Train too expensive

Germans in half-shoes on wintry Zugspitze

Time and again, the Ehrwald mountain rescuers have to rescue alpinists from the Zugspitze who have been negligent.(Bild: Bergrettung Ehrwald)

Recreational athletes who ignore the still wintry conditions at higher altitudes are driving the Tyrolean mountain rescuers in Ehrwald to despair. One incident on the Zugspitze stands out in particular.

As reported, the German cyclist tried for around an hour on Friday to get from Ehrwald in the Tyrolean district of Reutte through the Gaistal valley to Leutasch in the snow on the winter hiking trail (!). The 41-year-old then had to park his bike in shorts in the snow-covered Gaistal valley and alert the mountain rescue service.

Time and again, the Ehrwald mountain rescuers have to rescue alpinists from the Zugspitze who have been negligent on the way.(Bild: Bergrettung Ehrwald)

On the move in summer mode
"Many people are currently completely misjudging the situation on the mountain. They're already in summer mode, but it's still winter up here," says Robin Lutnig from Ehrwald Mountain Rescue. This impression is also confirmed by Ehrwald mountain rescue chief Regina Poberschnigg. "The day-trippers are wearing shorts on their way to Seebensee or Drachensee - but you would need touring skis for that," she shakes her head in disbelief. "At some point they turn around - or we have to go and get them."

Although conditions in the Gaistal valley between Ehrwald and Leutasch are still deep winter, cyclists and summery hikers are out and about in the snow.(Bild: Robin Lutnig)

"People don't believe us"
What particularly annoys her and Lutnig is the ignorance of many excursionists: "We can tell people what we want. They don't believe us."

At this time of day, the slope to Gatterl was already at high risk of avalanches.

Robin Lutnig, Bergrettung Ehrwald

Warnings about avalanche danger ignored
"Another mountain biker has just ridden along the winter hiking trail towards Leutasch," Robin Lutnig describes during the phone call with the "Krone". And two mountaineers made their way to the Knorrhütte after 2 pm (!) on Saturday in order to climb the Zugspitze afterwards. "At that time of day, the slope to the Gatterl was already at high risk of avalanches," says Lutnig. The duo ignored his warnings - as usual.

I told them both that a safe ride on the Zugspitzbahn was much cheaper than a rescue flight.

Regina Poberschnigg, Ortsstellenleiterin Bergrettung Ehrwald

Mountain rescuers can't believe it
Keyword Zugspitze: Regina Poberschnigg is already "pain-free" when it comes to the negligence of mountaineers on Germany's highest mountain. However, she will never forget her encounter with two German hikers and their dog a few days ago. "They wanted to walk up there in normal shoes," she says. Because the train ride was "too expensive", the duo argued. "I told them that there was three meters of snow at the top and that they were completely ill-equipped," says the mountain rescuer. Even the tongue-in-cheek remark that a rescue by helicopter costs around 100 euros a minute and that the train is cheaper didn't help.

At least they were able to turn back later - luckily in time.