Uphill and effortless

Heliskiing and the more recent practice of helibiking, while thrilling for adventure enthusiasts, pose significant environmental challenges that cannot be ignored. These activities disrupt fragile alpine ecosystems and wildlife, contribute to noise pollution and air traffic, pose a potential risk of avalanches and exacerbate climate change through excessive and avoidable carbon emissions.

Perhaps you are familiar with the Alpine Convention, an international treaty, i.e. a legally binding agreement between eight Alpine countries and the European Union, signed in 1991 and entered into force in 1995, focused on the sustainable development and protection of the Alps. With great foresight, its Tourism Protocol had already committed its Contracting Parties to “undertake to limit as much as possible, and if necessary prohibit, landing by air outside of airfields for the purpose of sporting activities.” (Art. 16)

That said, the legal frameworks governing heliskiing and helibiking vary across Alpine countries. Heliskiing is forbidden in Germany. In Slovenia, it is permitted but regulated. In France, heliskiing was banned in 1985 with the “Mountain Law,” which prohibited helicopter landings for leisure purposes in mountain areas, except at designated aerodromes. Nonetheless, this law provided some loopholes, as the text implied only dropping passengers, not picking them up again. As a result, French operators had devised heliskiing activities where participants were collected at the base of a valley after being initially dropped across the border in Italy or after reaching a summit via ski lifts. The new 3DS law (decentralization, differentiation, devolution) that was recently passed by the French government envisages stricter controls on heliskiing, eliminating previous loopholes.

Switzerland, on the other hand, permits heliskiing but under strict controls. Designated mountain landing spots are around 40, 19 of which are in the Canton of Valais. It is not yet clear which ones will be used for helibiking. The activity is closely monitored to balance tourism with environmental concerns, says Switzerland Tourism, adding that: “Individual local service providers operate heliski flights within the existing strict legal framework.” Similarly, Austria has stringent regulations, allowing heliskiing only in the Arlberg/Lech (Vorarlberg) region to minimise environmental impact. Last month the government of Vorarlberg announced that the controversial pastime will remain permitted until 2027, under certain conditions. And while the government argues that heliskiing would “enhance Vorarlberg’s ski tourism offer”, others say it would only jeopardize the protection of nature for a few “rich tourists”.

Italy presents a more complex scenario, as there is no national law on heliskiing and helibiking. Regulations are a responsibility of regional, provincial and municipal administrations, resulting in a variety of different rules and regulatory chaos. The recent news of an Italian businessman who landed his helicopter directly in the ski resort in Madonna di Campiglio because he was very busy for work and wanted to expedite his ski day and avoid queues caused quite a stir. Besides heliskiing, the practice of helibiking is growing and spreading in the Italian Apennines too.

In the Pyrenees, heliskiing is available in Aragon (Spain), along with the practice of helibiking. Since its introduction eight years ago, concerns have been raised by environmental organisations and local residents about the potential harm it causes. Critics argue that the activity jeopardizes both the delicate ecosystems of the peaks and the flora and fauna in the descent zones. The matter has been a source of legal contention, with multiple court cases and even discussions in Parliament. Recently, these issues culminated in the Aragonese government’s decision to withdraw the operating licence of the sole company offering helibiking services in the Pyrenees.

The allure of untouched snowfields and remote biking trails should not come at the expense of mountain ecosystems and biodiversity, in an ever-warming climate resulting from ever-increasing human-made emissions. Instead, sustainable alternatives like ski touring and mountain biking on established trails should be promoted. By prioritising conservation over convenience, Alpine countries can ensure that their unique and precious landscapes remain pristine for future generations.