Schmiedefeld stands before winter season dilemma: ski lift in danger!

Schmiedefeld stands before winter season dilemma: ski lift in danger!

The winter season in Thuringia faces major challenges. Especially in the district of Schmiedefeld am Rennsteig, where the winter world there was once a popular destination for families. This winter sports facility, which comes up with a drag lift and a pleasantly gentle slope, is ideal for beginners. But the operator has filed for bankruptcy, which means that the future of this system is uncertain. The city of Suhl is responsible for the development in Schmiedefeld and is currently fighting to find a new operator. A spokesman for the administration reported that they were working on various solutions, but in the worst case, the lifts could remain closed during the entire winter season.

This situation is particularly explosive because it could further restrict the already limited possibilities for alpins skiing in Thuringia. The few remaining lifts - for example in Oberhof and Heubach near Masserberg, which are equipped with snow cannons - could be heavily frequented on particularly cold, snowy days. This could lead to longer waiting times on the slopes. For the operators in Oberhof, the preparations for the winter season are in full swing. The functional operation of the lifts for mountain bikers runs until November before the snow cannons are supposed to come into play in December.

snow cannons as a lifeguard

In view of the uncertainty regarding the natural snow, snow cannons have become indispensable for many operators. Without the use of artificial snow, the start of the winter season can hardly be planned. In the district of Schmalkalden-Meiningen, the city of Brotterode-Trusetal has already taken precautions to start winter operation as soon as the weather permits. Mayor Kay Goßmann (CDU) assured that the ski lifts on Seimberg and Judenkopf in Laudenbach can go into operation as soon as there is sufficient natural snow. The same problem, however, is plagued by other operators such as the Ernstniswelt Ernstthal in the Sonneberg district, where the summer business did not go so well and numerous events had to be canceled.

The financial difficulties represent an additional hurdle. Heike Nöll, the owner of the Ernsthalwelnwelt, notes that the difficult summer affects preparation for the winter. The ski lift on the Großer Inselberg also fights with similar challenges. According to the municipality of Bad Tabarz, the city has now geared more towards hiking tourism, since the past winter season was mostly affected by inadequate snow conditions. Mayor David Ortmann (SPD) reported that the lift service has often not been maintained in recent years, which focuses on the city strategically focused on all year round.

The situation in Thuringia reflects the far -reaching challenges with which many winter sports areas in Germany are faced. The upcoming winter could be crucial for some regions, especially for those who are not dependent on artificial snow. The worries about the winter season are great and it remains to be seen how the different operators and municipalities react to the requirements to ensure winter sports in the region. As reports www.mdr.de, the development remains to be seen in the coming weeks, while the snow cannons are ready to secure the winter sports offer as well as possible.