The avalanche tragedy of Gurgl from Monday of this week is one of the three since February 2022, in which a total of nine alpinists died as part of a guided ski tour or variant trip -and a mountain guide.
The five Unterländer had hired a local mountain guide on Monday to rise to Schalfkogel (3537 m) in Obergurgl (Imst District). The end is known: two subkoods died in a crack under an avalanche, another was hit by the snow mass and somewhat injured. The mountain guide got away with the horror.
Treacherous old snow problem
“The avalanche was small, the crack between 30 and 60 centimeters, the tear only 15 meters wide,” draws Norbert Lanzanasto from the Tyrolean Avalanche warning. A treacherous old snow problem at warning level 2 – moderate danger – has become doomed to the group. This resulted in the research on Tuesday.
“According to the definition, it was just a slip,” says Tom Rabl, head of the Tyroolean Mountain Sports Guide Association. One of the members led the group of five.
Five dead in the Samnaung group
Let’s look back on 4 February 2022: On this day, four Swedish variants died in the area of the Fließer Stieralpe in the Samnaung group (Landeck District) under an avalanche – and with them their local mountain guide. On April 11 of the previous year, an avalanche killed three Dutch people in Vent (Imst District) – The group was run by four local mountain guides. Later there were no charges against the guides.
“An accumulation of such accidents is recognizable,” admits President Tom Rabl. “There are tragic destiny. But I think the relationship with the number of alpinists on the mountain is low.”
Of course, every accident is meticulously analyzed. Rabl: “So far, however, there has been no knowledge that people should have changed a bit radically.”
“I have been lucky a few times”
The best mountain guide in Austria Walter Zörer also wants to see the accidents in relationship. His credo is: “The guests must have a nice day, but I have to play the risk so that we come home reliably reliably.” And he knows, “I was lucky a few times.”
Incidentally, the affected mountain guide of Obergurgl will be heard immediately by the Alpine Police.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
