The 29-year-old from Upper Austria wanted to climb the impressive summit of the Schönfeldspitze in Maria Alm (Pinzgau) with two friends on Tuesday. A sudden, selective hailstorm may have taken the hiking group by surprise. The young woman slipped on the ridge and fell 250 meters down.
Maria carries Jesus in her arms – this photo shows the imposing cross on top of the Schönfeldspitze Anna M. (29) from Ottnang am Hausruck stood on the top with her two companions (aged 23 and 26) on Tuesday. One of her last looks may have been on Mary and Jesus. Shortly afterwards, a thunderstorm surprised the group. Anna M. slipped while descending the ridge and fell 250 meters down. She didn’t stand a chance.
Hail surprised mountaineers at the top
The second highest peak of the Steinernes Meer magically attracts hikers with its wooden cross. But many overestimate their ability. The last part of the tour is crash terrain, alpine and dangerous. The three well-equipped mountaineers from Upper Austria also wanted to climb the summit on Ascension Day. They left Maria Alm early in the morning, reached the plateau via the Riemannhaus and then the summit. Just after 1:30 p.m., however, hailstones fell from the sky. Anna M. must have slipped a few feet below the top.
Markus Reichholf, head of the Saalfelden/Maria Alm mountain rescue service, was on the rescue mission. Two of his colleagues abseil to the crashed. It soon became clear that there was nothing more they could do. The rescue helicopter turned around and carried only the woman’s companions into the valley.
“As tragic as it is, good route planning has proven to be essential,” says Reichholf. The storm came as a surprise, but not unexpected. Only Wednesday morning did a police helicopter recover the body of the young hiker on the south side of the Steinernes Meer.
Source: Krone
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