Climbing
An unidentified tourist was captured on video climbing up the Via Ferrata to the Zugspitze wearing Birkenstock sandals. The video by German mountain guide Christian Hessing has gone viral on Facebook, with many commenters expressing their outrage at the reckless behavior of the tourist. Hessing is an experienced mountain guide and volunteer for the local mountain rescue. In his voice over, he sarcastically states, “It’s just awesome how people are climbing out there.”
While it is only about five minutes from the top of the cable car to the peak of Germany’s tallest mountain with a peak elevation of 9,717 feet, the rocky ascend is via a steep Via Ferrata that climbers should not attempt unsecured. The climber in Birkenstocks is wearing dress pants and a jumper over a dress shirt and is accompanied by a woman in dress sneakers and short shorts, and it is clear neither of them is roped in. The attire seems more fitting for a drink at the Country Club than a dangerous hike. One mishap and the unsecured climber would tumble down the steep rockface for several hundred feet.
The video has brought out a lot of angry comments by experienced mountain climbers and guides, who are bemoaning the reckless attitude of the tourists, who endanger themselves and others and cause unnecessary work for mountain rescue should a preventable mishap occur. In the last 10 years, an average of three people have perished each year climbing the Zugspitze. This year has seen three deaths thus far. Just last month, a 43-year-old man perished when plunging down the mountain. A fourth death occurred in late July when an 18-year-old was struck by lightning on the mountain.
