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An avalanche surprised a hiking group from Bavaria at Lake Achensee in Tyrol. She was actually traveling in snow-free terrain. There was one dead and one injured.
Update from April 10th, 2:29 p.m.: The Tyrol avalanche warning service has one analysis of the misfortune published. “The avalanche was a gliding snow avalanche that slid down a very steep (more than 35 degrees) grassy slope,” it says. The group did not trigger the avalanche themselves. “Due to the extraordinarily warm weather of the previous days, the conditions for gliding snow avalanches tended to be higher at the time of the accident,” it continues. The snow was quite wet due to melting snow and rain.
Further: “This reduces friction and increases the probability of gliding snow avalanches.” We are currently dealing with “a snow cover that is still thicker than average” at altitude. At the same time, there is little or no snow at low and medium altitudes. The hiking group’s route initially led over a partially snow-covered hiking trail in wintry terrain. Finally, the experts warn: “Avalanches that break at height can – as was the case with this avalanche – penetrate into the countryside.”
First report from April 10th, 2:53 p.m.: Pertisau – The 1,991 meter high Bärenkopf near Pertisau on Lake Achensee is a panoramic mountain par excellence in the easternmost foothills of the Karwendel Mountains. From its summit you have probably the best view of Lake Achensee in Tyrol – for many the most beautiful lake Austria.
Avalanche surprises German tourists visiting Austria in Tyrol: despite the thaw there was a lot of snow
A hiking group from the Upper Bavarian district of Eichstätt also wanted to enjoy this summit panorama on Tuesday (April 9th). According to the Tyrol State Police, the group climbed from Pertisau via the Weißenbachtal towards Bärenkopf. The group planned to descend via the Bärenbadalm, located northwest of the Bärenkopf.
However, despite the thaw of the past few days, the hikers found more snow than they apparently expected. At around 1,800 meters altitude, the group decided to skip the climb to the summit and start directly with the descent towards Bärenbadalm.
The summit panorama attracted German holidaymakers to Austria – but there was too much snow
“At around 3 p.m., when they were following tracks in the snow at an altitude of 1,850 m, which ran approximately at the same level as the path there towards Bärenbadalm, a gliding snow avalanche released on the slope about 30 meters above them,” the police continued. Two 19-year-old hikers who had been walking ahead were swept away by the avalanche.
“The other group members were able to run back a few meters and were not hit by the avalanche.” The remaining five immediately made an emergency call and waited on the climb for help. One of the two young men who was swept away was released from the avalanche after about 250 meters in altitude and remained injured next to the avalanche. He was rescued by an emergency helicopter by rope and flown to Schwaz Hospital for treatment.
Drama in Tyrol: As if out of nowhere, they are hit by an avalanche in snow-free terrain
His friend of the same age was swept 330 meters and was completely buried one meter deep in the avalanche. The mountain rescuers from the surrounding communities searched for him with probing poles and dug out the buried victim at 4:23 p.m. The young man suffered fatal injuries.
A total of three helicopters, the Maurach, Achenkirch and Jenbach mountain rescue teams, two mountain rescue dogs and three alpine police officers as well as fire departments and the crisis intervention team were in action.
The snowfall in the Alps has made the avalanche situation enormously worse in recent weeks. In the Italian Aosta Valley there are four meters of snow on the peaks, and almost three meters on the Zugspitze. The thaw had temporarily separated the snow layer from the ground. The avalanche warning services advised people to be careful of gliding snow avalanches.
There was recently an avalanche disaster in Switzerland with five deaths. In the Italian Dolomites one was 14 year old from a snow slab recorded. During a jostling at the summit of the Zuckerhütl in the Stubaital five mountaineers fell away.