TL;DR
The long-planned ski connection between Sillian in East Tyrol and Sexten in South Tyrol has hit another setback. An environmental review found the planned Austrian-side lift would cut through sensitive habitat, including breeding grounds for rock ptarmigan, so the Schultz Group has scrapped the single-lift plan for two separate lifts with a transfer at Leckfeldalm. New landowner agreements are needed and a fresh application isn't expected before 2027 - the South Tyrol side is unaffected.
The Sillian-Sexten ski connection is being redesigned from scratch on the Austrian side
The long-discussed lift link between the Hochpustertal ski area near Sillian in East Tyrol and the 3 Zinnen Dolomites area in South Tyrol has run into another hold-up. An environmental review found the originally planned single lift would cut through ecologically sensitive ground, including breeding habitat for rock ptarmigan, so the project's backer, the Schultz Group, has dropped that plan for two separate lifts instead.
Two lifts, one transfer point
Instead of one continuous lift, skiers will ride a gondola from the existing lifts in Sillian up to Leckfeldalm, then transfer to a reversible cable car with two large cabins for the final stretch to Hochgrube, just above the Sillianer Hutte near the Italian border. The stop at Leckfeldalm also means skiers who don't want to go all the way to the top can get off and ski from there instead. A cable car was chosen for the upper section because it needs far fewer lift towers than a standard gondola, is more wind-stable, and is easier to coordinate with avalanche blasting in the area.
