The winter sports season is already underway, and many ski touring enthusiasts and downhill skiers are flocking to the mountains. The Austrian Alpine Club is currently warning of a tense avalanche situation in open terrain and is urging winter sports enthusiasts to take other alpine risks, such as the danger of falls and the cold, seriously.
Avalanche on the Stubai Glacier
On the morning of November 27, 2025, a large avalanche broke loose on the Stubai Glacier, burying eight people. More than 250 rescue workers, two emergency helicopters, five avalanche dogs, and numerous civilian volunteers were deployed to recover the missing persons. Fortunately, all individuals were rescued.
The Austrian Alpine Club is urging skiers to exercise particular caution, especially during the first days of good weather after the snowfall. Despite the wintry conditions, the club advises against skiing on slopes steeper than 30 degrees. The combination of fresh snow, strong winds, and treacherous old snow layers is currently creating dangerous conditions for ski tourers and off-piste skiers.
Complete emergency equipment is essential.
Jörg Randl, mountain sports expert at the Austrian Alpine Club, emphasizes that everyone venturing into backcountry terrain must carry complete emergency equipment. This includes a functioning 3-antenna avalanche transceiver, a probe, a sturdy aluminum avalanche shovel, a mobile phone, a first-aid kit, a rescue blanket, and a bivouac sack. The Alpine Club also recommends an avalanche airbag and a ski helmet, especially due to the treacherous transition zones with potential rockfall. Only with complete equipment can an efficient rescue chain function in an emergency, Randl states.
Cold and risk of falls – underestimated dangers in the winter season
According to the Alpine Club, many mountaineers underestimate the risks of falls and exposure to cold. "When it comes to alpine hazards in winter, avalanches are always at the forefront of public discourse and the perception of mountaineers," explains Randl. "However, hardly anyone talks about the risks of falls and exposure to cold in this context – both of which, in our view, are frequently underestimated and neglected alpine hazards in winter."
The Alpine Club therefore urges everyone to be aware of these risks and not ignore them. Even good conditions and a low avalanche warning level do not offer absolute safety. Randl also warns about the final section to exposed summits: Anyone who doesn't have crampons and takes off their skis there risks a fatal fall. He also strongly recommends not only taking a bivouac sack and rescue blanket, but also familiarizing oneself beforehand with how to use the equipment correctly in an emergency.
New format for greater security: The Winter Update
With the "Winter Update," the Alpine Club is launching a new lecture series that builds upon the successful "Avalanche Update." The series aims to highlight key safety aspects at the start of the season. In addition to avalanches, the Winter Update will cover the accident-relevant topics of falls and cold weather in detail. Using current accident examples, experts will analyze the critical factors and derive clear take-home messages for better decision-making in the mountains.
The Alpine Club offers the presentation live at a total of nine tour stops; the first Winter Update took place on November 21, 2025, in Innsbruck. The Winter Update tour continues until February 10, 2026.
- 03.12.25 Bischofshofen, Town Hall
- 09.12.25 Graz, TU Graz
- 10.12.25 Imst, Imst climbing hall
- December 17, 1925, Linz, New Town Hall
- December 18, 2025, Matrei in East Tyrol, cinema hall
- 01/13/26 Vienna, Andaz Vienna at Belvedere
- 29.01.26 Schruns, Kulturbühne
- 10.02.26 Krems, Ferdinand Dinstl Hall
The event can only be attended live and in person in Austria, but for those who can't make it there, there's a live stream of the initial event in Innsbruck on YouTube. We've embedded it below.
Click here for the winter update
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Credits: Cover photo: Alpine Club/Warmuth