Awareness in the mountains
Mountain winter sports are healthy and exciting activities, but they can be it even more if done with awareness.
During wintertime the mountains are not an abandoned place. Some animals migrate towards warmer destinations, but many of them don’t. They will stay here for the whole winter and will find ways to go through the cold season. Being aware of their habits will help us avoid disturbing them while skiing, snowshoeing and enjoying the snow.
A sudden flight can make the black grouse, usually crouched under the snow, waste a lot of energy.
A hasty escape can compromise the survival of a roe deer in the high snow.
If you want to have a good time in the mountains and be aware at the same time, follow these simple rules:
- Snow covered slopes above the limit of the woods. Avoid snow-free rocky areas! Animals usually choose these places for wintering.
- The edge of the forest is an important place for animal shelter. When going closer to the forest from above, try to limit your range of action and cross the area choosing the shortest route.
- Forests are also important places for animal shelter: follow only ski mountaineering itineraries, marked paths and open clearings. Our behavior will be predictable, and animals won’t have to run away.
Have a look at this leaflet to know more about this topic:
