Authorities close probe into mysterious Karwendel survival cache

Authorities have closed their investigation into who left nine barrels of supplies in a hidden cache in the Karwendel mountains near Lenggries. BR reported that three tips failed to provide useful leads.

A hunter found the barrels last summer in steep, hard-to-reach terrain within a nature reserve. They contained food, some of it past its expiry date since 2014, as well as medication, batteries, clothing, a sleeping bag, dog food, a tent and a camp bed. The supplies appeared to have been stored as a reserve for use in a disaster.

The Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen district office said the case would now be closed. Dumping rubbish or other items in a nature reserve is not permitted, so the barrels had to be removed.

Vehicles could not reach the cache, and the barrels were too heavy to carry out by hand. About 40 soldiers from the Bundeswehr in Bad Reichenhall and 25 pack animals, mainly mules, were brought in to help. The group used pulleys and carrying frames to move the barrels down a steep slope, then loaded them onto the animals for a nearly four-kilometre journey to a road. The barrels were taken from there to Greiling for proper disposal.

The district office thanked the Bundeswehr for its assistance. Who created the cache remains unknown.