There is Winter and there is WINTER. That late January till early February is on average the worst, coldest, windest weather + short day. March for example is also considered winter, weather is less extreme and days are bit longer.
I had sort of enlighting moment today.
Cause like... for real, they didnt have to be stuck near the peak. People would go nuts just SEEING that there is someone climbing that mountain, from that side, that time of day. And it actually is kinda reasonable assumption that omg, they must be unaware and forced to keep trying to go up cause they cant go down and thats why the heli went there.
But Jesus Christ why? Its not like they came from Greece or Spain where climate is different. Its not possible for an Austrians to not know how the winter weather in Austria is.
How ignorant can you be? That parking lot must be almost empty except for their car. Did they even pass or were passed by other climbers? ANY other climbers on their way up?
How confident this guy would have to be to assume that hes gonna be fine doing this, not to mention her.
This guy is going up the way they planned to go down. Their trail is that vertical thing up and up and up and some mor vertical up, constantly holding on to the chains that likely were mostly buried in snow.
Their timing to the breakfast spot seems kinda reasonable (to me, judging by other people's estimations and experiences and Grossglockner website) in a way that they did good.
But that was the easiest part, less time and energy consuming path. And it was so late in the day already.
Yeah, but they arent even doing official winter guided climbs in January.
On this website there is an example of an offer for a winter climb
Climb Grossglockner - Stand atop Austria's highest peak with us
And that "winter" means "March to May".
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And thats also not the way they went, but the "easier" one.
Fixed belay bars...