It’s always important to stay out of areas you’re not supposed to go in – whether it’s because of avalanche danger or because of plants and animals in that area which can’t be disturbed.

Ask at the tourist office, ticket office or ski patrol if there are any places you need to stay out of or if there is anything you can do to help the local wildlife. Often, this involves being aware of the local trees and plants and making sure that they’re not disturbed or broken. For example, Usnea or ‘Old Man’s Beard’ is a common form of tree moss in mountain areas that thrives on fresh clean air. It’s most common usage is for making fake beards, but this isn’t a very good idea as it only grows about 1cm per year.