Dynamic 2022 Season Start For Carinthia's Summer Mountain Lifts

Carinthia's summer mountain liftsstart the season between the beginning of May and the end of June. And the news is something to be proud of: a new single trail, numerous service innovations, sunrise rides and an extensive range of hiking options.

"The importance of summer mountain railways as specialists for outstanding experiences up in our mountains for successful summer tourism in Carinthia is increasing year by year," emphasized Manuel Kapeller-Hopfgartner, chairman of the Carinthia Chamber of Commerce's Cable Cars specialist group, at the press conference. "Mountain railways are the most environmentally friendly way to get up to our Carinthian mountains quickly and comfortably without physical exertion. That's what the guests appreciate, love - locals and holidaymakers alike," explained Kapeller-Hopfgartner.

"We know that experiencing nature, the freedom to be high above the valley and to enjoy the mountain panorama are key reasons for the popularity of our mountains, which can be reached by cable car," adds Elke Basler, Carinthian spokeswoman for the best Austrian summer mountain railways . In addition, the guests are enthusiastic about the fresh, clear air on the mountain far from the heat in the valley. "Again and again we find that the cable car ride with chairlifts and gondola lifts is an experience in itself," says the summer cable car expert.

Early start & very long season

Thanks to their attractive offers and the fact that the season lasts very long, the Carinthian summer mountain railways are an essential pillar of Carinthian tourism as the season expands in spring and autumn. The Weissensee started the season on May 6th. The Petzen followed on May 13th. All Carinthian summer mountain lufts open until the end of June. In autumn, November 5, 2022 on Katschber is a new record. Bad Kleinkirchheim (November 1st) and the Petzen (October 30th) are not far behind.

Lots of news since summer 2020

"Despite all the challenges and uncertainties since spring 2020, the Carinthian Sommerbergbahnen have invested a lot in quality, service and adventure attractions on the mountain in 2020 and 2021," said specialist group chairman Kapeller-Hopfgartner, emphasizing the great commitment of his colleagues. Examples of news from the last two years are: The establishment of the Flow Trails Kärnten mountain bike offer in spring 2020. The "Kaiserburg Bob", the roller bob run at the Kaiserburgbahn in Bad Kleinkirchheim, which has been new since summer 2021. Also in 2021 the Almschaukel "Dondolo" on the Tressdorfer Alm on NASSFELD as well as the summer tubing route, a wooden marble run and the kids bike park in the adventure arena Kanzelhöhe on the Gerlitzen Alpe.

New - Summer 2022

• GERLITZEN ALPE:New, extremely difficult mountain bike single trail, the "PROlitzen Trail" from the Kanzelhöhe (1,470 meters above sea level) into the valley, to the valley station of the Kanzelbahn (530 meters above sea level). Very selective, 4 kilometers long, intended exclusively for very passionate, technically excellent mountain bikers. With long jumps, drops, challenging investors and steep passages. The demanding mountain trail no. 34 was also redesigned as part of the trail construction work. From the start right at the Kanzelbahn valley station in Annenheim, it winds its way up the mountain, almost 1,000 meters in altitude, steeply under the cable car to the Kanzelhöhe. In addition, investments are being made in service and comfort: “From summer we will have an escalator that guests can use to get from their parked cars to the valley station in comfort.
• GOLDECK: The sunrise trips throughout the summer are new. After the test run last year, there will be sunrise rides with the Goldeck valley railway including breakfast in the Seehütte 2022 throughout the summer. Between 13.7. and September 7th, 2022 every other week, on Wednesdays.
• NASSFELD: New is a comprehensive range of hiking and mountain tours starting at the Gartnerkofel chairlift mountain station - the "Hiker's Paradise Gartnerkofel 1,410 - 2,195 m". 15 different routes, from leisurely to the Garnitzenalm and on to the summit of the Krone/Monte Corona (1,832 m), classic to the Gartnerkofel summit (2,195 m) to ambitious around the Gartnerkofel (5 hour walk, around 12.5 km, 800 meters in altitude) the selection of tours is sufficient.
  Flow Trails Carinthia

The mountain offer is supplemented by the extensive mountain bike opportunities. Five of the Carinthian summer mountain railways - Bad Kleinkirchheim, Nassfeld, Petzen, Turracherhöhe and Weissensee - are mountain bike specialists. Since summer 2020, they have presented themselves as Flow Trails Carinthia with extremely attractive bike areas. “With Flow Trails Carinthia we offer an internationally unique range of bikes. All five Carinthian bike mountains, on which you can ride up the mountain by cable car in order to start at the top and ride down to the valley on attractive trails of varying difficulty, are united here. There is no other such thing in the entire Alpine region," stresses Hubert Ramskogler from Petzen Bergbahnen, who is also spokesman for the five Flow Trails mountains.

Their offer includes a total of 50 kilometers of flow trails, numerous natural trails and hundreds of kilometers of bike routes. It is characterized by common quality criteria and a comprehensive range of services in addition to the bike trails. The Carinthia Bike Card is their joint ticket, which is available as a multi-day ticket as well as a season ticket and, as of this year, also as a "5 days in the season ticket".

New summer mountain railway marketing measures for 2022

Carinthia's summer mountain railways are very committed to actively addressing guests. This takes place regionally in Carinthia and in neighboring Slovenia as well as in Friuli with an information folder that was published for the first time this year. This will be widely distributed via the Kärnten Card advertising material distributors. "In the leporello we present the offers of the summer mountain railways in a striking manner and on the other hand we present the highlight offer Flow Trails Carinthia," explained Elke Basler. In addition, the cooperation with the Carinthia Tourist Board was significantly expanded. In addition to comprehensive online presentations at www.kaernten.at/sommerbergbahnen and www.kaernten.at/flowtrails, this applies to campaigns for the Carinthian Flow Trails and a joint autumn campaign by Carinthia Advertising and Sommerbergbahnen.

Sustainability & energy efficiency - cable cars set standards

Sustainability and energy efficiency have been the focus of Carinthia's cable cars for years. Additional explosiveness in this regard comes from the enormously increased energy costs. "This also increases the willingness to work with new technologies and break new ground," says Manuel Kapeller-Hopfgartner. In workshops, excursions and much more, the cable car and ski vision of the future will be actively worked on over the next few months. “All the results will then be available in 2023. These will be made available to all Carinthian cable cars free of charge as a guide,” says the specialist group chairman.

The basis for summer operation is successful winter operation

“For us as a cable car industry, summer operations are becoming increasingly important thanks to attractive, specialized offers. Nevertheless, the summer is only conceivable on the basis of a successful winter operation. Because winter is and remains our main business, to which we cannot devote enough energy and attention. After all, we generate 80% to 90% of our income in winter,” said specialist group chairman Manuel Kapeller-Hopfgartner, emphasizing the importance of winter.

In addition to all the investments and plans for the future, one topic is also explosive for the local cable car industry: skilled workers. “As in so many industries, the labor shortage is a big issue for us. Here it is important to bring the special features of our companies in front of the curtain and the attractiveness of the working environment. We offer a job with prospects," explained Kapeller-Hopfgarntner and stated: "Many of our cable car companies can now offer year-round prospects and thus job security. In our industry, for example, we combine technical work with nature. You won't find that anywhere else!"

Carinthia's summer mountain railways - the facts

• A total of 15 Carinthian cable car companies with summer operations
• 6 of them are certified as "Best Austrian Summer Mountain Railways" for their outstanding quality of experience. Specifically: Bad Kleinkirchheim, Gerlitzen Alpe, Goldeck, Katschberg, Nassfeld (with all three cable car companies) and Turracherhöhe
• 9 other summer mountain railways: Ankogel, Dreiländereck, Heiligenblut, Klippitztörl, Kreuzeck, Mölltaler Gletscher, Petzen and Weissensee, Innerkrems (unclear whether/how summer operation will take place in 2022)
• Guests (technical term first admissions) in summer 2021: 1.10 million guests (plus 9% compared to 2020) | Review: 2020 1.01 million guests | 2019: 1.12 million guests (previous high)