Face Mask or Distance

The summer is slowly coming to an end and it is time to address the elephant in the room: Will there be a winter season with open winter sports areas or will we have to sit at home again?

The latest news from Austria is that they are doing everything possible to keep the cable cars running in winter and the areas open. The Swiss are also looking for a solution and want to coordinate this with the other Alpine countries. Well, what exactly will be is still in the stars, but as we all know, hope dies last.

To get a better idea of the situation regarding possible restrictions next winter, we went to Hintertux to get an idea of what it might be like next winter.

In principle, the rules of boarding are the same as everywhere else: keep your distance and if it is not possible, wear a mask. Very simple. And no, an aluminum hat or pom-pom doesn't protect you...

The rules in Hintertux:

1. keep a distance
2. Wear the mask in the lift stations and gondolas. (Editor's note: In restaurants it was no longer necessary at the beginning of summer, but this could come back very quickly as the number of cases increases).
3. Cashless payment (if possible)
4. Use the disinfectant dispenser regularly
5. Sufficient sun protection
6. Enjoy!

Here we go...

Already at the cash desks and queuing at the valley station you could see that Corona was omnipresent. On the illuminated sign was written in large letters: Face Mask or Distance. Everyone had to wear a mask. A friendly employee of the cable cars distributed free masks for those who had not heard of the new regulations or for those for whom it was still too early and the caffeine level was still too low. There was also enough disinfectant available.

Depending on how the situation develops, other ski resorts will probably have exactly the same rules next winter. Whether free masks will be generously distributed, I question. Since nowadays you have to put on masks everywhere anyway, everyone should have one of these things in their bag or in the car.

...to the runway...

UV light kills viruses and there is enough of this in the mountains. So the risk of infection in the fresh air and especially in the sun is very low. Here in Hintertux no masks were necessary. In winter this would not even bother. A fabric mask, scarf or buff, will keep the face nice and warm and dry.

In Hintertux you only had to wear a mask in the "closed" cabins. So there, where one unbuckled the board and entered the gondola on foot. Not when standing in line at the T-bar lift. Thus, one can assume that this will also not be necessary in the winter time. It gets interesting on high frequency days like Christmas and Easter. Will there be large crowds of people queuing up again or will the number of people in the area be limited or kept at a greater distance? This is exactly what the winter sports areas are currently discussing with politicians. One can be curious.

...and anywhere else

At the beginning of summer, the protective measures were only minimal. That means that the guests moved around the restaurant without a mask and also the food was picked up without a mask in the self-service area. Only the staff, who cleared the dishes and moved everywhere, had a face shield on.

Since the number of cases is currently on the rise again, I believe that an adjustment might be necessary. Just like you already know it in restaurants in Italy: Walk with a mask to the table and then take the mask off. And if you have to go to the loo, you can do it with a mask.

In the coming winter, when the number of cases is rising again, one can assume that one has to wear the mask everywhere in the restaurant, except when sitting at the table. But also the minimum distances must be kept, which means that the number of seats in the restaurants would have to be reduced. That could still be exciting. Maybe a snack next to the slopes will be more attractive again...

Conclusion

Currently all known summer ski resorts are open and more are planned to open in October. All of them scrupulously adhere to the corona protection measures and will also tighten them if necessary. It is in the interest of the areas that the winter season will take place. And we (guests) must also help; there must not be another Ischgl this winter. But that doesn't mean that you can't have fun.

Since we currently require to wear a mask in public transport and shops, it will not be a big change for boarding. Yes, I don't like wearing a mask either, but I was just as reluctant to have a leash on my board 30 years ago. At some point the leash was no longer an issue, and so the mask will be gone at some point. The alternative of not being able to board like last winter is not an alternative!

So: Keep calm, wear the fucking mask and look forward to the coming winter.