Alpine tourism and mountain rescue services in Europe

The Alps remain a premier destination for winter sports, offering diverse terrain ranging from beginner slopes to advanced freeride areas. Notable locations include St. Anton am Arlberg in Austria, famous for its Valluga descent, Chamonix in France, which features the Vallée Blanche glacier run, and Cortina d’Ampezzo in Italy.

Due to the high volume of alpine activity, the Austrian Mountain Rescue Service (ÖBRD) maintains a significant volunteer presence. The organization consists of over 13,000 volunteers operating across 288 local stations and various state-level leadership branches. The service provides emergency assistance in difficult terrain and works to prevent alpine hazards. In Austria, emergencies can be reached via the mountain rescue emergency number 140 or the European emergency number 112.