A rescue operation was launched on Saturday, June 1, to evacuate dozens of hikers who found themselves stranded on Germany’s highest mountain, the Zugspitze, due to treacherous weather conditions.
According to the Bavarian Mountain Rescue Service, 29 hikers attempted to scale the 2,962-meter (9,718-foot) peak despite heavy snowfall and poor visibility. At around 2,500 meters (8,202 feet), the hikers could not continue their ascent due to the accumulation of fresh snow, which reached depths of up to 2 meters (6.6 feet) in some areas.
The Mountain Rescue Service, in collaboration with staff from the Zugspitze mountain railway company, mobilized to locate and extract the stranded hikers. The rescue efforts were further complicated by the freezing temperatures, which caused partial icing of the cable car equipment, rendering it inoperable at times.
Despite the challenging conditions, the rescue teams successfully escorted the hikers to the Sonnalpin Glacier restaurant on the Zugspitze plateau.
The Zugspitze, located on the border between Germany and Austria, is a popular destination for mountaineers and skiers. However, the ski season officially ended on May 1, and the unexpected snowfall caught many off guard.
Experts warn that climbing in such adverse weather conditions can be extremely dangerous, even for experienced mountaineers. The rapid changes in weather patterns and the risk of avalanches pose significant threats to those venturing into the high alpine regions.
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