The way over the Hammerstielwand to the car park at the lower end of the Almbachklamm is “slightly steeper, but well secured”, according to the website of the Marktschellenberg Tourist Association. For a 57-year-old hiker from the Black Forest, however, this alpine climb became a death trap on Friday afternoon.
The climber slipped on the hiking trail and fell 200 meters down the Hammerstielwand. The emergency doctor, who arrived immediately with the rescue helicopter, could only determine the woman’s death at the scene of the accident. The mountain rescue service Marktschellenberg recovered the body with an alpine stretcher, the crisis intervention team took care of the husband of the deceased. The Almbachklamm was closed for an hour.
The accident was recorded by a police mountain guide from the Berchtesgaden Police Inspectorate, and the Traunstein public prosecutor is now investigating. There are no indications of third-party negligence. At the beginning of the hiking trail, a sign warns alpinists that “surefootedness and a head for heights are required” on this route.