Flexibility in times of climate change: Mountain sports experience the effects of global warming up close
Created: 08/26/2022, 19:55
By: Peter Borchers
Climbing to the Rasass peak: the alpinists of the Wolfratshausen DAV section.
© dav
The Wolfratshauser DAV alpinists have to reschedule.
The planned high-altitude tour is too dangerous – a glacial collapse killed eleven people in early August.
Wolfratshausen – The landlord had bad news for the alpinists of the Wolfratshausen DAV section.
He strongly advised against a high tour of the Piz Sesvenna, their planned destination.
"Too dangerous," he said.
It was the first weekend in August.
Just a month ago, parts of the Marmolada glacier broke off, killing 11 people.
In the news, Annemarie Zeller writes in a press release, "we read that there will be no more mountain guides on the Matterhorn this summer".
And the normal route to Mont Blanc is only for those who are tired of life.
In the summer of 2022, the times are bad for high-altitude tours in the Alps.
Flexibility in times of climate change: Mountain sports are experiencing the effects of global warming
So the Wolfratshauser made the best of the situation and rescheduled after dinner.
They decided on a "four-summit-three-three-thousander tour" over Schadler (2948 meters), Piz Rims (3067), Piz Christanas (3091 and Piz d'Immez (3031). It started right on time for the first break on the Piz Rims It was going to rain. Regular showers were to accompany the people of Wolfratshausen throughout the day. The backpack was light, says Zeller, "without rope, ice ax and crampons".
Dry runs in front of the hut instead of climbing to the summit
After coffee and cake at the "beautiful Sesvennahütte", the group spontaneously decided to do a dry run in crevasse rescue in front of the hut.
"So that we," says Zeller, "didn't have to lug all the material up in vain."
By the way: everything from the region is also available in our regular Wolfratshausen-Geretsried newsletter.
No way where one should be: "A little too adventurous"
On Sunday, the weather gods gave the people of Wolfratshausen some sun and fantastic views on the way to the 2883 meter high Rasass peak.
After that they had chosen a small crossing to the Vernungkopf (2870 meters) as an alternative descent to Schlinig.
"According to the landlord, it's easy to do, even marked according to the hut map," writes Zeller.
"But not according to my digital map - and unfortunately it was right." Somewhere at the turn-off from the ridge, according to the GPS, you were right on the path, but you couldn't see it anywhere.
This opened up the group to “an unplanned little pathless adventure on steep grass terraces”, which, according to the director, became “a bit too adventurous” with the onset of rain and sleet.
Luckily, they soon found themselves on the targeted high-altitude trail in the direction of Schlinig.
For the future: Adaptation to climate change necessary
At the final coffee, the participants agreed: The mountain weekend in South Tyrol was beautiful even without the planned high-altitude tour.
But, as Zeller concludes: "Unfortunately, in times of climate change, high-altitude mountaineering will increasingly require flexible routes and destinations."
Read the latest news from the Wolfratshausen/Geretsried region here: