Mysterious mountain accident: Doctor found on the Höllentalferner after months

Mysterious mountain accident: Doctor found on the Höllentalferner after months

The Zugspitze, as the highest peak in Germany, not only attracts mountaineers and adventure seekers, but also poses dangers. A tragic case that shocked the entire region concerns a doctor's wife from Wangen. After she was reported missing on the evening of December 4th, 2022, the police were deployed on December 5th, 2022 and initiated extensive search measures. These apparent efforts to find the missing doctor included several police mountain guides, two police helicopters and forces from the Grainau and Garmisch-Partenkirchen mountain rescue services, as Schwäbische.de reports.

The search for the accident continued and despite the efforts, the first attempts were unsuccessful due to the adverse snow conditions. Only the doctor's personal items and traces could be recovered. The police suspected that the doctor was on the Zugspitze roof and fell on the north side. It was only around seven months later, around two weeks ago, that her body was found in the area of ​​the Höllentalferner, around 400 meters below the summit.

Threatening ice cliffs

The Höllentalferner, known for its impressive glacier landscapes, also poses risks. These dangers also proved fatal to a 50-year-old Swiss vacationer. He set out on a tour last Friday and got lost in the upper section of the Höllentalferner. As he tried to get back to the normal route, he slipped and fell headfirst into a crevasse about ten meters. An uninvolved mountaineer witnessed the incident and immediately alerted the mountain rescue service. Fortunately, the man was quickly freed from his predicament using a pulley, but remained severely hypothermic. He was flown to the Garmisch-Partenkirchen hospital because he had suffered injuries of an undetermined degree, as Alpin.de describes.

These incidents show how challenging and dangerous the routes to the Zugspitze can be, especially in the Höllental, which is demanding with 2200 meters of altitude, via ferrata sections and the glacier. For this climb, good fitness and the right equipment, including sturdy shoes, a via ferrata set and crampons, are essential.

More accidents on the Zugspitze

Sadly, such accidents are not uncommon on the Zugspitze. Another dramatic rescue operation occurred on Sunday afternoon when a 38-year-old mountaineer from Herzberg in the Harz Mountains fell into a crevasse. She fell while crossing the Höllentalferner into the via ferrata and got stuck about eight meters deep. The mountain rescue team quickly began their rescue, despite difficult conditions such as heavy fog and the narrow crevasse. Fortunately, the woman, who was severely hypothermic, was finally rescued and flown to the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Clinic, as tz.de reports.

These incidents cast a shadow over the passion for mountaineering and make it clear that every tour, no matter how beautiful it may be, should be approached with care. The closure of the deceased doctor's practice a few weeks after the accident and the official announcement of an "unexpected death" make the tragedy and losses in the Alpine community appear even clearer.