Vienna (OTS) –At Naturfreunde Österreich, more than 500 people look after a comprehensive alpine trail network. Your work is essential for a safe start to the hiking season, as damage from storms is increasing.
The alpine trail network in Austria is primarily looked after and maintained by the alpine clubs, around 7,500 km of which are run by 150 different local groups of Nature Friends Austria. Especially after winter, the paths must be checked and made fit for mountain tourism again.
Climate change noticeable
“In spring, after the snow melts, a stressful time begins for our volunteer trail maintainers,” says Matthias Pilz, responsible for trail infrastructure at Naturfreunde Österreich. The helpers survey the condition of the paths and then get to work. Re-marking, repairing and repositioning signs, clearing branches and trees, checking and repairing insurance are just a few of the many activities that now need to be done. The vegetation is removed in late spring. “Maintaining the paths is becoming more and more work and a real challenge due to climate change and the resulting increasing damage caused by strong winds, mudslides, rock falls and heavy rain,” says Matthias Pilz.
Volunteering maintains the alpine infrastructure
“Without volunteer waykeepers, hikeable Austria would not exist in its current form,” says Matthias Pilz. Extrapolated, the Friends of Nature helpers work more than 17,000 hours per year to maintain the paths, 100% of which are volunteers. Financing is a big issue when it comes to maintaining Alpine infrastructure. Funding is often not enough to cover the costs of materials, which are then financed by the respective local group.
The digital route database
The smartphone should not be missing during maintenance work. The Friends of Nature operate a path database in which not only all paths are recorded and described, but also maintenance protocols and closures can be entered. Around 90% of all Nature Friends trails are already managed in the database. In addition to the paths, signs, benches and insurance policies are gradually being recorded.
