Yes, are you allowed to do that? Yes they may. The Styrian ski areas can also start the lifts in lockdown – if the guests provide a 2-G certificate and wear FFP2 masks in the gondolas. The Planai set off on Friday, followed by the Reiteralm on Saturday – from next week things will go up in quick succession. The cold weather plays along.
The amazement was huge, the phones ran hot on Sunday evening. When the government’s lockdown regulation was in place, it was written in black and white: The ski lifts are allowed to go! Hardly anyone in the industry expected that, and the Planai cable cars went on the usual offensive: the lifts on the Dachstein glacier have been running for days, today the Burgstallalmbahn and the Märchenwiesebahn follow on the Planai itself – the latter was already a few days before the lockdown In operation.Two huts offer take-awayOn Saturday there is the green light on the Reiteralm: “We start with the Silver Jet, the Gasslhöhebahn and the Kinderland”, says managing director Daniel Berchthaller. Two ski huts offer take-away food and drinks. A rush is not expected, some local athletes will probably come. The restricted ski operation in lockdown is also a dress rehearsal for the digital 2-G certificate on the ski pass: “Tests have worked well in Salzburg, we will probably start with them next week” says Berchthaller. For the time being, there will still be manual checks by an employee. Many cable car operators are still waiting for the weekend. Are there any other early ski starters? Not yet, most of them are waiting for the weekend, which brings natural snow as well as cold temperatures to snow-making. “We’ll decide on Monday when to start,” says Elke Basler from Turracher Höhe. The die will also be cast at the Hauser Kaibling at the beginning of next week. “It may start on December 4th,” says managing director Klaus Hofstätter, who wants to offer “decent slope quality.” The new gondola at the KreischbergFix is set to start on December 3rd on the Riesneralm – initially planned with three descents, says boss Erwin Petz. One day later it should start on both the Kreischberg and the Lachtal. Managing director Karl Fussi and his team were challenged on Thursday – the final acceptance tests for the new 10-seater gondola lift on Kreischberg took place. The vaccination bus recently stopped there – the syringes were in the gondola! “About 100 people came, that exceeded our expectations,” said a delighted organizer Bernhard Michelitsch from Bergbahnen. It is remarkable that the Planneralm will also start the season next week. The last ski area without snow cannons for a long time has been upgraded since last year. “Otherwise we wouldn’t have been able to start until mid-January,” says Harald Waupotitisch (Marketing). Great hope for open restaurants As soon as the snow conditions allow, people want to get started on the Salzstiegl as well. Regina Kaltenegger – like all her colleagues – has one hope above all else: “That hotels and restaurants will also be able to open from December 13th.”
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