Enlarge image
Glockner bivouac: Two mountaineers from the Czech Republic have been stuck at 3,205 meters since Sunday
Photo: LPD KÄRNTEN / APA / dpa
Two Czechs were rescued by a police helicopter from the north side of the Großglockner after staying in a bivouac for two days. Several Austrian media report this unanimously.
On Sunday evening, the two men, aged 25 and 29, called the emergency number and stated that they had been injured by a falling rock, as the news site “Salzburg24” writes. They still managed to reach the Glockner bivouac at an altitude of 3,205 meters. However, stormy winds prevented rescue by helicopter until Tuesday morning. Because of the long duration, they decided not to go up to the injured.
As the “Kleine Zeitung” reports, the mountaineers were on the move with full cell phone batteries and food and always maintained contact with the mountain rescuers. The men were doing well “under the circumstances.” One was injured in the shoulder, the other in the foot. They are said to have told the rescue workers that they could stay in the bivouac for longer.
“Protection and safety in an emergency”
The Glockner bivouac has replaced the old, dilapidated bivouac box since 2020 and cost around 85,000 euros. It stands on a tubular steel frame on solid rock and is intended to offer at least 15 mountaineers who want to climb Austria's highest mountain from the north side "protection and safety in an emergency," according to the Austrian Alpine Club's website. However, bivouacs are “not romantic excursion destinations”.
Just a few weeks ago, three Czechs had to be rescued from the Großglockner in a 15-hour rescue operation. The men, a 57-year-old and two 40-year-old brothers, set off in the morning immediately after an eight-hour drive and despite bad weather forecast.
swe