Majority of the victimized individuals are males, singletons, and hailing from foreign countries.
In the picturesque Swiss canton of Wallis, the summer of 2022 has seen an alarming increase in fatal accidents on high tours. A staggering 21 incidents have been reported within just six weeks, a number that is almost as many as in the entire previous year - throughout Switzerland.
The tragedies have claimed lives of climbers from various nations, including Poland and Austria. One of the victims was a solo climber near the Breithorn glacier crevasse, who was fortunately rescued by Zermatt mountain rescuers despite wearing only shorts. Another life was lost when a Pole fell into a crevasse alone on the Dufourspitze.
An Austrian also met with misfortune while descending from Lagginhorn, and two Poles froze to death after getting lost from the route at Weissmies in bad weather. These incidents serve as a grim reminder of the dangers that solo climbing poses and the importance of proper planning and weather awareness.
Recently, three Zermatt mountain rescuers found themselves in a challenging situation on Breithorn, the easiest four-thousander in the Alps. They were setting up a tripod to hoist a mountaineer out of a crevasse. Fortunately, the mountaineer was lightly injured, and the rescuers were able to complete their mission without any fatalities.
Two other hikers attempted to cross a crevasse nearby, but they too required the assistance of the rescuers. The group managed to reach the 4164-meter-high summit of Breithorn, rescuing the two hikers and ensuring their safe descent.
The incidents this summer have underscored the need for climbers to prioritise safety and teamwork. As the autumn season approaches, it is hoped that the number of accidents will decrease, and climbers will continue to enjoy the majestic Swiss Alps with a renewed sense of caution and respect for the mountains' inherent dangers.
