Hiker in Sandals Caught Off Guard by Storm on Naggleralm

When the heavy rain set in and severe gusts of wind picked up, it was no longer possible for the family to continue safely or to turn back. "Da alle vier Personen lediglich Sandalen trugen, konnten sie den durch den Regen stark aufgeweichten, rutschigen und steil abfallenden Steig weder gefahrlos weitergehen noch umkehren", the Carinthia State Police Directorate explained.

The father then placed an emergency call on his mobile phone. The rescue services responded immediately to the emergency call and set out right away to reach the stranded family on the rain-soaked trail.

Rescue Operation on the Naggleralm

An officer from the Alpine Operations Group of the police ascended together with a mountain rescuer to the stranded family and led them safely out of the rough and slippery terrain. The rescuers led them safely out of the rough and slippery terrain, as the police statement further noted.

For the further transport out, a quad bike was initially used, with which the family was brought to an all-terrain vehicle. The family was first taken on a quad bike to an all-terrain vehicle, since the direct route through the softened terrain could not be traversed any other way.

From there, the four people could finally be safely transported into the valley, completely soaked through but fortunately uninjured. The group of four could be safely transported from there into the valley. The family remained uninjured, but after the operation lasting several hours, they had to be cared for while soaked through and hypothermic.

Risks of Inadequate Equipment

The incident throws a spotlight on the risks of inadequate equipment on mountain hikes. The police pointed out that the combination of lacking sturdy footwear, softened ground, and a trail running along the lift line had aggravated the situation for the family.

The weather conditions in the area had deteriorated drastically within a short period of time in the afternoon. Such sudden weather changes are not uncommon in the Carinthian Alps even in summer and repeatedly pose unexpected problems for hikers.

The rescue services spoke of a fortunate outcome after the operation. The family had indeed been in a serious emergency, but through the rapid response and the father's emergency call, worse had been prevented, according to the operation forces.

Police Advisories

The Carinthia State Police Directorate used the incident to once again point out the importance of appropriate equipment and careful tour planning. Sturdy mountain boots, rain protection, and weatherproof clothing are part of the basic equipment for every mountain tour.

At the time of the storm, the family was at an altitude of around 1,800 meters above sea level when the first gusts of wind set in, according to the police. Visibility had rapidly decreased in the heavy rain, additionally making orientation more difficult.

According to the police, the operation on the Naggleralm lasted around two hours. Apart from the Alpine Operations Group and the mountain rescue services, no other rescue services were required, since the family had not sustained any injuries.