Mountain rescue press spokesman Klaus Drexel could not remember a similar incident in the recent past in an interview with the APA. Several rescue operations had to be carried out recently because people had relied on some apps, he regretted.
According to Drexel’s description, the school classes from Germany who were on a country school week wanted to do an “after-work tour”. However, there is “a very demanding spot on the Heuberggrat when it’s wet and slippery” – which was exactly the case. Some of the students were not equipped for this. If, on top of that, panic breaks out due to falls, the mood in a group changes quickly.
Fortunately, two helicopters were available to bring the students to safety. These were flown off the mountain in groups of three. “You can calculate how many times it had to be flown,” said Drexel. The weather conditions were also difficult with rain cells appearing again and again.
Drexel strongly advised against planning routes based on descriptions on the Internet, as the teachers in Kleinwalsertal had done. “This is to be seen very, very critically. Old, unexpected paths are also described there that have now grown overgrown,” Drexel stated. It’s easy to get into an “unfortunate situation”.
In order to plan mountain tours seriously, the mountain rescuer referred to the “PEAK mountain check” – P for planning, E for assessment, A for equipment and K for control. This involves clarifying questions such as “What am I planning to do?”, “Is this hike suitable for me?”, but also questions about equipment and how you feel during the hike. If you are unsure about a tour, you can always ask the tourist office, the Alpine Club or the mountain rescue service. That creates security, Drexel recommended this procedure.
Source: Nachrichten
