The summer onset of winter surprises the hut owner in Carinthia!

The summer onset of winter surprises the hut owner in Carinthia!

Imagine that in the middle of summer, when temperatures are rising and the hiking season is in full swing, winter returns. That's exactly what happened to Niklas Meibert, a hut owner from Kassel, in his Hanover house in Carinthia. On Tuesday he experienced a completely unexpected onset of winter with 20 cm of fresh snow at an altitude of 2,565 meters. A strange spectacle after many old snow fields had already thawed in June. “April and May were very rainy, then the sunshine came in June,” says the hut owner, who has been running the Hannoverhaus for a year and a half. In one fell swoop, everything has changed as far as the guests and the business are concerned.

The onset of winter had a direct impact on the temporary closure of the Hannoverhaus. A new employee from Hesse was unable to take the cable car to the hut due to the stormy weather conditions and snowfall. The situation is strange not only for the visitors, some of whom came to build a snowman. The numerous cancellations also show how quickly the conditions can change. The wet, soapy snow conditions make some of the hiking trails impassable, which represents a real challenge for a popular destination in the Ankogel ski area. Around 300 guests arrive here during the day, but the sudden winter has thwarted many of their plans.

The influence of climate change

As we know, the weather in the mountains is unpredictable. A look at the current scientific findings from the Alps shows that the mountains are extremely affected by climate change. This is also confirmed by the Federation for Nature Conservation, which reports that average temperatures in the mountains are rising twice as fast as in the rest of the world. These changes not only affect the growing seasons and water balance, but also the snow line and glaciers. The melting of glaciers, including those at the Zugspitze, significantly affects the water availability in the valleys.

Winter heat and larger amounts of snow also lead to an increased risk of avalanches in the Alps. This means that not only the tourist infrastructure such as the Hannoverhaus, but also the safety of hikers is at risk. According to experts, changes in the climate are also causing more extreme weather events and thus increasing the likelihood of mudslides, which are promoted by wet soils and intensive alpine pasture management.

An uncertain future for flora and fauna

With regard to flora and fauna, many alpine species react to the changed climatic conditions. An example is marmots, which have to retreat to higher altitudes where support resources are insufficient. In addition, species such as the mountain hare have great difficulty surviving due to a lack of fur and snow-free ground. The loss of biodiversity is worrying because it challenges not only wildlife but also the natural balance of the Alps. Experts expect that the tree line will move up by almost 200 meters by 2039, which will have a lasting impact on the habitats of numerous species.

The Hannoverhaus, which is open from the end of December to the end of March and from July to the end of September, will face a variety of changes in the coming years. What seemed like a winter dream last week could soon be just another example of the effects of climate change. Because the summer of 2025 could remain the “Year of the Glaciers”, in which the major changes in the mountain world will continue to become visible. Niklas Meibert observes this with concern from his hut, which is a popular starting point for many hikers and nature lovers. But the changed conditions not only bring challenges, but also the opportunity to raise awareness of nature and climate protection.

The ongoing discussions about climate change show that there is really something going on. So it might be helpful to not only admire the current snow, but also work for a more environmentally friendly future. Because the mountains and their primal forces urgently need support.