Skywalk. Suspension footbridge. Stairway to Nothingness. Ice Palace. Visiting the Dachstein glacier is an absolute must-do for many vacationers. That said, few other places show the effects of climate change as visibly as here. Georg Bliem, CEO of Planai-Hochwurzen-Bahnen, explains how his company is coping with this.
Glacier retreat in the Alps is progressing rapidly. What does this mean for your company in terms of designing recreational activities on the Dachstein glacier?
Georg: We are taking a proactive approach to the issue of climate change. Especially in a place like the Dachstein glacier, we can make the changes that are occurring clearly visible. Here, people are able to witness current developments. I would like to emphasize that not everything that happens on the Dachstein glacier is solely our company's decision. We coordinate with all relevant public authorities and work closely, for example, with glaciologists and alpine clubs.
The top station of the Dachstein glacier lift is being completely remodeled this year. What can guests expect from the modernizations?
Georg: The renovations will start on September 6th. The stable steel structure of the building will remain, but everything else will be new. We are constructing a building that will be 70 to 80 percent energy self-sufficient. To achieve this, we are investing in a modern photovoltaic system that will shape the appearance of the entire building shell. There will be many new features inside, such as a restaurant with 270 seats, a meeting room for 70 people, a new kitchen, and a large west-facing sun terrace. The renovation work should be completed by May 2024.
The journey to the foot of the Dachstein Glacier Lift is a much-discussed topic in terms of environmentally friendly behavior. How can that journey also be optimized?
Georg: Clearly, we would like to see many more guests than before travel to the valley station by bus instead of a car. In addition to being ecofriendly, taking the bus has other major advantages: it is free for Dachstein visitors with a Schladming-Dachstein Sommercard and is much less stressful than driving a car. And of course, the bus takes our guests directly to the valley station itself.
Finally, what should visitors to the Dachstein glacier definitely keep in mind?
Georg: If you are out and about in high-alpine terrain, you need good footwear and mountain-appropriate clothing. Glacier crevasses are becoming an increasingly significant risk factor, so please, always stay on the marked hiking trails!
Info for you:
From September 6th, the Dachstein Glacier Lift will be closed for the renovations to the mountain station. As part of the Sommercard, additional cable cars such as those on the Hochwurzen, Reiteralm, and Rittisberg will be in operation in the fall of 2023 until the autumn school holidays.
