Gletscherbahnen Kaprun modifies terrain at Kitzsteinhorn

Gletscherbahnen Kaprun is currently using excavators to remove rock material, glacial debris, and earth at the Kitzsteinhorn to maintain ski slopes. As the Schmiedinger Kees glacier retreats due to climate change, it leaves behind uneven, rugged terrain. The company is crushing and using rock to fill in furrows and ridges to ensure the terrain remains suitable for skiing.

Thomas Maierhofer, board member of Gletscherbahnen Kaprun, described the project as a technical adaptation rather than an expansion of the ski area. The company stated that the necessary permits were obtained through an extensive approval process in 2023, noting that an environmental impact assessment was not required.

The project has faced criticism from the Green Party in the Salzburg state parliament. Spokesperson Martina Berthold argued that the newly exposed high-alpine areas resulting from glacial retreat should be protected, stating, “One must not send an excavator to every melting glacier.”

Glaciologist Andrea Fischer noted that glacier melting has reached a new dimension this year, comparing the current intensity to the record years of 2003 and 2022, with ice melting continuously even at the summits.