Blog
Categories
© Tirol Werbung / Rodler Ilvy
Food & Drink
© Bert Heinzelmeier
People
© Tirol Werbung / Aichner Bernhard
Arts & Culture
© Tirol Werbung / Moore Casey
Recommendations
© Tirol Werbung / Herbig Hans
Family
© Tirol Werbung / Schwarz Jens
Bits & Pieces
© Tirol Werbung / Neusser Peter
Sports
Jagdhausalmen Alpine Pastures, Defereggen, East Tirol, Austria, Europe
Specials

Having a Blast: The Men Who Make Avalanches Above Innsbruck

Updated on 11.12.2023 in People

Innsbruck – Hafelekar_Werner Haberfellner

Heavy snowfall in Innsbruck is inevitably followed by the early-morning sound of explosions in the Nordkette Mountains. As the city's awakes, the men of the avalanche safety commission are already out and about blasting away the snow to keep the population safe.

Two to eight minutes. That is how long it takes for the fuse on an Emulex AV to burn. These potent packages weighing 2.5 kilos are transported onto the steep rock faces of the Nordkette Mountains using a special cable car. „We wait for it to go boom, then the snow starts to move,“ says Werner Haberfellner from the Innsbruck avalanche safety commission. Together with a master of explosions, as his colleage is known, Haberfellner is responsible for blasting away accumulations of snow in the mountains above the city before they pose a danger to skiers on the pistes and the population below.

If the wind is blowing in the right direction, the windows rattle in certain parts of the city when we blast.

Werner Haberfellner of the Innsbruck avalanche safety commission.Werner Haberfellner of the Innsbruck avalanche safety commission.

The special cable car on the Hafelekar ridge used to transport the explosive charges.The special cable car on the Hafelekar ridge used to transport the explosive charges.

Big responsibility

Haberfellner is sitting in the office of the Innsbruck avalanche safety commission, located at the Seegrube ski station at 1,905 metres above sea level. In front of him is a screen full of meteorological data. Haberfellner has been part of the commission for 15 years and, together with his colleagues, is responsible for taking decisions about closing any roads, trails and pistes in the resort above Innsbruck. Every morning the commission releases a report which is sent to the local authorities. If the snow on the mountains poses a threat either to skiers in the resort or the general population in the city below, they set about preparing the explosive charges.

„If the wind is blowing in the right direction, the windows rattle in certain parts of the city when we blast. That’s why we wait until at least seven o’clock before we detonate the charges. The sound down in Innsbruck is often louder than it is up here in the mountains,“ says Haberfellner. The commission uses a special cable car as well as a number of gas-powered canons to position the explosives in the right place to achieve maximum effect. The gas-powered canons, known as „Gazex“, can be seen at various points in the resort, including on the ridge above the funpark.

Die Nordkette

 

To the north of Innsbruck lies a chain of mountains known as the Nordkette. In winter, the Seegrube ski station at 1,905 metres above sea level is one of the most popular ski areas for locals. There is also the option of travelling even further up, another 300 vertical metres, to the Hafelekar ridge at 2,334 metres above sea level. The infamous „Hafelekarrinne“ couloir is home to one of the steepest ski routes anywhere in Europe – the gradient reaches 70% in places, making it true experts-only terrain.

 

The „explosive sausages“ are detonated above the snow-heavy slopes.The „explosive sausages“ are detonated above the snow-heavy slopes.

Not everyone’s cup of tea

„The computer data and modern technology help us a lot, but the most important thing is still experience. It takes time to grow into this job. You have to be out there yourself on skis and observe the snowpack close up,“ explains Haberfellner. His team is responsible not only for avalanche safety but also for piste rescue services. „If somebody is injured, we have to get there fast. It works well and we are proud that nobody who is hurt has to wait long before they are attended to. People do injure themselves on a regular basis, not least because the terrain we have here is pretty extreme.“

Storm, snow or freezing temperatures – whatever the weather, Werner Haberfellner can always be found out and about in the mountains. He has been given the nickname „the guardian angel of the city“ by local media, reflective of the essential role he and his team play in keeping Innsbruck’s population safe. There are few places in the world where city life and alpine terrain are so close together. Before the construction of huge metal barriers in the mountains, avalanches would often cascade down onto settlements. The controlled explosions carried out by the avalanche commission are one of several measures taken these days to reduce the risk to a minimum.

Die Nordkettenbahnen

 

The Innsbruck Nordkettenbahnen lifts are a masterpiece of technology and architecture. The stations were designed by world-famous architect Zaha Hadid. The funicular railway transports passengers minutes from the centre of the city up to the foot of the mountains, where a gondola whisks them into high alpine terrain at 1,905 metres above sea level. A third and final cable car leads up to the Hafelekar ridge at 2,296 metres.

 

This sign indicates to skiers and snowboarders that they are leaving the marked pistes.This sign indicates to skiers and snowboarders that they are leaving the marked pistes.

Werner Haberfellner with the old hand-operated cable car used in the past to position the explosive charges.Werner Haberfellner with the old hand-operated cable car used in the past to position the explosive charges.

The best job in the world

All municipalities in Tirol are obliged to have their own avalanche safety commission to assess the potential avalanche risk. In Tirol there are 252 such commissions, though most only meet when the snow conditions make it necessary. Innsbruck, on the other hand, has a permanent commission charged with ensuring the safety of the roughly 120,000 people who live in the city.

Werner Haberfellner’s job means that he is always the first one up on the mountain – a privilege he appreciates. „When there is half a metre of powder and we are up on the ridge as the sun appears on the horizon and lights up the peaks, that is an amazing feeling. There are plenty of people who would pay a lot of money to join us at those moments as we ski down through the fresh powder to check the conditions before the day begins.“

All photos: Bert Heinzlmeier

Having worked overseas for years, Klaus Brunner returned home to explore Tirol with his camera and microphone in tow. Home is where the heart is.

Last article from Klaus
Summer solstice fires in Tirol
Updated on 10.06.2024 in Arts & Culture
Summer solstice fires in Tirol
4 min reading time
Pension-Ladestatthof-Heubett-Header
Updated on 12.02.2024 in Recommendations
8 Amazing Romantic Getaways in Tirol
5 min reading time
TirolWerbung_930127
Updated on 22.01.2024 in Recommendations
5 Ski Resorts Easily Accessible by Train
3 min reading time
Dolomiten Hut in East Tirol. Photo by TVB Osttirol
, © TVB Osttirol, Zlöbl
Updated on 08.01.2024 in Recommendations
Five Unforgettable Places to Stay
3 min reading time
the-best-beers-in-tirol
Updated on 24.04.2023 in Food & Drink
The Top Beers from Tirol
14 min reading time
A wonderfully crispy dessert from Tirol that is fun to make at home: “Strauben”
Updated on 27.05.2021 in Food & Drink
“Strauben”: The Original Recipe to Try at Home
3 min reading time
Apfelradln_1_klein
Updated on 06.04.2021 in Food & Drink
"Apfelradln": Enjoy the Taste of Tirol at Home
3 min reading time
Updated on 19.03.2021 in Recommendations
Ten Virtual Museums and Guided Tours in Tirol
5 min reading time
TW Berufe Mayrhofen  – Penken Harakiri Die steilste Piste Öster
Updated on 14.01.2021 in People
Making Corduroy: The Ski Groomer on Harakiri Run
4 min reading time
Titelbild_Kathrein_Musig
Updated on 07.12.2020 in Arts & Culture
Playlist: Top 7 Christmas Carols from Tirol
4 min reading time
Stams_Stamser Alm
Updated on 16.11.2020 in Food & Drink
Superfood from Tirol: “Graukäse” and “Zieger”
5 min reading time
Herrlich
Updated on 02.07.2020 in Food & Drink
Buchteln: A Sweet Treat from Tirol
4 min reading time
Innsbruck, Nordkette
Updated on 28.05.2020 in Arts & Culture
Climb Every Mountain: Summit Crosses in Tirol
3 min reading time
1
Updated on 02.03.2020 in Recommendations
Ask a Local: Fieberbrunn
5 min reading time
Flugrettung_3
Updated on 13.11.2019 in People
The Reutte Helicopter Rescue Team
5 min reading time
_DSF1999_klein
Updated on 07.11.2019 in Food & Drink
Wine from Tirol: when vines begin to climb
6 min reading time
Christine Silberberger from Auffach – the Wildschönau native truly loves her home region.
Updated on 06.10.2019 in Recommendations
Ask a Local: Wildschönau
5 min reading time
Oberried Climbing Area in Ötztal Valley. Photo Credit: Tirol Werbung
Updated on 18.06.2019 in Sports
Five Rock Climbing Areas for All Ages
3 min reading time
A scenic mountain walk coupled with indulgent gastronomic experiences: Burgeralm. PHOTO CREDIT: FRANK BAUER
Updated on 16.04.2019 in Food & Drink
Burgeralm: A Haven for Cheese Lovers
4 min reading time
DJ Gerhard Schmiderer at the Mooserwirt Après Ski Bar in St Anton.
Updated on 12.02.2019 in People
The DJ at the Mother of all Après Ski Bars
5 min reading time
Gasthof Gemse in Zams
Updated on 14.12.2018 in Bits & Pieces
Five Cozy Fine-Dining Gems in Tirol
3 min reading time
Exterior view with Jesuit Church | Photo Credits: Günther Egger
Updated on 11.12.2018 in Arts & Culture
The “House of Music” in Innsbruck
4 min reading time
Wörgl, Bahnhof, Abfahrtsanzeige
Updated on 12.09.2018 in Recommendations
Bike carriage with public transport in Tirol
6 min reading time
Westendorf, Hinterwindau, Käsealm Straubing
Updated on 25.04.2018 in Sports
eMTB Riding Tips & Techniques for Beginners
3 min reading time
Ask a local: Innsbruck
27.03.2024 in Recommendations
Ask a Local: Innsbruck
4 min reading time
tirol werbung-hofgarten-blanchard-9787
09.06.2023 in People
The Keepers of the Salvenkirchlein Church
5 min reading time
All articles from Klaus
2 comments available
Write comment

Keep reading

Go up

Is your inbox in need of a holiday?

Then subscribe to our weekly newsletter full of exclusive holiday tips from Tirol!