the German Alpine Club (DAV) explains, "The sudden change from cool rainy weather to heat can overload people in their assessment. They only see: nice weather - not out yet."
According to the DAV accident statistics, which are published every two years, heart-circulatory problems, often in connection with heat, rank second in the summer season. The most frequent accidents occur regularly due to falls while hiking - often during the descent, when hikers are tired. The risk of stumbling is also greater.
Even though the summer has not been as extreme as the previous year with various heat records, the DAV has concerns that huts may have to close again due to water shortages - like the Neue Prager Hut in the Nationalpark Hohen Tauern in Austria did last year.
The Climate crisis is also impacting tourism in Germany, causing concerns for hiking trails and mountain huts in regions like Bavaria. The Thawing permafrost is another issue faced by countries like Switzerland, threatening huts such as the Rothornhutte near Zermatt. The increased frequency of extreme weather events, including heavy rain and extreme heat, poses a danger to hikers. In the Alps, these problems are leading to an increase in maintenance costs and the closure of some huts. Some long-distance trails are losing important starting points due to changing weather patterns. Hikers are advised to carry enough water, as water scarcity is becoming a major issue in high-altitude areas. As a result, some huts are switching to dry toilets and washcloths to save water. In planning new hut constructions, climate change impacts are being considered to minimize future issues.
