As of: March 28, 2024, 7:06 p.m
By: Vincent Fischer
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After the heavy snowfall at the beginning of December, many cross-country ski trails could be prepared, like here in Lenggries. But by the end of January the season was essentially over. © Wolfgang Müller/Archive
The cross-country skiing season in the Tölzer Land was once again characterized by ups and downs. The effects of climate change are increasingly noticeable. For many communities, the question arises about the future of the cross-country ski trails.
Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen – Cross-country skiing attracts many day-trippers to the Tölzer Land every winter. The region was still heavily snowed in December, but from the New Year onwards there was little snow activity. This also had an impact on the cross-country skiing season in the district. This is becoming more and more of a challenge, especially for the communities in the Isarwinkel with a lot of tourism.
Difficult cross-country skiing season in Jachenau: Only two weeks “nice to ski on”
According to Mayor Klaus Rauchberger, the cross-country skiing season was “very modest” in Jachenau. There, the lack of snow is increasingly having an impact on finances. In 2023, the community only collected 768 euros in cross-country ski trail fees. A year earlier it was 45,022 euros. On the other hand, there are high costs for operating the cross-country ski trails. The municipality's tracking device, which costs 160,000 euros, consumes "an enormous amount of diesel," reports Rauchberger. Insurance also costs a whopping 3,000 euros a year. The community wants to take action here. Together with the personnel costs, the operation is “very expensive”.
For around two weeks, the cross-country ski trails in Jachenau were “nicely passable,” said Rauchberger, “but actually only in half the valley.” The Jachen trail was only accessible between the districts of Niggeln via Höfen in the direction of Lenggries. “We had a lot of activity on two weekends, but only from Letten to Höfen,” reports Rauchberger. You could no longer trace the valley further to the village.
In Lenggries, the good payment behavior of the users is at least noticeable
Things weren't exactly rosy in neighboring Lenggries either this year. “Unfortunately, operation of the cross-country ski trails was only possible for four to five weeks this season,” informs town hall manager Tobias Riesch. Despite the rain, operations were possible until mid-December. “After the first snowfalls, however, the broken snow caused a lot of work to clear the cross-country trails again,” said Riesch. You could go cross-country skiing on the Lenggries trails for another two to three weeks in January. “Without the very good tracking equipment, the long preparation of the cross-country trails would not have been possible,” Riesch is certain.
After all, the community was positively impressed by the good payment behavior of the users. Due to nature conservation problems (we reported), the Canada trail to Vorderriß and the trail in the Fall area could not be tracked, “because the snowfall was so heavy that the state forestry employees could not cut it free.”
Benediktbeuern and Bad Heilbrunn remain optimistic
The trails in the Benediktbeuern area were groomed twice. “It was almost two weeks each,” reports tourist information manager Sabine Rauscher. But a trend is also noticeable in Benediktbeuern: “The times when cross-country skiing is possible are becoming fewer and shorter.” Rauscher remains optimistic nonetheless. “I think it will always work in the future,” says the TI boss. “But how stable that is varies greatly.”
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In Bad Heilbrunn, the cross-country ski trail is still in demand despite the lack of snow. “The response was good, especially because there are two restaurants along the trail,” says Rosmarie Rieker from the guest information. The cross-country ski trails are groomed on a voluntary basis by the sports club. “I believe that there will be fewer and fewer days on which cross-country skiing is possible,” says Rieker, “but I am confident that it will continue in the future.”
Things were difficult with the Tölzer cross-country ski run: “It could only be tracked once”
The three Geretsried cross-country trails were groomed over nine days. It can be assumed that “you could probably drive professionally for three weeks,” says manager Ute Raach. The season was short again this year because “a stable snow base is often not maintained for very long.” The effects of climate change are noticeable. One gets the “impression that the lack of continuous snowfall in the lowlands is gradually increasing,” says the manager. “In addition, the 'midwinter' is being pushed back slightly in the calendar.”
It was difficult with the Tölzer cross-country ski trail, which runs through the Ellbach and Kirchseemoor towards Reutberg. “Unfortunately, it could only be tracked once,” informs spa director Brita Hohenreiter. However, the snow plays more of an “accompanying role” for the spa town: “Bad Tölz has never been a real winter sports destination.”
The trails at Walchensee and Kochel couldn't even be properly prepared, reports TI boss Daniel Weickel. For “technical reasons” the trails require a higher snow cover. But that was rare this year.
(vfi)