Remoteness on a Vertical Axis – Social Dynamics of Ski Touring in the Alps

This paper examines the relationship between nature-based winter sports, social distinction and the concept of remoteness along the vertical axis of the German Alps. It explores how ski tourers, through their ascent of the mountains, actively labour to achieve isolation and authenticity, despite the proximity to urban centres. The study highlights the physical, social and ecological aspects of ski touring, emphasising the social hierarchies that emerge based on one's ability to navigate the demanding landscape. A patchwork ethnographic approach ties together field visits, interviews, online media and historic sources to explore the nuances of ski touring culture and its broader implications for access to the mountainous winter landscape. As an anthropological intervention in tourism studies, the paper confronts the inner paradoxes of sustainable leisure activities and ideas of authentic nature experience. By analysing the verticality of remoteness, it adds to discussions on mobility and the rural-urban/centre-periphery continuum in the Alps.