Bavaria: Beginners want to climb the Watzmann and need to be rescued

Berchtesgaden Alps
Highest face of the Eastern Alps: Beginners want to climb the Watzmann – mountain rescue service has to intervene

Two people from Munich got into serious trouble with their plan to climb the 2713 meter high Watzmann. At least one of the two lacked any mountaineering experience.

In Berchtesgaden, the Watzmann is sometimes called the “Mountain of Destiny”: More than 100 climbers have died there. One should not underestimate the 2713 meter high mountain massif. But that is exactly what happened to two people from Munich who wanted to climb the mountain and ultimately had to rely on the mountain rescue service.

It was about “two highly motivated, adventurous young people from Munich,” reports the Berchtesgadener Land district association of the Bavarian Red Cross in a press release. The two men, aged 33 and 35, wanted to cross the Watzmann, which is very strenuous even under good conditions, but an all the more ambitious project in cold, snow and ice.

Climbers lose their orientation on the Watzmann

But it quickly became apparent that nothing would come of it. The mountaineers had already lost their orientation during the ascent in the fog. They reported to the mountain rescue service via cell phone – but not (yet) to request their rescue. At first they just wanted to know how much a rescue operation would cost them.

But the situation quickly deteriorated: the mobile phone battery was giving up the ghost, neither of them could give any precise information about their location. And due to the poor visibility, rescue by helicopter was also not possible, according to the mountain rescue service. The control center therefore advised the lost adventurers to follow their own footsteps. In this way they would accommodate the helpers and ensure that they did not get cold themselves. Rescuers and those in need of rescue then met in the Berchtesgaden National Park.

First mountain tour ever

The conversation with the two men should have caused the mountain rescue team to shake their heads: For one of the rescued, it was his first mountain tour ever. “Despite their failure, the duo gave the impression that they had not completely discarded the plan and will try again in better conditions,” said the Bavarian Red Cross – a plan that was designed with a view to the dangers that the Watzmann is currently experiencing Threat of winter does not appear to be advisable.

Sources: Bavarian Red Cross / “Berchtesgaden.de”

Watch the video: It is a phenomenon that is becoming more and more common: in the Alps, the snow on some glaciers is turning red. Researchers in France are investigating what this is all about in a large project.