Adventurers who turn into a nightmare

Jens Richter is editor-in-chief at Since July 2020, the doctor and journalist has also been responsible as COO for business operations and the strategic development of

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Why easy when there is the difficult way to the summit? More and more people who spend their vacation in the mountains are saying that to themselves. The problem: Many of them are casual climbers who overestimate their rock skills

Climbing is in, scrambling with or without a safety rope is hip. For more and more people, it is simply part of a successful holiday in the mountains. The German Alpine Association (DAV), whose membership numbers are skyrocketing, is also feeling the run on the mountains. In June the association cracked the million-member mark.

But the positive trend has a downside: "More and more people are apparently daring to go on alpine climbing tours with their climbing experience from the low mountain range for which they are not adequately prepared", reports DAV press spokesman Thomas Bucher in an interview with

Not forwards, not backwards

It is the downside of the DAV's 2012 mountain accident statistics published today, which at first glance is pleasing: never since its introduction in 1952 have the statistics recorded so few fatal mountain accidents as last year. "At that time we had 43 fatal accidents, in 2012 there were 28," says Bucher. One reason could be the poor weather conditions last year - it was just often not touring weather.

The mountain accident statistics presented by the DAV every two years are based only on the data from the association's own insurance service. It therefore shows trends and not complete accident figures. It does not record what happens outside of the DAV. Incidents that cause a high level of rescue effort are particularly well documented. And they are becoming more and more common. "With the so-called blockages, the climbers get into a position from which they can no longer free themselves," explains Bucher. In particular, climbing via ferrata has become a real problem child in recent years.

Climbing with a fully comprehensive mentality

Via ferratas are climbing passages secured with ropes in the high mountains, which are particularly popular. The mixture of athletic demands, adventure and magnificent views attracts thousands every summer from the lowlands to the Hindelang via ferrata, the Alpspitz ferrata and the Berchtesgaden Alps. Or on the Jubiläumsgrat, that dizzying eight-kilometer high ridge that connects the Alpspitze with Germany's highest mountain, the Zugspitze. "The problem today is no longer the equipment. People simply overestimate their own abilities," says Bucher. "And then suddenly there is no going back or forth, and the mountain rescuers have to go out to rescue the people."

The experts at the German Alpine Association only have theories about where the growing willingness to take risks comes from. The DAV experts suspect that cell phones may give people a feeling of security that does not match their actual climbing skills. "They take risks that are too high, and if they don't know what to do, they call an emergency," criticizes Bucher. Others in the association refer to something like this as a "fully comprehensive mentality."

Dangerous rush

"Whether hiking or climbing - it is important that people know their own limits and assess their abilities correctly," says Bucher. The principle: "From small to large, from easy to difficult." Climbers could literally gain safety step by step and train their own sense of movement. "Hurrying and time pressure are always dangerous."

Bucher's advice to all those who want to conquer the mountains in the coming holiday weeks: "Set off early, then you will escape the great heat and have a cushion of time when things get difficult." In addition, mountain hikers should think about sun protection and drink enough and pack suitable food. But most importantly: "Get the current weather report again right before you start." Because, especially in the mountains, a sudden change in weather can turn an adventure into a nightmare within minutes.

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