Plans on the Grünten: Alpine Club criticizes expansion – Bavaria

“Nature. Enjoyment. Mountain”: This is what the Hegnauer family of investors call their new tourism concept for the Grünten. The 1738 meter high ridge near Burgberg is so exposed on the northern edge of the Allgäu Mountains that it is often called “Guardian of the Allgäu”. The Grünten is traditionally a destination for day trippers and hikers and, in winter, for skiers. Now the facilities on the Grünten are to be massively expanded.

A new gondola lift including a parking garage at the valley station and a new path up the mountain, which will be used as a toboggan run in winter, are to be built. Two large restaurants are planned at the mountain station of the gondola lift. And for winter operation, a snow-making system including a storage basin for the water for the artificial snow is to be built. The German Alpine Association (DAV) criticizes the plans a lot. But apart from the snowmaking system, he does not categorically reject them.

“Basically there is nothing wrong with promoting tourism on the Grünten,” says Steffen Reich, who heads the nature conservation department at the DAV. “But the existing expansion plans still involve too much interference in nature and the landscape.” A central point of criticism from the DAV is the new buildings in the landscape protection area.

“For us it is difficult to imagine why areas that have not already been built on cannot be used for the plans,” says Reich. “A new route is to be laid out for the gondola lift, and the parking lot, a multi-storey car park and the cable car valley station are also planned at a new location.” That means unnecessary clearing and surface sealing – and that in a landscape conservation area.

In addition, the DAV is missing a steering system for the many visitors and guests who should come to the Grünten in summer and winter. The mountain is already heavily frequented today, and even more people will be out and about there in the future. From the point of view of the DAV, a concept is therefore needed for the most conflict-free coexistence of mountain bikers, hikers, climbers and – in winter – ski tourers and snowshoeers.

At the same time, the DAV is calling for a better connection between the Grünten and local public transport – for example through shuttle services to and from the train station in Immenstadt. “More and more parking spaces are not the solution,” says Reich. “In times of climate change, we need options for a climate-friendly journey.” Climate change is also the reason why the DAV rejects the planned snow-making systems. Especially since the Grünten, due to its exposed location, has been exposed to thermal collapses for some time, which can quickly melt the snow on the mountain.

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