Heat drives surge in exhausted hikers rescued in Vorarlberg

Vorarlberg mountain rescue teams responded to 106 callouts in July, up from 76 in the same month last year, ORF reported. Many incidents involved hikers suffering from exhaustion and the consequences, including falls.

Rescue coordinator Martin Burger said the heat affected people even at higher elevations. In June, the number of callouts was nearly unchanged year on year, with 70 compared with 68 in 2025.

Most of the July operations were smaller missions, including bringing exhausted hikers back from mountain huts. They generally required two or three rescuers to provide care and medical assistance. No major rescue operations have been recorded so far this year.

Final figures for August are not yet available, but the mountain rescue service had recorded 81 ground operations by August 23, compared with 91 in August 2025.

Air rescue activity also increased in July. The Christophorus 8 and Gallus 1 helicopters flew a combined 176 missions, compared with 110 in July 2025. Christophorus 8 recorded 95 missions, up from 69, while Gallus 1 flew 81, compared with 41 the previous year.

Mountain rescuers expect callout numbers to remain high if periods of good weather continue through the autumn. Burger advised hikers to plan routes carefully because the days are shorter and trips should end before dark. He also warned that paths at higher elevations may already be frozen, wet or slippery, increasing the risk of accidents.