2023-08-24 13:20:18
The summit crosses on the Upper Austrian mountains are causing increasing concern for the alpine clubs that look following them. Because wear and tear increases with more storms and maintenance becomes more difficult and expensive. The state chairman of the Alpine Club Thomas Poltura confirmed a corresponding area of ORF Upper Austria on Thursday at the request of APA. Existing crosses are to be retained, but a redimensioning cannot be ruled out.
Poltura refers to the emotionally charged topic of the Alpine Club’s long-established principle of not building any new huts or mountain trails for reasons of nature conservation. Later it was also decided not to erect any new summit crosses on new mountains. Therefore, only existing ones should be preserved. Attention should be paid to the legal situation, Poltura pointed out: As the preserver, you are responsible for the safety of the summit crosses. “You have to be very careful not to make any mistakes.” They would have to be checked regularly. This requires qualified personnel.
During the renewal, the alpine clubs are faced with enormous conditions and costs, stated the state manager of the Friends of Nature, Christian Dornauer. For the statics, the guying and the foundation, a different effort is required today than in the past. However, there are no grants for maintenance. In addition, according to Poltura, landowners are opposed because they think the crosses will attract even more people. Lease has already been demanded in connection with the crosses.
The state chairman of the Alpine Club gave a concrete example of the problems: on the 1,717 meter high Sandling in the Salzkammergut, a storm recently completely destroyed the summit cross, including the anchoring: “It looked like a bomb had hit it there.” The volunteers from the Alpine Club were no longer able to repair everything on their own. Some of the work was outsourced, including the use of a helicopter to transport materials. The cross was rebuilt a little smaller. “If someone didn’t know the earlier ones, they don’t notice it.”
The financing is difficult to set up, especially since the maintenance of the maintained paths and huts has to be managed. The water supply was recently rebuilt at a hut. For technical reasons and also because of the requirements in connection with hygiene, it cost 275,000 euros. At another hut, 650,000 euros were due for a small extension, although 25 volunteers helped out for two months anyway.
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