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every year mostly in the summer. They perform walking, hiking and mountain bik-
ing. However, visitor numbers are steadily growing. One main reason is the increase
in winter recreation by activities like winter-walking, snow-shoeing and ski-touring
(BayStMLU,
2001
; Job et al.,
2003
).
20.4 Winter Recreation: Ski-Touring and Snow-Shoeing
Winter activities, particularly ski-touring and snow-shoeing have become more pop-
ular since the 1970s. Originally, only performed by few people, both were classified
as “ecologically” tolerable. Today, ski-touring is a major sporting activity, and
snow-shoe sales figures and expert observations related to this activity show that
interest has grown remarkably in this recreational activity in the last few years
(Scheuermann,
2005
; Zeitler,
2005
). In recent times, both winter activities have
resulted in increasing ecological conflicts. Reasons are not only the increased num-
ber of recreational users but also the prolonged diurnal and seasonal use, and the
expanded spatial coverage mainly based on the high number of people taking part
in these activities. Moreover, as compared to most summer activities, ski-touring
and snow-shoeing are not linked to existing infrastructure, especially trails. Thus,
the winter recreationalists cannot be guided and managed by providing a trail sys-
tem adapted to management goals. Normally, their activities depend on personal
abilities (e.g. skiing skills, fitness), the snow situation and avalanche risk. To create
management measures focusing ecological impact and conflicts (e.g. with grouse
species), it is essential to know use pattern of both recreational activities. Table
20.1
provides information on ski-touring and snow-shoeing.
20.5 Wildlife: Grouse Species
In the Bavarian Alps four grouse species can be found: hazel grouse (
Bonasa
bonasia
), rock ptarmigan (
Lagopus mutu
s), black grouse (
Tetrao tetrix
) and caper-
caillie (
Tetrao urogallus
). Their habitats range over the different elevation zones
(see Fig.
20.4
). Depending on seasonal changes in habitat, during each phase of life,
generally different specific habitat structures are required. Obligatory habitat types
comply with courtship sites, breeding areas, upbringing habitats, feeding habitats
during spring and summer and feeding habitats during autumn and winter (Ingold,
2005
; LWF,
2005
).
20.6 Temporal and Spatial Characteristics of Ski-Touring
and Snow-Shoeing
Necessary precondition for an effective visitor management is to determine and
characterize conflicts between grouse species and winter recreationalists. Only by
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