The dead man from the ice and his sister's long wait

Created: 01/11/2022Updated: 01/11/2022, 3:59 PM

From: Johannes Welte

Rudi Moder was an experienced mountaineer and ski tourer © private

Rudi Moder was torn to his death by an avalanche on a ski tour in 1983.

Although his remains were discovered last year, no funeral has taken place.

Elfriede Moder-Frei from Friedberg near Augsburg lost her brother in an avalanche in the USA in 1983.

He had gone on a ski tour in the Rocky Mountains.

His remains were discovered only last year.

The home tour and funeral of Rudi Moser could still not take place.

Because for the US authorities, the case is not yet closed.

Elfriede Moder-Frei finally wants to bury her brother in Friedberg © Annette Zoepf

Bavaria: Rudi Moderer died in 1983 in an avalanche accident in the Rocky Mountains

Rudi Moder was 27 when he said goodbye to his sister and parents in 1983.

“He wanted to stay in the USA for half a year or nine months,” remembers Elfriede Moder-Frei.

At that time, she and her brother were studying to be a teacher in Munich, he had his exam under his belt and wanted to see something of the world.

“He had a friend who he visited in Fort Collins, Colorado,” says the 64-year-old.

From there he wanted to go on a ski tour to the Thunder Pass, the tour should last three days.

In 1983 a search party was looking for Rudi Moder on the Thunder Pass © Rocky Mountain National Park

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He set out on February 13, it became a tour of no return.

A wet snow avalanche must have surprised him.

His friend Hans reported Rudi as missing.

The US authorities launched a major search in Rocky Mountain National Park.

You found your snack box and your sleeping bag.

Rudi Moder himself did not find the emergency services.

The search was canceled after four days.

After that, the family didn't hear anything.

Elfriede Moder-Frei became a teacher.

She was in rehab in Augsburg last October after a knee operation when her son called.

He told her about a call from the FBI.

Her brother's remains have been discovered and identified.

"The unexplained fate of my brother weighed heavily on us all"

Already in the summer of 2020, a hiker had come across human bones on the Thunder Pass.

A forest fire and a subsequent severe onset of winter prevented further searches.

In the summer of 2021, park rangers discovered Rudi Moder's skis, sticks, ski boots and other personal items.

The remains could be identified using a dental scheme.

"Of course it was clear to me that my brother must have died at the time, but the news upset me enormously," recalls Moder-Frei.

"The unexplained fate of my brother weighed heavily on all of us."

She organized an urn grave for her brother and hoped for a quick burial.

However, the US authorities have yet to complete their duties before they can release the remains.

"For the FBI, the case is not closed because the bone finds so far apparently do not reveal a clear cause of death." In the summer, the US authorities want to look again for skeletal parts.

Moder-Frei hopes that the Americans will find what they are looking for, complete their investigations and the transfer can take place: "I just want Rudi to come to Friedberg, be buried and find peace."