Careless tourists

With sneakers on a snow-covered via ferrata

Symbolic image

(Bild: zoom.tirol, Krone KREATIV)

Some people tend to do things that just make you shake your head in amazement! This is what happened on the Krippenstein near Obertraun (Upper Austria), where two young Czechs had climbed the via ferrata wearing only sneakers and without any orientation aid, then wanted to hike back to the cable car over snow-covered terrain. Mountain rescuers had to be called out.

The two Czechs (19 and 22) had initially climbed the Krippenstein via the Seewand via ferrata. Although they had via ferrata equipment, a harness and helmet with them, they were only wearing sneakers. 

They reached the end of the via ferrata at around 1.45 pm. There is still a thick blanket of snow at this altitude. Although the young men had neither mountain boots nor snowshoes with them, they made their way back to the Krippenstein cable car. They also had no orientation guide with them and ended up getting lost in the terrain. 

Emergency call made
At around 3.45 pm, they could go no further and made an emergency call. Mountain rescuers from Obertraun and staff from the Krippenstein cable car set off in search of the Czechs. An employee with a SkiDoo found the young men near the Gjaidalm. 

The rescuer took the duo to the mountain pasture, where they were able to warm up. They were then transported to the cable car and from there down into the valley. 

Snow-covered terrain in the area of the Simony hut

(Bild: Bergrettung)

Separated from comrades
A 50-year-old Czech man also had to be rescued on the Dachstein. He had set off with two companions on touring skis from the Wiesberghaus in the direction of the Simonyhütte at around 4 pm. He left his friends in the Keferfeldsteig area and wanted to take a shortcut. 

When the man had not yet arrived at the Simonyhütte at around 6.45 pm, his companions alerted the police via an emergency call. At the time, gale-force winds of around 100 km/h were raging in the area. 

Trio searched for missing person
A mountain rescuer who happened to be present set off on foot, along with the hosts of the Simonyhütte and Wiesberghaus with their SkiDoos. Despite the strong wind, the mountain rescuer finally managed to make out a trail up the mountain, which he followed. 

At around 8.15 p.m., the Czech was found below the Hoher Wildkarkogel, severely exhausted. After a short descent, he was brought to safety with the SkiDoo to the Simonyhütte.