Bergsport boom: Over 726,000 Alpine club members are enthusiastic!

Bergsport boom: Over 726,000 Alpine club members are enthusiastic!

The latest membership numbers of the Austrian Alpine Association show an impressive trend: the association now has more than 726,000 members, an increase of over 16,000 compared to the previous year, such as OTS . These numbers reflect the growing enthusiasm of the people for the mountains, with Vienna, Tyrol and Upper Austria. Particular attention is paid to the 25,000 volunteers, which spend around 1.5 million hours a year for the association, which enriches the community enormously, said President Wolfgang Schnabl.

The accident statistics of the previous year also shows that 2,120 damage cases were reported, a slight increase compared to 2,045 in 2023. The most common accidents occurred in hiking (42 percent), followed by skiing (27 percent) and ski tours (12 percent). Secretary General Clemens Matt emphasizes that insurance benefits are an essential reason for membership in the association. Analyzes show that 75 percent of the accident victims needed a salvage, with young adults between the ages of 30 and 39 being the most affected group.

challenges in receiving the infrastructure

The Alpine Club faces major challenges, especially with regard to the preservation of its 225 huts and the extensive network of pathways of 26,000 kilometers, such as alpenverein.at notes. Maintenance is becoming increasingly expensive because many huts have to adapt to the climatic changes. Despite the vital role that the association plays for nature conservation and mountain sports, the financial burden is getting bigger. Around 20 percent of the budget flow into the preservation of the alpine infrastructure, while the revenue through huts and leases only cover about half.

The Alpine Association plans to further point out the public in order to acquire additional financial support. This initiative is crucial for the continued existence of the alpine infrastructure, since the challenges increase due to extreme weather -related changes and increasing material costs.