Bones found during mountain rescue training at Zugspitze

Mountain rescue teams and police found several bones while clearing rubbish from the Höllentalferner glacier during a training exercise at the Zugspitze, BR reported. It is not yet known how long the bones had been there or whether they are human.

Police are examining the remains and checking whether they could be linked to missing-person cases.

The exercise involved the Bavarian Police Helicopter Squadron and the Grainau mountain rescue service. Teams practised winch rescues and transporting loads across difficult terrain, and assessed potential landing sites for future operations.

The helicopter was also used to remove rubbish and old equipment from the glacier. The crews collected about 700 kilograms, including old mountaineering gear, wire ropes and plastic bottles, and flew it down the mountain in large sacks.