Four Polish mountaineers rescued by helicopter from the Breithorn in Pinzgau

However, according to the mountain rescue service, the four hikers were not sufficiently informed about the actual demands of the route. On the demanding southern ascent, they were unable to continue at around 2,400 meters. The terrain at this point is considered exposed, meaning only passable to a limited extent and associated with a risk of falling.

Emergency call at around 6 p.m.

Since a safe descent under their own power was no longer possible, the mountaineers placed an emergency call at around 6:00 p.m. In the exposed terrain, they were overwhelmed and completely exhausted, according to the rescue teams. They could neither go forward nor back and had to wait for professional help.

The team of the police helicopter "Libelle" then moved out and recovered the four mountaineers. The mountain rescue service was ultimately able to rescue the exhausted Poles from the steep terrain by means of a rope and bring them to safety. According to current information, no one was injured.

Recovery by police helicopter "Libelle"

Mountain rescuer Bernd Tritscher drew lessons from the operation for other mountaineers. He appealed to all hikers and climbers to inform themselves about the demands of a planned route before setting out and, above all, to critically assess their own abilities and knowledge. "Informieren Sie sich vor Tourenstart über die Anforderungen einer geplanten Route und schätzen Sie vor allem Ihr Können und Wissen kritisch ein", so Tritscher.

In addition, sufficient reserves should be planned in for every tour, as the district leader emphasized. Every mountain tour should above all be enjoyable and not end in despair and being overwhelmed, he warned. "Unbedingt sollten immer Reserven eingeplant werden, denn jede Bergtour soll ja vor allem Vergnügen bereiten und nicht in Verzweiflung und Überforderung enden."

Appeal from District Leader Bernd Tritscher

The rescue itself was carried out using the cable winch of the police helicopter. Such winch rescues occur regularly in the Alps when hikers or climbers get into difficulty in steep, exposed terrain and are unable to descend on their own. The helicopter crew of the "Libelle" is specialized in such operations in the high-alpine area.

The Breithorn in the Steinernes Meer is one of the better-known touring destinations in Pinzgau and is also frequently visited by less experienced climbers. However, the normal route leads over passages that, according to Tritscher, are at the third level of difficulty and require corresponding experience and sure-footedness.

In the Pinzgau area, mountain rescue operations in which foreign mountaineers get into difficulty occur repeatedly during the summer. The rescue teams regularly point out that the alpine situation in the Salzburg region is underestimated and that even seemingly easy tours can be treacherous.

The four Polish mountaineers were able to receive medical care after the rescue and left the scene of the accident uninjured. The mountain rescue service did not provide any further details about their state of health after the operation.

Background: The Steinernes Meer and its risks

For the Pinzgau mountain rescue service, the incident is part of a series of similar operations in the current summer season. Tritscher pointed out that careful tour planning is the most important prerequisite for avoiding such emergencies.

According to the rescue teams, the emergency call was received at around 6:00 p.m. Several hours passed until the rescue, during which the four Poles had to hold out at the exposed spot. Darkness had already fallen during this time, further aggravating the situation.

The Steinernes Meer is a striking karst high plateau on the border between Salzburg and Bavaria. It is one of the most popular hiking areas in Pinzgau, but requires alpine experience due to its elevation and the often pathless terrain.

The case illustrates once again the risks of summer tourism in high-alpine terrain. Even marked routes can become dangerous in poor visibility, wet conditions, or fatigue, which is why Tritscher and other experts emphasize honest self-assessment as the most important safety measure.