Dramatic Scenes

Mountain Guide Attacks Climber on the Großglockner

Crazy scenes unfolded on the Großglockner at an altitude of 3,000 meters. (File photo)(Bild: Wolfgang Hauke - stock.adobe.com)

A mountain guide—who, as it turned out, was from Styria—behaved extremely erratically on the Mürztaler Steig trail on the way to the Adlersruhe (Archduke Johann Hut) on the Großglockner. He tried to pass a Polish mountaineering couple with a guest. When the Polish man criticized this, the mountain guide nearly lost his temper. Now even the police are investigating.

The unbelievable incident took place last weekend and is documented in an Instagram video that’s going viral. At an altitude of about 3,000 meters, a Polish man and his female companion were on a narrow, exposed downhill section when the mountain guide from Schladming came down from above and tried to pass them. The Polish man politely asked the Austrian to wait—also out of consideration for his companion, who was right below him. The response: “I’m a mountain guide, shut your mouth!” Then the man from Styria went even further: “I’m coming up there to punch you!” As a result, the Polish man also responded with harsh words.

Here you can see the dramatic scenes in the video: 

Suddenly, the mountain guide, who had already passed by—including the Polish man’s companion—turned around, came back up to the man, and nearly went for his throat—on a narrow ridge at an altitude of 3,000 meters! He demanded that the Polish man behave himself—which he generally did. The woman tried to mediate the argument verbally. The mountain guide finally moved on. “It’s really unbelievable,” the Polish man called after him as he left.

“Behavior that is disastrous and absolutely unacceptable”
There will now be consequences for the Styrian mountain guide. The Kals Mountain and Ski Guides Association had arranged the assignment for him, but the Styrian is not a member of the association. “The behavior was disastrous and absolutely unacceptable,” emphasizes club president Michael Amraser. “We will no longer arrange any assignments for this mountain guide.” They also reached out to the Polish man via social media and asked for an apology. So far, he has not responded.

“Unlicensed” Mountain Guide Refuses to Comment
The “Krone” newspaper attempted to contact the mountain guide in question through the Kals Mountain Guide Office. However, according to the Kals mountain guides, he does not wish to comment on the incident.

Overtaking on the mountain is common practice. However, this incident is unacceptable both on a personal level and from a mountaineering perspective.

Walter Zörer, Präsident der österreichischen Berg- und Skiführer

Bild: Christof Birbaumer

Mountaineering Association Responds
According to President Walter Zörer, the Austrian Mountain and Ski Guides Association also considers the incident “unacceptable both on a personal level and from a mountaineering perspective.” Now, the regional association to which the unruly mountain guide belongs must address the incident and resolve it. “We certainly distance ourselves from this behavior,” Zörer emphasizes.

Police are investigating
Meanwhile, even the police have launched an investigation. “Today at 8:20 a.m., we received a complaint—or rather, a request to review the case,” explains Anton Raffler, deputy station commander of the Matrei police in East Tyrol. A person who saw the video filed the complaint.

Three months in prison loom
After consulting with the Innsbruck District Attorney’s Office, the police have already begun their investigation and will then send a report to the District Attorney’s Office. The case involves a suspicion of endangering physical safety. The mountain guide faces up to three months in prison.