The members of the mountain rescue service Garmisch-Partenkirchen recorded almost 1000 missions in their area in 2019.
With that they almost reached a new record.
Numbers that you have to get used to.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
- Anton Gehringer does not want to hang the topic too high.
It's just a number in statistics.
In addition, as a mountain rescue service, you behave neutrally.
You save, you don't judge.
And yet the managing director of Bergwacht Garmisch-Partenkirchen goes into this one number a little more clearly: 81. So often in the past year the rescuers went out to uninjured people.
These so-called cases without medical indication - for which the rescued are billed privately - now account for up to a third of all missions in summer.
The men and women made an emergency call because they were stuck.
For different reasons.
Because they get lost, no longer know their way around.
Or because they are blocked, perhaps being afraid in an exposed area.
Or because they started too late and got into the dark and couldn't catch the train anymore.
Or because they misjudge the tour and - Gehringer mentions the Jubiläumsgrat as an example - are too exhausted to reach the destination on their own.
"Then you have your cell phone with you and just call the mountain rescue service."
Bergwacht: Clientele in the mountains have changed
It also resonates with how much lighter, more comfortable that has become compared to before.
According to Gehringer, the clientele in the mountains has also changed.
"In the past, most of them knew how to behave and planned their tours better." But once again: Gehringer does not criticize, takes what it is.
And makes it clear: “It's right for people to call.” Because the mountain rescue service might still have to go out because of you - later, if someone is injured or, in the worst case, when it's too late.
Nobody wants that.
In any case, the number 81 does not cause any problems for the mountain rescue service.
It is definitely remarkable.
Just like the number 994.
This is how many missions were recorded by the 113 active members - the number has decreased slightly - the readiness Garmisch-Partenkirchen 2019 (see below).
As Gehringer presented at the annual meeting, it almost came close to the record year 2018 with 997 missions.
“The numbers have leveled off at a high level.” More people in the mountains mean more work.
Mountain rescue service Garmisch-Partenkirchen: 994 missions in 2019, three quarters of them in winter
Almost three quarters of this takes place in winter on the ski slopes and toboggan runs.
In summer, the more intensive ones occur, which always mean a lot of time and effort - for example looking for missing persons on the mountain.
In this context, Gehringer counters a widespread prejudice.
One hears again and again of men and women who stumble around in the mountains in wrong shoes.
In general, the principle also applies: “We don't evaluate that.” His feeling and experience tell him something else anyway: “Bad equipment is not the problem.” But some people simply cannot handle their top equipment.
Gehringer highlights one more thing when looking at the statistics - besides the number 81. “There are actually no more rest periods.” In November, when all the huts are closed, the rescuers used to remain largely unemployed.
In a positive sense.
“Today the team has to be ready all year round.” 365 days.
24 hours.
Also two important numbers.
And all of that on a voluntary basis.
The year 2019 for the mountain rescue service in numbers
Total missions: 994 (997 in the record year 2018).
Garmisch-Partenkirchen handled 615 of these, the remainder being prepared for the slopes in winter.
Operations in winter: 729 injured skiers, snowboarders and tobogganers.
Missions in summer: 265, including 180 hiking accidents
Helicopter: 140 missions, 63 of them with winch use.
Dead: 5
Active members: 113, including 18 commanders, 19 drivers, 2 dog handlers and 2 specialists from the Berg crisis intervention service.
