The Berchtesgaden Mountain Rescue team has experienced an exceptionally busy period over the recent winter holidays, responding to numerous emergencies in the region. According to the Berchtesgadener Land district branch of the Bavarian Red Cross, rescue teams carried out 32 operations between December and early January, with ten occurring in January alone. Most incidents were linked to winter sports and outdoor activities such as sledding and skiing, particularly in the Jenner and Götschen areas.

Intensive Operations During the Epiphany Holiday

The Epiphany holiday was especially demanding for the rescue teams. Early in the afternoon, a 75-year-old woman from the Upper Palatinate region fell while hiking on the Carl-von-Linde-Weg and was unable to move due to severe back pain. She received immediate first aid from mountain rescuers, the local innkeeper, and a Berchtesgadener Red Cross ambulance crew before being transferred to the Bad Reichenhall district hospital for further treatment.

Shortly after, another incident required urgent attention near the Jenner-Spinnergraben. A 23-year-old woman was injured in a serious sledding accident, veering off the path and tumbling through the mountain forest. She sustained a significant shoulder injury. The mountain rescue team, supported by a Salzburg emergency physician and the Christophorus 6 air rescue team, secured the patient and transported her back to the trail by rope. The helicopter then landed to facilitate her transfer to the hospital. Seven mountain rescuers were involved in managing both emergencies simultaneously.

Weekend Brings Further Injuries

In the following weekend, rescue teams were again called out for four further incidents. On Saturday morning, a 56-year-old local resident suffered a serious shoulder injury after falling on the Krautkaser-Zielhang. The mountain rescue preventative service and Traunstein's Christoph 14 helicopter crew provided medical assistance before transporting the patient to the district hospital.

Later that day, a 13-year-old boy from the Rosenheim district lost consciousness briefly while skiing at Götschen and was subsequently taken to the hospital. On Sunday, two more individuals sustained significant injuries: a 12-year-old girl hurt her shoulder, and a 52-year-old woman from Flachgau suffered a major leg injury. Both were stabilized and transported to nearby medical facilities for further care.

Additional Incidents Over the Holiday Season

The rescue teams continued to respond to multiple incidents throughout the holiday period. On January 4, a 19-year-old local resident was injured while sledding at Jenner and was taken to the hospital. New Year's Day saw a nine-year-old boy from North Rhine-Westphalia requiring medical attention after being hurt at Jenner-Mitterkaser, followed by a transfer to Salzburg State Hospital.

Other notable incidents included a 43-year-old man from Rosenheim breaking his upper arm near Jenner's mountain station on December 30, and a midday call the previous day for a dislocated kneecap on the Malerwinklrundweg at Königssee. Throughout late December, several other visitors required intervention for foot and leg injuries sustained while hiking or participating in winter activities.

Rescue Operations Extend Beyond Injuries

Mountain rescue teams were also involved in non-injury-related emergencies. On December 1, they participated in a night search for a missing 31-year-old woman in Unterschönau. The search dog team from Ramsau located her in steep terrain, after which she was safely brought to the valley and transferred to the Bad Reichenhall district hospital.

Despite the heavy workload during the winter months, the summer season remains the most active period for the Berchtesgaden Mountain Rescue. For the year 2025, the station has already recorded 325 operations, reflecting ongoing demand for rescue services in the region's mountainous and recreational areas.