"A dream is not worth having an accident": expert warns of the dangers of mountaineering
Created: 2022-11-06 06:19
Working in the mountains: People are having more and more accidents in the mountains.
(Iconic image) © Stanislav Belicka/imago
His message is clear: "Have the courage to give up".
In an interview, an alpine law expert explains how dangerous mountaineering is.
Berchtesgaden – Mountain rescuers searched for days in September for a man who had gotten caught in a snowstorm on the Hochkalter in Berchtesgadener Land.
Even a Bundeswehr Eurofighter was in action.
After four weeks, the 24-year-old from Lower Saxony was found dead.
Klaus Burger is an alpine law expert, for a long time he was chairman of the expert group for alpine accidents.
He explains who has to pay for mountain rescue missions - and why young people in particular are increasingly reaching their limits
Mountain rescue service constantly on duty: Who pays for time-consuming searches?
Expert clarifies
Helicopters were used during the operation on the Hochkalter, and the helpers worked more than 1500 hours.
Who pays that?
As hard as it may sound: We are legally obliged to collect the costs - even with such a tragic outcome.
For large-scale operations, the costs per day are limited to a maximum of 2500 euros.
So that no cases of hardship arise for those affected or their relatives.
Insurance companies often pay the bills too.
Alpine Club members are insured through the association.
Do larger operations often lead to disputes?
There are sometimes arguments about the cost.
There are currently two open cases with precedent character.
It's about a rescue at the Watzmann and a search for missing persons in the highlands.
Both cases will be resolved in court.
What is the legal situation if someone was negligent on the mountain?
If someone is injured on the mountain, the health insurance pays.
If you remain unharmed but have to be rescued, you pay for the rescue yourself. However, many mountaineers have taken out additional insurance for precisely such cases
He was involved in many rescue operations: Alpine law expert Klaus Burger.
© Kilian Pfeiffer
The number of mountain rescue operations is increasing: More and more tourists are going hiking
Is there a right to rescue?
How much risk do rescuers have to take to save unreasonable climbers?
During an operation, it is always about protecting the emergency services from harm.
We mountain rescuers go to the limit - even when we are on the Hochkalter.
We have a strong will to rescue, know the limits and can deal with dangers.
The operations managers bear the overall responsibility.
They interrupt the operation if the protection of the helpers requires it.
This was also the case on the Hochkalter, when hurricane conditions prevailed at midnight.
There is therefore no legal entitlement to a rescue operation where there is a significant risk.
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The number of mountain rescue operations is increasing.
Are people becoming more risk-averse?
Yes, the number of rescue operations in Bavaria is constantly increasing.
Also because the number of people looking for relaxation in the mountains is increasing.
More and more tourists are discovering the mountains for themselves.
Route planning is becoming more digital, mountain experiences are well marketed in the media.
You used to go to the mountains with family members and slowly became familiar with the dangers.
Today, many people who don't live here are discovering the alpine world for themselves.
We find that most hikers and climbers are well equipped.
There are no indications of a higher risk behavior
My message: Have the courage to give up when you realize it's getting risky.
Alpine law expert Klaus Burger
Mountain tours in the Berchtesgadener Land: Young people often reach their limits
How worried are you about increasing digitization?
In principle, it is very helpful to be able to obtain comprehensive digital information.
Freely accessible weather radars help with tour planning.
A tour report on the Internet can also be helpful.
Some mountain tourists completely replace classic tour planning with maps with digital research.
That's risky, many alpine dangers don't appear digitally.
After all, there is no standard for alpine platforms.
Anyone can post experiences or reports on the Internet.
For some, a Hochkalter crossing is a casual day tour, for others a high-alpine undertaking.
The mobile phone tempts us to not pay enough attention to nature and terrain.
We have noticed that young mountaineers in particular, between the ages of 21 and 30, repeatedly reach their dangerous limits.
When is it better to end a mountain tour?
Turning back is tough—especially when selfies or self-expression on social media are involved.
My message is: Have the courage to give up when you realize it's getting risky.
I know from personal experience what a struggle that can be.
Especially when a dream stands behind the ascent of a summit.
But even a dream is not worth having an accident.
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