Everything is green with the last of its kind - there is also a major technical problem
Created: 01/22/2022, 06:00
By: Peter Borchers
Standstill: For the third year in a row, there is no snow on Otto Mannheim's Beuerberger T-bar lift.
© Hermsdorf-Hiss
For the third winter in a row, the Beuerberg ski lift has been idle.
A new, serious problem has been added to the lack of snow.
Beuerberg - Warm winters with little snow combined with a pandemic - that's a disaster for the operator of a ski lift in the foothills of the Alps.
In Beuerberg, the small lift, which is popular in the region and operated by Otto and Inge Mannheim, has now been shut down for the third season in a row.
And the meteorologists give the 86-year-old and his wife, who is four years younger, little hope that the pulleys will start up soon.
The Mannheims "of course hope for snow, but unfortunately it doesn't look like it at the moment".
The Beuerberger tractor is one of the last of its kind in the vicinity.
The colleagues in Eurasburg, in Bairawies, in Peretshofen, in Buchberg - they all gave up long ago, exhausted by climate change.
It could start, the hygiene concept is in place
Everything is prepared. As always, the sprightly man from Achmühler set up everything on the privately leased area within a month. In contrast to the previous season, the lifts in Bavaria are allowed to run this year, but the skiers have to prove their vaccinated or recovered status and wear an FFP2 mask when queuing and on the ascent. "If everything weren't a problem, our hygiene concept would also be in place," says Inge Mannheim.
The weather causes grief. Its to warm. In these weeks, precipitation usually comes down as rain in Beuerberg, which is a good 600 meters above sea level. And if snow does fall, it doesn't stay there, at least not for long. Otto Mannheim needs "about 15 centimetres" to be able to level a decent slope. They're not in sight. The 86-year-old can't help artificially with his snow cannon either. To do this, he would need temperatures of minus 5 degrees, "and so far we have only had them in four or five nights". If it were to get the water from a cold stream or pond, the snow cannon would probably be satisfied with outside temperatures just below 0 degrees. However, the municipality of Eurasburg provides the water for the Beuerberger lift, and "it's actually a bit too warm," says Mannheim.
Power generator from GDR times has given up the ghost
But even if the general conditions were right, the Achmühler could not currently be artificially snowed.
The old power generator from GDR production, which the 86-year-old had once bought from the municipality of Königsdorf, has given up the ghost.
He estimates that you can't get a new unit for less than 30,000 euros, and renting one is also not an option: "I don't know when I'll be able to use it.
In the worst case, I pay rental fees for weeks for a device that is just lying around.” Otto Mannheim is hoping for help from the district.
Perhaps someone could provide him with a used generator.
Its minimum output would have to be 70 kilovolt amperes, and the snow cannon requires a lot of electricity when it starts.
"Anyone who wants to help can contact me," says Mannheim.
It is clear that we will take over the lift.
Daughter Claudia Mannheim
The senior is not yet thinking about the final dismantling of the lift system.
It is a life's work and a motor at the same time.
He likes to work, it would hurt to dismantle the tractor.
He even accepts that he has been making a loss for three years: the lack of income is offset by the costs for the TÜV every two years and the cable inspection every four years as well as for the lease.
The Mannheims would like to hand over the lift to their daughters Sabine and Claudia next year. The latter runs a ski school in which her sister works. If everything is green in Beuerberg, they switch to Lenggries with their courses. "It's clear that we'll take over the lift," says Claudia Mannheim. However, she and her sister could not invest as much time in him as her father. But that wouldn't be a problem: Dad would help "as long as I can manage with my health". Standing next to “his” lift with your hands in your pockets was never an option for Otto Mannheim. (peb)
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