Annaberg: family rescued from mountain distress
The Upper Austrian family – two adults and two teenagers – climbed from Gosau to the Großer Donnerkogel (2054 m), two of them via the “Himmelsleiter” via ferrata and the other two via the normal ascent.
From there they wanted to descend in the direction of Stuhlalmen and take an exposed, high-alpine trail that is partially secured with ropes. “They had been walking along the ridge towards Strichkogel for about an hour,” says Annaberg mountain rescuer and operations manager Daniel Oberauer, “when they called the mountain rescue service exhausted as a thunderstorm approached.”
The woman was exhausted and already severely hypothermic
The operations management of the Annaberg mountain rescue team decided to request support from the police helicopter team. However, the approaching thunderstorm did not allow dew rescue at the exposed spot. Two mountain rescuers were flown close by using a rope, “and we continued on to become a family.
After the woman was exhausted and already severely hypothermic, we called for a rescue helicopter.”
Martin 1’s team finally managed to save the entire family and fly to Stuhlalm. “There we provided them with drinks and finally brought them back to Gosau by car,” said the operations manager. The operation ended at 9 p.m.
Großer Donnerkogel often occupies mountain rescuers
For the mountain rescue center Annaberg and the neighboring mountain rescue center Gosau (Upper Austria) there are currently many operations in the area of the Großer Donnerkogel (2054 m). “This is mainly the case because many climb the Donnerkogel via ferrata – sky ladder,” says Tennengau district manager Werner Quehenberger, describing the problem.
“We see a lot of via ferrata users coming from the Gosau side and taking the not very difficult but spectacular ascent. Unfortunately, there is no tour planning and these via ferrata hikers are often out and about in the worst weather conditions. Some of the emergency exits are not marked.”
“Even via ferrata tours need good planning”
“The normal descent from the Donnerkogel is demanding, because there are some exposed areas and you also need sure-footedness. But then many of them lose their strength, they are unconcentrated and accidents occur when descending. Hikers often get lost and end up somewhere in the rocky terrain. It’s a wonder nothing worse has happened here. You also need basic mountaineering knowledge and good tour planning for via ferrata tours,” warns Quehenberger.