ALPINE DANGERS
Mountaineering is fundamentally a healthy sport, both for our body and our soul! Moving through nature, physical exertion, and mental challenges strengthen us and make us more resilient to the stresses of everyday life. When mountaineering, we leave our comfort zone and enter environments that can also harbor dangers.
We distinguish between two types of alpine risks:
Subjective dangers: Similar to road traffic, situations in the mountains can quickly become critical when people are careless or inattentive. Crowding at key spots, group dynamics, mistakes, lack of skill, or human error can all create risks. The Heiligenblut mountain guides have extensive experience in the local mountains and know how to recognize these situations early, especially during peak season. We strive to plan and guide our tours in a way that minimizes these risks as much as possible.
Objective dangers: "As one of our guides likes to say: ‘The mountain is not a tennis court.’ Natural hazards have always been part of the alpine environment. Icefall, rockfall, avalanches, mudslides, crevasses, and weather conditions such as lightning, wind, snow, and rain are just some of the challenges we face. Careful planning, experience, and expertise are essential to handle these risks and ensure safe tours. Our guides are experts at recognizing and managing these dangers, and our goal is to provide our guests with a safe and rewarding mountain experience.
Risk minimization and guiding adapted to the terrain, conditions, and people are the core principles of our work. Despite careful planning, precautions, and continuous on-site assessments, mountaineering always involves a residual risk. This awareness is ever-present among our guides – and it is our responsibility to communicate it clearly to our guests.
Foto-webcam.eu owns numerous webcams on and around the Großglockner. We have linked additional cameras for you here:
Adlersruh - Adlersruh Süd - Glockner Zoom - Lucknerhaus - Wallackhaus - Kleinfleißkees - Sonnblick - Schobergruppe - Astental
This plug-in from the weather service www.meteoblue.com provides an overview of the forecast for the coming days. Please note: interpreting the forecast and planning the feasibility of mountain tours is the sole responsibility of the respective mountain guide.
Travel to the Großglockner region of Heiligenblut varies by season. In summer (May–November), access from the north is via the toll road Großglockner High Alpine Road. Alternatively, you can reach the area from the north via the Felbertauern Road and Lienz, or by taking the A10 Tauern Autobahn via Spittal/Drau and the Mölltal (both toll roads). In winter (December–April), the Großglockner High Alpine Road is closed, and access is only possible via the alternative routes.
From the south, access is possible via the Puster Valley from South Tyrol, or via the A2 and A10 through the Mölltal when coming from Slovenia or other eastern countries.
GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS: DOWNLOAD
AUSZUG aus den allgemeinen Geschäftsbedingungen des Bergführervereins Heiligenblut:
1. Scope of Application, Content of Services: The mountain guide provided by the Heiligenblut Mountain Guide Association delivers his services exclusively based on the following General Terms and Conditions (GTC). These apply to all legal relationships between the mountain guide, as arranged by the Heiligenblut Mountain Guide Association, and the guests, even if they are not explicitly referred to.The mountain guide contract includes all obligations of the mountain guide to lead a guest on a specific tour. In return, the guest is obliged to pay the fee unless a free service has been explicitly agreed upon...
2. Contract Conclusion: The mountain guide contract between the guest and the mountain guide, arranged by the Heiligenblut Mountain Guide Association, is concluded when agreement is reached on the essential contractual components (purpose/goal of the tour, fee, time, and the number of people to be guided, as well as the guest's coverage of the half-board costs for the mountain guide on tours with hut overnight stays). The booking can be made in writing or orally, and telephone bookings are legally binding. When multiple participants are registered simultaneously, the person making the booking is responsible for paying the invoice...
3. Change in Guest's Person: If the guest is unable to attend the planned tour, they may transfer the contract to another person...
4. Minimum Number of Participants: Events with a minimum number of participants, as stated in the program, can only take place if the minimum number is reached...
5. Insurance: ... Guests are responsible for obtaining their own personal insurance (e.g., accident insurance) in connection with the planned tours. It is specifically noted that in the case of helicopter or mountain rescue operations, very high costs may arise, which are typically not covered by social insurance providers. ...
6. Warranty: ...If services are not provided or inadequately provided due to the tour being interrupted because of sudden alpine hazards like rockfall, avalanche risk, thunderstorms, etc., the guest accepts a reduction in the price, equal to the current mountain guide’s daily rate, as compensation. ...
7. Liability for Damages: The Heiligenblut Mountain Guide Association and the mountain guide booking service are not liable for any damages or legal conflicts arising from the contracts formed through the mediation of mountain guides. The mountain guide does not bear liability in case of slight negligence. Claims for loss of vacation enjoyment are excluded. The mountain guide is not responsible for accidents, damages, or irregularities arising from alpine hazards (e.g., fall risk, altitude sickness, frostbite, avalanche risk, crevasse falls, rockfall). The guest explicitly accepts this upon booking...
8. Cancellation by the Guest: The guest has the right to cancel the contract in writing at any time. No fees are charged if canceled up to 7 days before the tour begins. Later cancellations result in the following fees:
Under 7 days before the tour: at least €50 processing fee.
Under 2 days before the tour: 50% of the respective fee.
Under 24 hours before the tour: 100% of the respective fee.
...
9. Cancellation by the Mountain Guide Before the Tour: In case of bad weather, the tour may be canceled or postponed. The decision about whether the tour can take place rests solely with the mountain guide. We, of course, also consider the wishes of our customers. ...
10. Cancellation by the Mountain Guide After the Tour Begins: The mountain guide is relieved from providing services if a guest disrupts the tour with improper or grossly careless behavior, even after a warning, or endangers others. Furthermore, the mountain guide can discontinue the tour if the guest does not meet the required physical and technical abilities as outlined in the tour program.
11. Changes to the Contract: ...Changes to the program due to weather changes, other alpine dangers, or guests' physical limitations are reserved. According to applicable mountain and ski guide laws, the mountain guide is obliged to cancel a tour if unforeseen exceptional circumstances arise, threatening the physical safety of the guests. In case of important reasons (e.g., illness, family bereavement), the mountain guide has the right to transfer the guiding duties to a third party. ...
13. Data Protection and Advertising: The mountain guide arranged by the Heiligenblut Mountain Guide Association is authorized to process and store personal data for the purposes of contract execution. By booking, the guest agrees to share personal data with course leaders, participants, and accommodations. ...
14. Vouchers: Vouchers must be redeemed within three years from the issue date. No cash redemption is possible. If there is a tariff increase during the validity period, the guest is required to pay the difference to the mountain guide in cash. ...
15. Complaints, Legal Disputes: Any complaints or legal disputes with third parties are to be handled exclusively with the mountain guide arranged by the Heiligenblut Mountain Guide Association. The Heiligenblut Mountain Guide Association and the booking service do not bear liability for damages or legal conflicts arising from the contracts mediated by them...
Version 2023/06
