Alpine safety in summer things you should know

Whether you’re hiking, climbing or mountaineering – in an emergency, acting quickly and correctly can save lives.
In the following videos, experts from the mountain rescue service and Geosphere Austria share their top tips on route planning, weather hazards and first aid.
This practical advice can help you identify risks, avoid accidents and take the right action in an emergency.

Planning

Careful tour planning helps to assess risks at an early stage. The weather, trail conditions and your own fitness level should be realistically assessed. If you stay alert, take breaks and make sure you have the right equipment and hiking boots, you can enjoy your nature adventure safely and carefree.

Recognising weather hazards

Poor visibility, storms or thunderstorms increase the risks of any mountain tour. Forecasts, apps and weather services help with planning. Oncoming storms can often be recognised early by clouds or wind. Exposed areas such as ridges or summits should be avoided in the event of a storm.

Behaviour during a storm

Rules on the mountain pasture

Cows are not pets, and treating nature with respect ensures a safe hiking experience. To make sure your mountain hike doesn’t turn into an involuntary rodeo, please follow these simple but important rules of conduct. That way, both people and animals can enjoy the mountain pasture in equal measure!

  • Avoid contact with grazing cows, do not feed the animals and keep a safe distance.
    Stay calm and do not startle the grazing livestock!

  • Mother cows protect their calves. Encounters between mother cows and dogs should therefore be avoided!

  • Always keep dogs under control and on a short leash. If an attack by a grazing animal is imminent:
    Let the dog off the leash immediately!

  • Do not leave hiking trails on mountain pastures and grazing land!

  • If grazing cows blocks the path, go around them keeping as much distance as possible!

  • If cows approaches: stay calm, do not turn your back and avoid the animals!

  • Leave the pasture area promptly at the first sign of restlessness in the animals!

  • Take care with fences! If there is a gate, use it, then close it properly and cross the pasture quickly!

  • Please treat the people working here, nature and the animals with respect!