Search operation in Tyrol

German ski tourers made fools of mountain rescuers

Briefing of the mountain rescuers from Hopfgarten and Westendorf.(Bild: Bergrettung Westendorf)

While emergency services were searching for "missing persons" in the Kitzbühel Alps in Tyrol, the Germans were sitting in a warm living room in Munich. A second touring group, which was on its way up to the Neue Bamberger Hütte in Kelchsau, was also playing cat and mouse with the emergency services. The emergency services and the hut owner were very annoyed.

The Westendorf and Hopfgarten mountain rescue teams are shaking their heads after this search operation. Martin Aschauer, landlord of the Neue Bamberger Hütte in the Kitzbühel Alps, had raised the alarm because two registered groups of ski tourers had still not arrived at the hut that evening. The result was a major search operation by the mountain rescue team in Kelchsau.