Winter sports in the mountains are inherently demanding for skiers, hikers and climbers. On and off the piste, they have to withstand high speeds, move at dizzying heights or endure icy cold. So if something goes wrong in these conditions, often in remote locations, quick and above all highly professional help is usually needed. And in the high mountains, this comes from the mountain rescuers. SnowTrex explains what tasks the guardian angels from the snow have, what they need for their job and how winter sports enthusiasts should react in an emergency.
The history of mountain rescue
The birth of alpine tourism as snow fans know it in the 21st century began around 250 years ago. At that time, mountaineers gradually climbed the first peaks in the Alps. What followed was a kind of competition to see who could reach higher mountains faster on even more difficult routes. With the expansion of the railway network in the 19th century, access to the European high mountains also became easier for non-alpinists. As a result of the growing popularity of sports in the mountains, more and more people decided to found alpine clubs. The Austrian Alpine Club, for example, was founded in 1862.
34 years later, at the beginning of March 1896, an avalanche occurred on the Reißtalersteig in Styria. Three mountaineers from Vienna were buried by the masses of snow. Because their bodies were only found in the snow after several days, a discussion arose in the country as to how winter sports enthusiasts could be helped more quickly in emergency situations. The solution was finally found on 11 May of the same year at a meeting of the five most important Alpine associations at the time. They decided “that a central office should be set up in Vienna by the Alpine Corporations to intervene in the event of Alpine accidents”. A few weeks later, the “Alpine Rescue Committee Vienna” (ARAW) was registered. To this day, it is the first and oldest organised mountain rescue service in the world.
Mountain rescuers as helpers in an emergency
Mountains are difficult to access by nature. Whether skiing in winter or mountaineering in summer. In both cases, winter sports enthusiasts and climbers are usually in small groups and often even alone at an average altitude of more than 1,500 metres. It is not possible to go to the doctor or ask a passer-by for directions if you are injured. So if you are unable to help yourself in such cases and your companions are powerless, there is only one option left: call the mountain rescue service. It is better to call the emergency services more than less. However, only if rescue is absolutely necessary for minor injuries.
In life-threatening situations, such as a heart attack or stroke, calling the local rescue service, in this case the mountain rescue service, is of course the only correct option. The same applies to serious injuries such as broken bones, torn ligaments and bleeding or serious complaints such as frostbite. In the case of minor injuries, on the other hand, you need to differentiate and assess for yourself whether a rescue from the mountain is really necessary. In other words, have I twisted my ankle so badly that I can’t continue my descent or have I dislocated my shoulder when I fell on the piste and can’t continue down to the gondola because of the pain? If this is really the case, then the only thing that really helps is to reach for my mobile phone.
Insurance companies don’t cover all mountain rescues
In the case of so-called “blockages”, i.e. when they can neither move forwards nor backwards, mountaineers can also call the emergency services. For example, if they realise on a via ferrata that they are completely out of their depth. Or if they do not have the right equipment (ropes, crampons, etc.) to abseil down safely from a precarious situation. In this case, only the mountain rescue service can help. The same applies to sudden changes in the weather or avalanches. The well-known “sudden onset of darkness”, on the other hand, is no reason to alert the rescuers. After all, it is possible to predict exactly when it will get dark on the mountain. Climbers who are “surprised” by the darkness have simply made a planning error. If the weather conditions allow, they have no choice but to set up an emergency bivouac and spend the night at lofty heights.
However, if winter sports enthusiasts and mountaineers are still mobile in these situations, can look after themselves for the time being or can stay overnight in an emergency bivouac, they should refrain from making an emergency call. However, it is of course advisable to at least inform the accommodation or relatives by telephone about the predicament and how to proceed. This is the best way to avoid accidentally reporting a missing person.
However, it is important not to make an emergency call for two reasons. Firstly, so as not to unnecessarily tie up capacity and prevent the mountain rescuers from not being able to attend to another, perhaps more seriously injured patient at the same time. And secondly, to avoid being stuck with several thousand euros in rescue costs. Finally, your own insurance company may refuse to cover the costs of the rescue. For example, because of what they consider to be an unjustified reason for the operation.
In order to literally “play it safe” here and not end up having to pay for a mountain rescue, SnowTrex recommends that its customers take the appropriate precautions either when booking or shortly afterwards. In other words: Either choose the all-round carefree cover offered by SnowTrex directly as insurance or check whether you have foreign insurance through your own credit card or, for example, through a car club membership.
Mountain rescuers are just a phone call away
Alerting the mountain rescue service after an incident on the piste works just like calling the emergency services. In Germany, 112 is dialled on a mobile phone, just like in Italy and France. In Austria, the mountain rescue service can be reached by dialling the Alpine emergency number 140. For emergencies in Switzerland, the mountain rescue number 1414 must be dialled with the SIM card of a Swiss network operator and 0041-333-333-333 with foreign SIM cards. As the mountain rescue service always calls back on the mobile phone from which the emergency call was made, it is absolutely essential to remain reachable here. So before the mountain rescuers arrive at the injured person’s location, you should save any other phone calls for the time being. For example with relatives.
Important: On Android smartphones (where the “Emergency SOS” function must be activated in advance in the settings) or on an iPhone 7 and older, pressing the on/off button five times after a 5-second countdown will dial the emergency number directly. The same function is activated on an iPhone 8 and newer by simultaneously pressing one of the two volume buttons and the on/off button for a few seconds until the “Emergency SOS” slider appears on the screen. However, if the smartphone initially has no reception on the mountain, the following is recommended: First switch the mobile phone off and then on again and then dial the emergency number directly instead of entering the PIN.
In the event that the mobile phone has no reception at all on the mountain even after a restart or the battery is empty, there is another alternative. The Alpine emergency signal can also be used to draw attention to an emergency. An audible or visible signal, i.e. a call or a flash of light, is “emitted” six times a minute. After a one-minute pause, this signalling frequency is then repeated. Those affected recognise that the signal has been “received” at a mountain hut or lift station, for example, and that the mountain rescue service has been alerted when they receive a response signal from there three times a minute, also in the form of light or sound.
This is how demanding the job of the mountain rescuers is
Wind, snowfall, darkness, altitude – on their missions, mountain rescuers are always exposed to the elements and therefore primarily to adverse conditions. Their job is correspondingly demanding and sometimes dangerous. With this in mind, people who want to become mountain rescuers must first ask themselves one question: Are they prepared to accept the risks of the job? Working in the mountains requires not only mental strength, but also the physical requirements for mountain rescue missions. Most applicants have already been active as alpinists in their free time or professionally. They are therefore mountaineers, ski tourers or freeriders and at least 16 years old. It should also be borne in mind that they will be working on a voluntary basis and therefore mountain rescuers do not receive a salary. In addition, similar to the volunteer fire brigade, they must be available at all times during their normal working hours and be released from work for missions.
One training course, different programmes
If applicants can tick all these boxes, those responsible at the local mountain rescue organisations are always delighted with the interest shown. After the psychological and physical aptitude test organised by the mountain rescue service, the mountain rescuer training course in Germany lasts just under three years. In Austria, it takes two years. At the German Red Cross (DRK) mountain rescue organisation, training to become a mountain rescuer is divided into two parts. Firstly, two basic modules (winter mountaineering, summer mountaineering) must be completed and then an aptitude test in both “disciplines” must be passed. This is followed by five basic training modules and an examination at the end of each. In the areas of winter rescue, emergency medicine, air rescue, summer rescue and nature conservation. The mountain rescue service is not only responsible for alpine rescues in Germany. It also supports the German Red Cross on missions abroad and is deployed in disaster relief, nature conservation and environmental protection.
In Austria, applicants take two entrance exams after a year of training, during which they also actively take part in missions. In summer, they have to prove themselves in climbing, manoeuvring in rough terrain and rescue techniques. In winter, the test consists of the task of climbing 1,000 metres in altitude in two hours and then skiing safely back down to the valley. Once both tests have been passed, advanced training in first aid and the basics of alpine medicine follows. For fully trained mountain rescuers, the mountain rescue services also offer many further and advanced training opportunities during their work. For example, to become an avalanche dog guide or canyon rescuer.
Mountain rescuers help with calculated risk
In the event that an emergency call is received from the mountains via 112 or 140, the control centre transfers the operation to the responsible mountain rescue service. Here, the incident commander first takes a look at the situation. He then quickly decides how many mountain rescuers to send to the scene of the accident and with what equipment, the so-called rescue equipment. When coordinating the rescue, those responsible always have the operating conditions in mind. The weather and terrain in the mountains pose a fundamental challenge. And this can be exacerbated by various environmental influences. In summer, for example, due to approaching heat storms or in winter due to the risk of avalanches away from the pistes. In the event that the situation on the mountain becomes too dangerous for the rescuers themselves, the head of operations can also suspend the rescue. With a view to the safety of his employees, he is obliged to take only a calculated risk.
The difficulty and length of the missions can sometimes literally be like night and day. For example, the rescue of an injured skier on a wide and well-prepared piste can be successfully completed within an hour. Rescuing a disorientated mountaineer stuck in armpit-deep snow in the dark, on the other hand, can take a whole night. Here, the mountain rescuers must always first decide how best to proceed in the terrain. If the skier was travelling off-piste but directly under a lift, the mountain rescuers can abseil down to them from a gondola, for example. In the case of operations in remote freeride areas or via ferratas, the mountain rescuers may also have to fight their way up either on foot or on skis or even call in their colleagues from the air rescue service.
Mountain rescuers are always on duty
Like their colleagues from the police, fire brigade and rescue service, mountain rescuers are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In order to always be ready for action and manage thousands of rescues per year, the mountain rescuers in Germany (D), Austria (A) and Switzerland (CH), the so-called DACH region, need a lot of personnel. They also need to be stationed close to the mountains, whether in the high or low mountain ranges. This is why the mountain rescue organisation in Germany is divided into 10 regional associations (Bavaria, Harz, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony, Black Forest, Thuringia, Westphalia-Lippe and Württemberg) with almost 14,500 dedicated members.
The Austrian Mountain Rescue Service is an independent organisation. It is divided into 7 regional organisations (Lower Austria and Vienna, Salzburg, Styria, Upper Austria, Carinthia, Tyrol and Vorarlberg). Around 12,000 volunteer mountain rescuers are active in around 300 local centres. Each year, they carry out almost 7,000 missions in the mountains. Alpine Rescue Switzerland (ARS) is also divided into 7 regional organisations (Eastern Switzerland, Graubünden, Glarnerland, Central Switzerland, Bern, Western Switzerland and Ticino). Around 3,000 mountain rescuers per year share their services between the 92 rescue centres in the Confederation. Unlike in Germany and Austria, mountain rescue services in Switzerland are not only made up of volunteers. In addition to volunteers, doctors and full-time mountain guides also work for the ARS.
Mountain rescue missions are not cheap
The costs incurred by mountain rescue services in the DACH region to ensure smooth operations are immense. The purchase, operation and maintenance of vehicles, medicines and other technical equipment alone costs several million euros a year. Added to this are the costs of rent, training and further education and training programmes. In Switzerland, unlike in Germany and Austria, the mountain rescue organisation also pays the salaries of its full-time employees.
However, the mountain rescuers in all three countries are financed almost identically. Firstly, through donations from private individuals and companies. On the other hand, through funding from the cantonal governments or the interior ministries of the individual federal states. In addition, the mountain rescue services charge the health insurance companies fixed flat rates.
Do not confuse mountain rescuers with air rescuers
A distinction must be made between mountain rescue and air rescue. While mountain rescuers, in addition to other tasks such as missions abroad, are exclusively concerned with the care, rescue and recovery of people from emergency situations in the mountains, air rescuers are also deployed in other areas of the rescue service. In Germany, there are a total of 89 rescue helicopter stations spread throughout the country. The commercial aircraft are operated by ADAC Luftrettung, DRF Luftrettung and Johanniter. For air rescue in Austria, 24 rescue helicopters from the Christophorus Air Rescue Association (CFV) are in use. This is operated jointly by the Austrian Automobile Club (ÖAMTC) and the Red Cross. In Switzerland, the Swiss Air-Rescue Service (Rega) is a private foundation. It operates the rescue helicopter fleet and 12 air rescue stations.
In certain cases, mountain rescuers can therefore request the assistance of an air rescue helicopter. Just like the police or fire brigade do after road accidents or other emergencies. In the mountains, this always happens, for example, when the mountain rescue service can no longer make any further progress with its own technical resources. Or if the patient’s condition is so critical that they need to be rushed to hospital.
FAQs about mountain rescuers
Since when have there been mountain rescuers?
The first mountain rescue organisation was founded in Austria in 1896. After winter sports tourism in the Alps had continued to grow in the preceding decades and was gradually made accessible to the masses, three mountaineers died in an avalanche accident in Styria in March. On 11 May 1896, the five most important Alpine associations discussed how the injured could be helped more quickly in such cases. Their solution: the registration of the “Alpine Rescue Committee Vienna” (ARAW). To this day, it is considered the first and therefore oldest organised mountain rescue service in the world.
How can winter sports enthusiasts contact the mountain rescue service in an emergency?
Injured winter sports enthusiasts or lost mountaineers can call the mountain rescue service in the same way as the normal rescue service in a large city. In Germany, France and Italy, they dial the emergency number 112. In Austria, the Alpine emergency number is 140, while in Switzerland, 1414 must be dialled with a SIM card from a Swiss network operator and 0041-333-333-333 with a foreign SIM card. If there is no mobile phone reception, those affected can also use the Alpine emergency signal as an alternative. Here, an audible or visible signal, i.e. a call or a flash of light, must be “sent out” six times per minute. After a one-minute pause, this signalling frequency is then repeated.
Who pays for a mountain rescue?
The person’s health insurance will only cover the costs of a mountain rescue if there really is an injury. In addition, it only pays for transport to hospital, for example by rescue helicopter, if the health of the injured person is seriously at risk. In the event that hikers get lost in the mountains on a tour or mountaineers get stuck while climbing, they can also call the mountain rescue service. However, they must then pay for the mountain rescue service out of their own pocket. Winter sports enthusiasts who want to protect themselves against such eventualities can take out an insurance package, such as the one offered by SnowTrex, when booking their holiday. Or they can check in advance whether they already have foreign travel health insurance, for example via their own credit card or membership of a car club.
How many mountain rescue organisations are there in Germany, Austria and Switzerland?
In Germany (D), Austria (A) and Switzerland (CH), the so-called DACH region, there are a total of 24 mountain rescue organisations. In Germany, under the umbrella of the Red Cross, there are 10 regional mountain rescue organisations with almost 14,500 dedicated members. The Austrian Mountain Rescue Service is divided into 7 regional organisations, which are subdivided into around 300 local branches with around 12,000 volunteer mountain rescuers. Alpine Rescue Switzerland (ARS) is also made up of 7 regional organisations and operates 92 rescue stations with around 3,000 mountain rescuers.
What are the tasks of the mountain rescue service?
The tasks of mountain rescue services are divided into three areas, at least in Germany. Firstly, and therefore mainly, the search, rescue and recovery of injured persons, especially in alpine and rough terrain. The members of the mountain rescue service are divided into the mountain rescue service, high-altitude rescue and cave rescue and are also involved in psychosocial emergency care. Secondly, the mountain rescue service also has a support function in the foreign missions of the German Red Cross (DRK) as well as in ground-based rescue services and disaster control. Thirdly, the mountain rescue service is also officially deployed in nature conservation and environmental protection. In other words, when additional personnel are needed in the nature conservation service or support is required for nature conservation projects.
