02:04

Ruth Deutschmann

Benjamin Epp

Galtür

2008-08-22

Sylvia Manning-Baumgartner

Nicole D´Incecco

1900

The radical change in this region came about earlier, before my generation was born. That was when skis were introduced to the alpine regions around 1900. We also heard about them from tourists who went out with our local mountain guides. For example, one said to my father: "Listen, Albert, I heard that in the north they tie boards to their feet in winter. That way they can glide over the snow. Wouldn't it be great if we learned to do that - then I could come to the Silvretta in winter too." So, little by little, there was increased demand for ski-tours in winter, until the First World War After WWI, as of about 1919 or 1920 when conditions and the economy had returned to normal, there was a large economical uplift because technology for alpine skiing had improved. There were the first skis with metal edges and so on. Or the first ski poles with movable baskets. As of about 1920 there was demand for winter tourism. My father was the first hut-keeper to open his hut also in winter, for ski-touring. As of 1900, 1903 the route of the new Arlberg railway was established. The itinerary went from St. Anton through the Verwall group to the Silvretta group and from there to the high-class resorts - Klosters and Davos where the British alpinists were.