After an avalanche

Rusty snowboard triggers search operation

A search was carried out for a buried snowboarder on the Schlossalm.(Bild: Bergrettung Bad Hofgastein)

Following an avalanche, the Bad Hofgastein (Salzburg) Mountain Rescue Service was called out on Monday afternoon to search for the owner of an abandoned snowboard. The all-clear was quickly given.

On Monday afternoon, Bad Hofgastein Mountain Rescue was called out to a supposed avalanche on the Schlossalm after two skiers discovered a snowboard near the Naturfreundehaus. It was suspected that a snowboarder might have been buried, as there had been some snow slides in the area. 

As a result, 14 mountain rescuers from the Bad Hofgastein branch were immediately deployed. A mountain rescue dog handler and his dog were picked up by helicopter from the pick-up system in Dorfgastein and flown to the scene at around 1750 meters above sea level.

"Everything was searched"
"We searched everything, including with the 'Recco'", explained mountain rescue team leader Hannes Reitsamer. Fortunately, the all-clear was soon given: It was just an older snow slab and there was no person under the snow. The snowboard discovered was from the 2019/2020 winter season and was rusty, indicating that it had probably been there for some time.