Already 16 mountain dead this year: Experts warn of deadly danger

Created: 04/05/2022, 08:10

By: Stephanie Ebner

16 people lost their lives in the Bavarian mountains this year.

© Jean-Christophe Bott/dpa

The Alpine Club and mountain rescue service warn against careless hiking in the mountains.

There have already been 16 mountain deaths this year alone.

Munich – "As banal as it sounds, winter still reigns in the mountains," says Thomas Bucher from the German Alpine Club.

"Most people underestimate that." That's why there have been an increasing number of fatal crashes in recent weeks: Three people alone lost their lives on the Sonnenberggrat in the Ammergau Alps: A man (41) from the Rosenheim district fell there around 200 meters deep into the Death.

Just eight days later, search teams found two more people who had died in an accident.

"Because there is relatively little snow in the mountains this year and the hiking season has started unusually early, people are often not aware of the dangers," says Roland Ampenberger from the Bavarian Mountain Rescue Service.

To ensure that the trip to the mountains does not end fatally, there are a few things to consider

The onset of snow last weekend hasn't changed that.

By next weekend at the latest, the Alpine Club and mountain rescue service are expecting a lot of excursion traffic on the hiking trails.

To ensure that the trip to the mountains does not end fatally, there are a few things to consider.

Bucher emphasizes how important it is to plan a tour in the mountains well in advance.

It makes sense to first take a look at the webcams on site.

"Then you know what kind of conditions you are getting yourself into." Because the spring-like temperatures in the valley are often deceptive.

"It's best to call the landlords on site.

They know how the snow conditions are"

When planning, you should not be satisfied with just looking at the webcams on site.

Bucher's second piece of advice: "It's best to call the innkeepers on site.

They know what the snow conditions are like.” You can also find out straight away whether the local huts are open at all.

Bucher: "In many regions, the actual hiking season doesn't start until May." Inexperienced hikers should be patient until then.

"The snow fields are currently a particular danger," warns the Alpine Club.

These often look harmless, but they pack a punch: On north-facing slopes, in the shade and at higher altitudes, paths are covered with snow until spring.

Due to the alternation of warm days and cold nights, one often encounters icy snowfields in the morning, which firn over the course of the day.

These can be dangerous.

A zone that is sometimes underestimated even by experienced mountain hikers.

“Anyone who feels unsafe should turn around”

"Investigations have shown that when a mountain hiker starts to slide on a hard, 40 degree steep snow field, he reaches almost the same speed as in free fall," says Stefan Winter from the DAV.

Therefore, the following applies: “Snow fields are a special challenge when hiking and mountaineering, which you should approach with great caution.” Bucher says: “Anyone who feels unsafe should turn around.

It takes more courage than simply going through the tour.” If you do slip: turn as quickly as possible into a prone position and press into a push-up position.

This is the only way to slow down the slipping process.

Sturdy mountain hiking boots with non-slip soles should be a matter of course in order to be safe on the mountain - possibly also shoes or crampons.