Swiss authorities reported the recovery of five dead ski mounts in the Alps just outside of Zermatt, Switzerland’s famous luxury ski destination. Rescuers located the bodies on the Adler glacier. This specific glacier is on the Rimpfischhorn, a spectacular 4,199-meter (13,776-foot) summit east of Zermatt, close to the Italian border. Unfortunately, this tragic incident has overshadowed what should be a great upbeat start to the beautiful skiing season.
What that group of mountaineers found on the glacier was a terrible surprise. At an elevation of around 4,000 metres, they encountered four pairs of abandoned skis. The climbers had just summited the Rimpfischhorn from the Britannia hut and seeing the discarded gear alerted authorities. The Valais cantonal police acted quickly, deploying aerial and ground resources to search for the missing.
On Saturday, the helicopter sent up to reconnoiter the Rimpfischhorn altitude was a key part of the recovery efforts. Just a few days later, the bodies of all five skiers were recovered. Federal investigators had opened a civil rights investigation to determine who was killed. They want to find out who they are and what led up to this horrible tragedy.
Though the Rimpfischhorn is one of the better-known traverses in Swiss backcountry ski lore, this year’s hyperactive weather pattern has made it exceedingly difficult. As IFMGA guide Yves Damilano noted, heavy winds and low visibility have already forced two mountaineers to spend the night stranded on the nearby Fiescherhörner mountain. Last month, Zermatt was overwhelmed by the same accessibility difficulties. Deep snowfall started avalanches and blocked roads at this skiing hot spot.
Five men—three generations of one family—lost their lives in the disaster. On the flip side, rescuers discovered two others 200 meters higher up, on a very small area of snow—an example of how fickle mountain winter conditions are.
The region’s popularity for downhill skiing further increases the need for safety measures for backcountry adventurers. The investigations are still in progress. Local officials continue to emphasize the importance of planning and understanding changing weather conditions, as well as elevation when engaging in mountain activities.