A survey that went wrong

27 Aug 2011
 

Saturday 27 Aug at 09:06
A taxi had just dropped me at head of valley road
I am now setting off, dressed in shorts, up along stream at left

On the way up a summer storm developed.
There was cloud, rain, hail, 5 nearby lightning strikes,
then sleet followed by snow that buried all the path markers painted on the rock.

Some 3½hrs later I reached the hut
Cold and somewhat terrified
I changed and had a hot drink

17:08 Now warmed-up and in dry clothes
Looking out through a window in the St Pöltner Hütte

17:09 Outside the hut doorway

17:10 A German party relaxes in comfort
They are unaware a friend is now dead!

17:23 Storm abated - you can see down the valley now

17:23 Snow lies prettily on the hut platform

19:19 Rescue helicopter lands outside
Hut Warden's wife has supervised the landing
He follows her up from the helicopter

19:20 The Notarzt prepares to follow into the hut
She will announce the death of one person and the rescue of four others

Sunday 28 Aug at 08:08
The sun shines on the mountains

08:58 The German party air their boots and sit thinking

09:59 They set off down the path towards where their friend fell

10:40 The Hut warden's wife holds her baby to be photographed

15:49 An idyllic scene - looking down the valley
It is totally free of snow and ice

Monday 29 Aug at 11:04
I start down in the sunshine, after a discussion with Ramblers Holidays
Soon I will be leading on a tour in the heat and humidity of the Italian Lakes

11:18 The car park at the valley head appears below me
It is just beyond the lake

12:01 I take a last look up at the St Pöltner Hütte
It shows up clearly on the skyline

Click here for a fuller story of events on the first day