Family of Five Airlifted to Valley After Mountain Distress on Krippenstein

Weather Forecast Did Not Hold

The weather forecast the family had obtained — according to which the weather was supposed to improve from midday — did not come true. The hike was drawn out considerably by the adverse conditions.

The two girls (3 and 6 years old) already showed clear signs of hypothermia despite the rain gear they had brought along. The eight-year-old son and the parents remained uninjured according to initial findings.

High-Alpine Trägerweg Demands Experience

The emergency responders brought the family down to the valley by the two helicopters, where they received medical care. The hypothermic girls were treated; according to the rescuers, there was no life-threatening danger.

The Trägerweg on Krippenstein is considered a high-alpine trail that requires surefootedness, fitness, and experience with sudden weather changes. The route leads over longer passages through rocky terrain and is difficult to navigate in fog and precipitation.

Rescue Operation and Advice

The responsible mountain rescue service pointed out afterward that careful tour planning with regard to weather developments, time of day, and the capabilities of all members — especially small children — is crucial.

The hut wardens along the route also play a central role in such situations: they are often the first points of contact when hikers arrive exhausted or hypothermic, and they coordinate the alerting of the rescue services.

Mountain rescue advised families, when undertaking tours in high-alpine terrain, to check the route carefully in advance, to plan in sufficient reserves, and to turn back early if in doubt.