Salzburg mountain rescue warns it may refuse dangerous callouts

Some mountain routes in Salzburg are becoming too dangerous to access, and rescuers may eventually refuse to respond in hazardous conditions, Salzburg mountain rescue chief Richard Feichram told ORF Radio Salzburg.

Rockfalls and landslides pose serious risks in some areas. Feichram said mountains including parts of the Gastein Valley in the Pongau could become inaccessible to hikers. Some paths can no longer be safely walked or marked, he said, adding that some mountains may be suitable only for winter use.

Hikers should be prepared for the possibility that rescuers cannot reach them if an accident happens in bad weather, Feichram said. The mountain rescue service does what it can, he said, but if flying conditions are unsuitable, rescuers may decide not to go up.

Recent operations have included difficult rescues, including the recovery of hikers from the ice-covered Birgkar in the Hochkönig massif.