- Approximately 35 fatalities in the Bavarian mountain range.
In the Bavarian Alps, at least 35 individuals have sadly met their end this year - "and that's even before the main hiking season has fully kicked off," stated Bavaria's Interior and Sports Minister, Joachim Herrmann (CSU), during a rescue drill at the Berggasthof Hocheck near Oberaudorf.
Higher mortality rates in the initial stages
Last year, the Bavarian Alps recorded 21 fatalities within the same period. The total death toll for 2023 stood at 41. The alarming trend this year is centered around the Zugspitze area, where six individuals have already perished. However, fatalities have also occurred in other alpine regions.
Just last Friday morning, rescue teams in the Chiemgau Alps discovered a 53-year-old hiker who had tragically passed away. Law enforcement believed the woman had plummeted approximately 60 meters, resulting in fatal injuries. On Wednesday, a 23-year-old also met her demise - six days after she sustained severe injuries in a fall of approximately 70 meters at a climbing route on the Tegelberg in the Allgäu.
Persisting snow until summer
Herrmann pointed out that climate change is exacerbating the risks in the mountains. "Increased avalanches due to the melting permafrost can damage or even render paths impassable," he said. "Additionally, the unusually heavy snowfall from last winter in high altitudes has ensured that snow persists into the summer season, thereby increasing the risk of accidents."
Shifting mountain conditions
Mountaineers should be aware that mountain conditions are evolving, advised Stefan Winter, head of sports development at the German Alpine Association (DAV). "The surprise is particularly immense when, for instance, a path is no longer there because it has simply vanished, as rocks have broken off, fallen into the valley, and altered the situation on the ground."
The DAV aims to raise awareness that mountaineers are increasingly and more severely affected by acknowledged hazards such as rockfall. To achieve this, international associations have formulated ten recommendations for mountaineering. Interior Minister Herrmann encouraged alpinists to meticulously plan their mountain excursions, steer clear of unnecessary risks, and consider others.
Fitness is a significant factor
However, physical fitness is also a crucial determinant of safety in the mountains, said Klaus Stöttner, chairman of the Kuratorium für alpine Sicherheit. "Heart and circulatory problems are the most common reasons for accidents in the Bavarian and Austrian Alps," he said.
Prevention and early intervention, along with prudent tour planning, are therefore essential, said Peter Paal, medical director of the Austrian Society for Alpine and High-Altitude Medicine. While the main danger on descent is tripping and falling due to an overly prolonged mountain tour, the risk on ascent is sudden cardiac arrest.
Then, quick assistance is essential, emphasized Paal. Only if CPR and defibrillation are initiated within the first five minutes of a heart attack, the chances of survival and resuming daily life are good, the doctor said.
The police were involved in the investigation of the 53-year-old hiker's accident, as they believed she had fallen approximately 60 meters. The heavy snowfall from last winter, which has persisted into the summer, has made the mountain paths more dangerous and could potentially lead to more police rescues.
