Austria - Thomas Plamberger leaves gf, Kerstin Gurtner to freeze to death on Austria's tallest mountain - charged with manslaughter - Jan.19/2025

[RedHaus]

I dont understand the logic of "going on ahead to get help" if he had already contacted rescuers and they said they couldnt send the helicopter again.

Soooo... hes going ahead for what reason? To call them again and see if they can send helicopter yet? He already had cell service there so what is he even going ahead for?

You obviously need to hunker down in this situation and try to keep each other warm and wait for rescue. Leaving her to get help which had already been contacted makes no sense whatsoever.

Yup.

1. At the least TP panicked and left KG to save his own life, taking their thermal blankets and bivouak sack with him in case he needed them to survive.

2. At the worst he took off at 2am with the life saving equipment because:

a. he left KG to die due to his:

i. malignant negligence and narcissism, or

ii. intent to kill her from the start.

b. KG had already died due to his:

i. malignant negligence and narcissism, or

ii. intent to kill her from the start.

I suspect 2.b.ii. But I understand that the prosecution can only try to prove 2.a.i.

IMO.
ET: clarify format and content

 

[Little Jack]

Yes I agree. I think she was dead (or he thought she was due to being unresponsive) and he panicked and didnt want to spend the night with her body

 

[beubeubeu]

I kept trying to come up with something that could make Thomas's decisions appear less loony to me.
And to my own surprise I did.
If it wasnt just two of them.
Taking inexperienced Kerstin there in January, with that splitboard and in snowboarding boots... yeah. But then what? They would succesfully, smoothly climb up, descended safely, got to the snowy, snowboardable part of the normal route - and what? Kerstin would put her splitboard on and snowboard or ski down to the hut? Further? Then walk her way back to the car and wait in the car? Makes no sense. Waiting in the hut makes bit more sense but does it really? All that effort of carrying it with her, using less climbing-convenient shoes... just to snowboard down ALONE and leave him walking by himself?
Possible, possible... but that would be weird.

That whole ordeal would be much safer (still not very, but sooooo much more than it was) if they were in a bigger group.

That would (for me) make it much MORE likely that they would get a delay with the start - cause more people, more possible issues with getting anywhere in time.

Then it would (for me) make it much MORE likely that people would go for something reckless, unsafe and risky.

In the same time: more people, so not only Thomas but also 2, 3 or more experienced climbers + one inexperienced Kerstin would make the climb appear much safer.

And it actually WOULD be much safer. More people - better safety net. In case that somebody slips its much easier to catch them and put them back on their foot as there is few people vs. just one.

Not only safer but also faster. With all that snow and ice that had to be there looking/searching for good footing to make each step on these stones would have to take forever and require maximum focus. If that person leading the group could switch with another experienced climber, not as mentally exhausted with the pressure every second then (at least in my mind) it would go so much faster.
Its not like Kerstin could be the one doing that. It would have to be Thomas all the time and nobody is a machine.

Then, if something happened like half their way up, some serious fight or ambition-hurting disagreement what led everyone but Thomas and Kerstin decide to descend...
Surely, that would NOT make the decision to keep going up seem good, safer or reasonable BUT in this case I see a reason for that action. Even assuming "just" anger - and it could be much more than that.

Then I get it. Thomas, maybe not feeling 100% sure thats best idea but also well experienced with Grossglockner may figure that he can do it, and judging by previous performances of Kerstin assume that she can too.

So they kept slowly going up. Slowly, slowly, in the dark, but up. Everything goes kinda good, as good as it can in these circumstances. High pressure all the time, focused on finding next spot to stand on all the time. And suddenly heli shows up, lights everything around them.
Then confusion: what theyre doing? why theyre here? we havent called help so they have to be here for someone else...
In this scenario yes, I understand how, despite of the fact that they objectively needed help they ended up not making any signs of emergency. And why they werent checking their phones.

Then I can also see how he may freak out and lose significant part of his judgement ability as he realised that Kerstin cant go any further and heli wont come back for them.

Then, IF under impression that rescue told him that they wont come - but that, for me, works ONLY if he already felt deeply betrayed by his companions who left and put them into this situation... then it would make even more sense for me that he would feel insane need to act and DO SOMETHING as nobody but him seems to care about them - and to act fast.

And of course he would put his phone on silent while going that crazy route in the dark. I get that.

And thats as close as I can get to understanding him.
+ that scenario still has two holes in it.
1. he would have to overcome the reflex that he SHOULD have (and am expecting him to have - considering what he does for living) and to make sure she's in as safe place as she can be and as protected from cold as she could be.
2. to not even try calling again right after setting a foot on the less risky part of descend is also... weird.

And most importantly in this scenario - it makes sense for me that Kerstin would plan and want to snowboard down. Cause there could be someone else with same plan in the group - or even if there was not, Thomas still wouldnt be going down alone, but with others.

But that, all the above - works (for me) ONLY if Thomas was also left on the mountain to take care of himself and Kerstin alone before. If that happened then I see it as the missing factor that could mess up with the brain of this guy so much he ended acting as he ended up acting with all these horrible decisions.

But even that still has some holes, and brings more questions.
Like:
Were people who noticed lights on Gross just some random people checking out how it looks like, or is there any chance that these were their companions, or people who heard from their companions that there may be people still climbing the mountain?
Why havent he said anything about it?
Or did he?
Would he be charged anyway if he said that he felt like they have no choice but to keep going up and that they didnt think that heli came for them?

And that last question brings another hole, even bigger.
Who on Earth wouldnt say that
"we havent made attempts to call for rescue cause as heli was there we thought theyre looking for someone in need, someone who called"
IF THAT WAS TRUE, but instead went for insisting that they didnt needed it then?
And what normal person would go for blaming rescue services for their lack of action in case with these rescue services showing up to help without being called even?

Oh and btw., as it just came to me now - could they even charge Thomas & Kerstin with rescue bill if they made these distress signals and used their resources but werent the ones who called for it? Could get iffy with a good lawyer I think.
Weak indicator cause it can always be said that cold and altitude impaired his judgement but in my experience, stingy people are excellent with their endless hunt for goods and services they dont have to pay for, no matter how stressful the circumstances are.
So for me its not that...

But well, apparently for me its also not cause he thought that heli isnt that for them, cause its not what he claimed.
So after all that typing-thinking and even slight excitement that I came up with something new... well, I actually didnt.
Soo, unless there is even more/other groundbreaking details that we dont know of yet - still only various levels (from high through extreme to insane) of malicious evil logically holds his reasoning together.

 

[Judy Sleuth]

...

But even apart from that Im just utterly confused.
Several article say that they actually had a CAMP below the summit and were waiting there for the bad weather to pass. But if so, then wth?
...

I'm way behind on this thread, so forgive me if this has already been addressed: I didn't see all of the articles, but I suspect that "camp" may be a weak translation for "bivouac." A camp likely would have a tent, as beubeubeu went on to comment after my snip above, but "bivouac" in climbing just means you stopped for a prolonged - usually overnight - rest and most commonly without any special gear other than perhaps a "bivvy bag." That's a wrap or pouch that you can cover yourself with/crawl into that protects you a little bit but not so well as a genuine sleeping bag, nor a tent. People using a bivvy bag are usually using it as their only protection, lying in the open, under the sky. Sounds like this pair didn't even have that.

Again, I'm thinking the word "camp" is just a mistranslation.

 

[beubeubeu]

I'm way behind on this thread, so forgive me if this has already been addressed: I didn't see all of the articles, but I suspect that "camp" may be a weak translation for "bivouac." A camp likely would have a tent, as beubeubeu went on to comment after my snip above, but "bivouac" in climbing just means you stopped for a prolonged - usually overnight - rest and most commonly without any special gear other than perhaps a "bivvy bag." That's a wrap or pouch that you can cover yourself with/crawl into that protects you a little bit but not so well as a genuine sleeping bag, nor a tent. People using a bivvy bag are usually using it as their only protection, lying in the open, under the sky. Sounds like this pair didn't even have that.

Again, I'm thinking the word "camp" is just a mistranslation.

Considering how this mountain looks like I havent assumed that "camp" could possibly mean anything more than some spot to sit/lie on, wrapped or at least covered in something to get some rest, eat a protein bar and so on. Just definitely something more advanced and closer to the actual "camp" than standing somewhere and clinging onto a piece of rock while trying to catch breath.

That rubbish was probably AI'ed. Then I spotted that some of these had completely ridiculous stuff in. Like " in the three hours between 22:00 and 23:30"

 

[RedHaus]

I'm way behind on this thread, so forgive me if this has already been addressed: I didn't see all of the articles, but I suspect that "camp" may be a weak translation for "bivouac." A camp likely would have a tent, as beubeubeu went on to comment after my snip above, but "bivouac" in climbing just means you stopped for a prolonged - usually overnight - rest and most commonly without any special gear other than perhaps a "bivvy bag." That's a wrap or pouch that you can cover yourself with/crawl into that protects you a little bit but not so well as a genuine sleeping bag, nor a tent. People using a bivvy bag are usually using it as their only protection, lying in the open, under the sky. Sounds like this pair didn't even have that.

Again, I'm thinking the word "camp" is just a mistranslation.

No camp, tent or sleeping bags that we're aware of. They did not Bivouac on the mountain that we're aware of.

Just a 19.5 - 21 hour slog, 6:45am to 2:00 am when TP left KG, and to 3:30am when TP summitted and descended to a hut.

Their ascent route was a steep rugged ridge (see ^), so my presumption is there was little room to even lay down let alone camp.

The Prosecution claims TP did not use the Thermal Blankets they had with them for KG before he left her alone.

Peter Suntinger, an Austrian mountaineering guide who has climbed Grossglockner 200 times, claims in his interview for this video that the duo were well prepared with equipment, including a Bivouac Sack (aka "Bivvy") that police found unused.

"...moment on it was also her..."

"...protects..."

ET: correct time stamp.

 

[LookingForClues]

I'm a backcountry skier. I am not a mountaineer, so I don't combine the 2 sports. However, I have friends who do combine them. And as a former journalist, I have written about athletes who do this (including some who have made first skiing/snowboarding descents). I also have a very good friend who is an ultra-runner and has competed in (and finished) such ultraruns as Death Valley in July (Badwater). She got bored with that and is now hitting the highest peaks in each state. So I can understand if KG wanted to combine her snowboarding with mountaineering.

But this route wasn't the route used by people skiing/snowboarding the mountain. And when it was clear this climb was continuing in the dark of night, for too many hours to move efficiently, the first thing most experienced athletes would do is ditch the spliboard. You're not snowboarding down in the dark. And it's hindering your ability to safely finish the mountaineering part of your adventure.

This is just my first reaction to what we know. Many of you have researched other important aspects of this trip. Something is really "off" about this entire trip.

 

[beubeubeu]

No camp, tent or sleeping bags that we're aware of. They did not Bivouac on the mountain that we're aware of.

Just a 19.5 - 21 hour slog, 6:45am to 2:00 am when TP left KG, and to 3:30am when TP summitted and descended to a hut.

Have you, by any chance spotted from where comes the difference between the claim that Thomas left shortly after 12:35 AM vs. 2:00 AM?
Really hard to decide which one sounds more realistic.
Shortly after 12:35 AM sounds plausible to me, giving him three hours to climb up, descend through Klein and get to the hut.
But that would mean that he left her right after, with whatever reason.
And what could be a reason for that... apart from her being already dead or unresponsive?
Then it could be him:
a) calling for help for himself,
b) knowing that weather is too bad and that nobody will come anytime soon so nobody will be able to tell at which point she actually died - and with the assumption that past that rescue call it would mean much less responsibility on him,
c) not caring about her much, or at all.
2:00 AM makes much more sense from the sort of "emotional" point. Heli's not coming, girlfriend keeps getting worse, he gets colder - yup, a need to action and try to do something, try to pressue rescue team while having witnesses around. That sound like something that could happen. But that makes his descend time insane. Hes really going down FAST to get through all that in 1,5 hour. Thats pretty decent timing for people doing so in summer, in daylight, through clear path of others footsteps. Adrenaline rush I guess. But still, insane timing.

Something is really "off" about this entire trip.

Well said. Very well said.

the first thing most experienced athletes would do is ditch the spliboard.

But how experienced was she?
She was very active, loved outdoor activities, loved mountains, did winter sports, ran a lot, ran marathons and somewhat got into climbing.

Her facebook profile has some pics from climbing Dachstein in March. Posted on 6th, but she says in the description that it was Sunday. So March 3rd. Weather was good, most of the day something between 0*C and -1*C, thats much, much easier climb and even on these pics more climbers are visible.

Week later, another Sunday she climbed Drachenweg, thats just 1.129m. No snow, good weather.
This website deems it moderately difficult and also family friendly.
What it says about the route AROUND Grossglockner? Not climbing route, HIKING route?
This:

Closed. Difficult. While the highest point on the hiking route theyre suggesting is "just" 2,836 m.

Then, March 24th - she posted pics from climbing Traunstein. 1,697 m.
She thanks Thomas and describes that as taking climbing course for beginners.

Last sunday of March - she climbs Mahdlgupf, 1261m.

First week of April - she thanks Thomas again. Kerstin was proud of herself as she climbed Trisselwand Hoferweg.
Challenging, moderately difficult but also very popular climbing path. 1250m at the highest point.

Then its May 21st. She thanks Thomas, links his insta as always. Shares pictures from three days long trip to climb in Klefeer climbing park.
She climbed three routes, one of which being Juniperus - Moderate difficulty, approx 3 hours, 230m Ascend, with the highest point being 830m.

Late June, another post, another thanking-Thomas-part-of-the-post. She mentions that it was "spontaneous".
So I suspect its Thomas whos taking her pics from above, as shes climbing some wall, with no rope.
Judging by the cross on the summit its Hoher Goell, 2,522 m.
According to komoot website: lots of beautiful, beautiful pics from the trail, but almost all of over 300 pics are from the hiking TRAIL.
I especially like this one:

See how that person has a helmet, backpack, climbing gloves and holds onto a line?
Well, this is how Kerstin climbed it (thats from her fb, as I understand is allowed to post here):

Mid August - she posts pics from Watzmann Ostwand. Moderately difficult climb. They have equipment this time.
She looks very happy on the summit pic but says that it was hardest what she did so far. 2.712m, third highest peak in Germany.

Late August - Schärtenspitze 2,153. She describes the weather as "dreamy".

Last week of September - she lists four peaks and obviously, thanks Thomas for showing her the trails on:
Vormauerstein - 1,450m
Torsplitz - 2,788m
Spinnerin - 1,725m
Schafberg - 1,783m

6th of October - Pico del Teide, volcano on Tenerife 3,715 m
Not so much climbing, but very challenging hiking destination - according to tour websites.
There is a moderately challenging climbing route, but that requires getting permit in advance (which they didnt have).
Kerstin expresses hope that she will be able to climb it "next time".

One of the first days of November - they climb Dachstein Südwand again.
She wrote: "1000m of pure climbing pleasure, via the Steinerweg to the Dachstein summit I never thought that after 6 months of alpine climbing I'd be able to climb the entire wall "

Six months from November is May - theyve climbed Dachstein in March, so either she said "six months" as more equal number or referred to the fact that apart from that first Dachstein climb till May she only did some popular climbing routes for beginners/moderate beginners. OR that could be posted with bit of a delay after the actual trip happened.
She clearly was visiting the mountains before, her "background" profile pic is taken in mountains, but she's wearing sneakers there and there is no clear indication that any climbing was involved, could be just very challenging hike.

I suspect that previous post may refer to bit earlier climb cause just next day she posted pics from climbing Frauenkopf 1.303m
Thomas's insta linked.

After that - just few happy winter splitboard pics.

 

[beubeubeu]

Easily digestible summary:

March 3rd	Dachstein	2.997m	9.832ft	PRETTY RISKY	day, winter climb
March 10th	Drachenweg	1.129m	3.704ft	moderately challenging climb, good weather	day, summer climb
March 24th	Traunstein	1.697m	5.567ft	moderately challenging climb, good weather	day, summer climb
March 31st	Mahdlgupf	1.261m	4.137ft	moderately challenging climb, good weather	day, summer climb
April	Trisselwand Hoferweg	1.250m	4.101ft	moderately challenging climb, good weather	day, summer climb
May	Klefeer climbing park	830ish m	2.730ish ft	moderately challenging climb, good weather	day, summer climb
June	Hoher Goell	2.522m	8.274ft	VERY DANGEROUS	day, summer climb
Mid August	Watzmann Ostwand	2.712m	8.897ft	moderately challenging climb, good weather	day, summer climb
Late August	Schärtenspitze	2.153m	7.063ft	moderately challenging climb, good weather	day, summer climb
September	Vormauerstein	1.450m	4.757ft	moderately challenging climb, good weather	day, summer climb

	Torsplitz	2.788m	9.146ft	moderately challenging climb, good weather	day, summer climb
	Spinnerin	1.725m	5.659ft	moderately challenging climb, good weather	day, summer climb
	Schafberg	1.783m	5.849ft	moderately challenging climb, good weather	day, summer climb
October	Pico del Teide	3.715m	12.188ft	moderately challenging hike, good weather	day, summer HIKE
November	Dachstein	2.997m	9.832ft	moderately challenging climb, good weather	day, summer climb
	Frauenkopf	1.303m	4.274ft	moderately challenging climb, good weather	day, summer climb
January 18th	Grossglockner	3.798m	12.460ft	INSANITY	NIGHT CLIMB

I thought I wont find much more... but it certainly IS more to look at it even closer than I did before.

Summarizing:
Kerstin NEVER climbed anything as high as Gross.
Kerstin NEVER climbed anything as extreme as Gross, not even close.
Kerstin NEVER climbed in the most wintery part of Winter and had just one, March climb under her belt.
Almost everything what Kerstin climbed is considered as moderately challenging.
She was doing great but she was just learning.

What was NOT moderately challenging was:
Thomas taking her to climb Dachstein in March 2024, as a newbie.
Thomas taking her to climb Hoher Goell in June 2024 with no equipment.
Thomas taking her to climb Grossglockner via Studlgrat in January 2025.

Does it look less incriminating for Thomas?
Could she reasonably assume that she will be safe during that climb?
Does it even look like Thomas had consitent tendency of reckless escapades?

For me, obviously apart from first time on Dachstein and that insanity he made her do on Hoher Goell - no.
He kept taking her on routes and mountains where people go to climb and learn climbing.
He put her in danger at least once, on Hoher Goell but even that doesnt compare to Grossglockner in January.

 

[LookingForClues]

@beubeubeu I certainly don't consider her to be experienced with the mountaineering, she didn't have nearly enough time under her belt. I do consider TP to be experienced and he should have told her to leave her splitboard when things got rough (along with many other "shoulds" during this whole trip that just blow my mind).

I think they should have turned around at the "breakfast spot," but when they decided to continue, she should have left her board there. They could hike up to get it the next day or even the next weekend. No one would steal it. She wasn't going to end up using it that day because she wouldn't ride down the glacier in the dark. That's far too dangerous because at speed, she wouldn't be able to see far enough ahead with a headlamp to avoid obstacles.

We know she was a snowboarder. I don’t think we know if she was a backcountry snowboarder. She had a splitboard, so it sounds like she would have experience in the backcountry, but maybe she only bought it after all the summer/fall climbing she did with TP. Maybe this was her first outing. If she did have experience in the backcountry, then she should have known she wouldn't be using it to ride down as originally planned because of darkness.

It doesn't seem they had a plan that included a turnaround time, a "go/no go" system, or a plan to adjust their goals for the day. The mountain will always be there. It usually will give you warnings, you just need to be in touch to heed them. You can turn around and come back another day.

 

[beubeubeu]

Found her instagram.
She was doing mountain running (not up to the peaks) but through grass, steep terrain, hiking trails. Lots of mountain pics, but shes wearing running outfits in... all of them?

@beubeubeu I certainly don't consider her to be experienced with the mountaineering, she didn't have nearly enough time under her belt. I do consider TP to be experienced and he should have told her to leave her splitboard when things got rough (along with many other "shoulds" during this whole trip that just blow my mind).

She should never be there. No other "shoulds" apply.
She should never be there.
Due to prolonged sickness and some other issues Im severely out of shape and current peak of my fitness is climbing third floor but before that I was hiking. I hiked few mountains, some of which had lots of stone and boulders on it. Some kinda climbing holding onto a chain happened. That wouldnt allow me to consider myself even a climbing beginner, cause no actual climbing happened.
If I was more taking pics of myself enthusiast, I would probably have many similar pics as she did pre-2024. No reason to doubt her as she summarized her climbing experience as "six months". So she started no earlier than March last year.

We know she was a snowboarder. I don’t think we know if she was a backcountry snowboarder. She had a splitboard, so it sounds like she would have experience in the backcountry, but maybe she only bought it after all the summer/fall climbing she did with TP. Maybe this was her first outing. If she did have experience in the backcountry, then she should have known she wouldn't be using it to ride down as originally planned because of darkness.

Nothing in her socials suggests backcountry snowboarding.
All pics look like taken in skiing resorts on snowboarding routes. Nothing what would appear as wild.

 

[RedHaus]

Have you, by any chance spotted from where comes the difference between the claim that Thomas left shortly after 12:35 AM vs. 2:00 AM?
Really hard to decide which one sounds more realistic.
Shortly after 12:35 AM sounds plausible to me, giving him three hours to climb up, descend through Klein and get to the hut.
But that would mean that he left her right after, with whatever reason.
And what could be a reason for that... apart from her being already dead or unresponsive?
Then it could be him:
a) calling for help for himself,
b)is too bad and that nobody will come anytime soon so nobody will be able to tell at which point she actually died - and with the assumption that past that rescue call it would mean much less responsibility on him,
c) not caring about her much, or at all.

RS&B&ColorEmphasisBM

Interesting. I have only read that TP called at 12:35am and left KG at 2:00am. Is that documented by one of the 4 CCTV's? Or perhaps on his own apple watch, maybe?

According to police that 12:35am call was unclear so no action was taken. I wonder if that call is recorded, given it was on a police or 911 line??

Maybe wind muddled the call... But wouldn't one get their head under their outer garment to make that call, to protect hands from the bitter cold and to make sure the call was clear??

Maybe it was just a 'butt call' and that is why its unclear to the other end... just a bunch of muddled sounds. And TP is trying to use that call record as a call for help. To make it look he called < 3:30am.

But... your suggestion that maybe TP called for help for HIMSELF at 12:35am got my attention. KG may have died at that point and he wanted help out. And perhaps after 90 minutes of staying put for help he was waiting for he panicked and scrambled up and over the summit.

And he took the bivouak sack ("bivvy") and thermal blankets in case he needed them. And by the time TP got to the hut, he realized he needed to cover his arse. So he makes the 3:30am call for KG.

Whatever the reasons TP left KG at 2:00am, I think KG was dead already. No reason to stick around, right? No reason to put her in the bivvy, right?

Hopefully the ME has a Time of Death estimate! If KG was dead by 12:35am or 2:00am, it would help the prosecution's case to prove if he lied.

IMO

 

[georgiajean]

Found her instagram.
She was doing mountain running (not up to the peaks) but through grass, steep terrain, hiking trails. Lots of mountain pics, but shes wearing running outfits in... all of them?

She should never be there. No other "shoulds" apply.
She should never be there.
Due to prolonged sickness and some other issues Im severely out of shape and current peak of my fitness is climbing third floor but before that I was hiking. I hiked few mountains, some of which had lots of stone and boulders on it. Some kinda climbing holding onto a chain happened. That wouldnt allow me to consider myself even a climbing beginner, cause no actual climbing happened.
If I was more taking pics of myself enthusiast, I would probably have many similar pics as she did pre-2024. No reason to doubt her as she summarized her climbing experience as "six months". So she started no earlier than March last year.

Nothing in her socials suggests backcountry snowboarding.
All pics look like taken in skiing resorts on snowboarding routes. Nothing what would appear as wild.

The Instagram I found is closed. Could you please share link? It is allowed to share social media accounts of victims per Websleuths guidelines. Just can't share comments or take screenshots from info found there.

 

[beubeubeu]

RS&B&ColorEmphasisBM

Interesting. I have only read that TP called at 12:35am and left KG at 2:00am. Is that documented by one of the 4 CCTV's? Or perhaps on his own apple watch, maybe?

According to police that 12:35am call was unclear so no action was taken. I wonder if that call is recorded, given it was on a police or 911 line??

Yes, its all clear on that call happening at 12:35. But then it varies by 1,5h.
It was phrased as Thomas's claim/narrative that he left shortly after the call.

And the only noticeable thing on cctv is that:

And from that point sure, he could get to the hut in 30 or 40 mins. But did he managed to climb up the remaining distance and fully descend in 60 minutes? That would be just incredible speed so I kept assuming bit 2 hours 20ish minutes maybe.
To do it in one hour, after dark in that frost, with that wind... that some mountain goat level of skill and speed.

I get that part in 30mins cause its the least crazy.
But thats other side of Kleinglockner. So 1/3rd of descend from Klein in 30mins and:

Up there, down that...

Through this:

Up that:

And from there down somewhere here:

in first 30 mins?

Sure, its theoretically possible. But he would have to basically RAN through all that. Ran up and down like a spider.
At night, in that crazy weather, with frost, in shock and under severe distress, after so many hours of climbing?
In conditions that were, at time, deemed too dangerous for reasonably rested and unfrozen rescuers to go right away.
Well... I really cant tell.

If he was with her for 1,5 hours, not moving, NOT CALLING, not securing her from cold and wind - wouldnt he get so numb from cold that it would become impossible to do that speedrun up-down-up-down in 60 minutes?

Maybe wind muddled the call... But wouldn't one get their head under their outer garment to make that call, to protect hands from the bitter cold and to make sure the call was clear??

Maybe it was just a 'butt call' and that is why its unclear to the other end... just a bunch of muddled sounds. And TP is trying to use that call record as a call for help. To make it look he called < 3:30am.

But if that call was muddled - how could he be so sure that rescuers arent somehow on their way? That heli isnt dropping them off somewhere?
Too cold and confused to think clearly, not too cold and confused to jump through these icy stones like a mountain goat?
Could be but... but.

But... your suggestion that maybe TP called for help for HIMSELF at 12:35am got my attention. KG may have died at that point and he wanted help out. And perhaps after 90 minutes of staying put for help he was waiting for he panicked and scrambled up and over the summit.

My suggestion? Isnt it said almost everywhere that mountain police/rescue kept calling them but none responded till Thomas called them himself at 12:35AM - to about half of sources stating that containts of this convo "remains unclear" and that later they kept trying to call him but he didnt answer any of that, muting his phone... and the other half (of sources) claiming that it came from Thomas that he learned that they wont send a heli from that call.
What about the claims that she was still somewhat moving as heli went up there about 7:00 AM? That didnt come from Thomas whos descriptions vary but from, I assume the rescue team who couldnt get her then.

Hopefully the ME has a Time of Death estimate! If KG was dead by 12:35am or 2:00am, it would help the prosecution's case to prove if he lied.

Surely they have some estimate. I doubt its very accurate.
Lets say that info about her being alive is a red herring from the news. Still. If were looking at Thomas as murderous monster, time of death could mean nothing. Medical experience, dont forget it.

Could be that she was already dead before he called cause he disregarded her safety, health and life so much and called to cover his backside. No reason to stick around.
Could be that she perished as he was still there or became unresponsive then cause he waited with the call for so long. No reason to stick around.
Could be that she was still alive and somewhat responsive and he stayed with her for hovewer long till he disregarded her safety, health and life so much he left her for dead, unprotected and went "to get help".
Could be that he waited with her, making sure she wont get moment of clarity/strength back enough to cover herself and survive cause he figured whatever happened on that trip shouldnt ever be known.
He didnt really have much reason to worry about charges cause theyre not filed against almost anyone.
Without the heli and cctv no way he would get charged, no matter what he would have done. His story would be the only story and itd be a story of a tragic misfortune and overestimating the climb challenges.
Lets say he waited till she got to, what he deemed as point of no return. She could actually die at 4:00 AM or 5:00 AM or even 6:00 AM but be unconscious before. I dont think it could be narrowed down to two, three or even 4 hours wide estimation. Probably bit more.
Assuming that she died before 12:35 - that would be well, well over 12 hours till her body was taken off the mountain. Even if autopsy was performed super fast, same evening, lets say at 6:00 PM. To have a proof that he lied they would have to be able to say, without a doubt that she's dead for 17 hours. Not 16, not 15, not 10 but 17. Or - in case that he left her at 2:00 AM - that she 100% died no less than 15 hours earlier. Not 14, not 13, not 10 but 15 or more.
I dont think thats possible with frozen body.

 

[beubeubeu]

The Instagram I found is closed. Could you please share link? It is allowed to share social media accounts of victims per Websleuths guidelines. Just can't share comments or take screenshots from info found there.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CWlzUPptXe1/

 

[beubeubeu]

From what Ive learned from her socials I wonder if it was a planned trip at all.
I mean if it was planned in a way that Kerstin KNEW that theyre gonna go there, and that theyre gonna go there to climb the summit via Studlgrat.

From this website: "The Großglockner Resort Kals-Matrei is the largest ski region in East Tyrol. With Austria's highest mountain as a backdrop and over 60 three-thousand metre peaks in the Hohe Tauern, it offers a unique skiing experience."

Her last insta post is from January 6th. She has her splitboard, he has skis. Looks like two trips, one of which kinda ski-hiking and admiring wintery landscapes, the other skiing/snowboarding - not out in the wild, cause multiple tracks on slopes visible.

Couple of climbers can always have some climbing gear in their trunk. Even more so if one of them knows theyre gonna climb and the other doesnt.

He already took her, unprepared and unequipped on Hoher Goell in June. As far as I can tell she looks pretty well and appropriately dressed for her outdoor activities always but on pics from Hoher Goell where they do free climbing where others use ropes.
He also took total beginner to climb Dachstein in March last year. Reckless. Dumb. Or... just highely calculated.
It doesnt look like they were together very long. Sharing extreme experiences is a good way to indulge attachment isnt it? One of the toxic guy's favs.
That does not explain taking her to climb Grossglockner in January.

What it does to me is making it more plausible that she didnt have her climbing shoes cause as far as she knew, they were heading for yet another skiing/snowboarding trip.
If he surprised her with climbing idea she may have no idea what it means. Kals is ski resort. There could even be some snowboarding/skiing trails in the snow on the slope, since whole that area is full of hiking/nature admiring trails and some people could be taking them without the slightest intent to climb anything.

 

[beubeubeu]

Freezing temps are causing most batteries discharge much faster than usual. Dont know what phone and kind of screen she had, but my notorious inrain insnow phone use told me that it makes phones go crazy.
Could she have any sort of sophisticated protective case?
Dont know, I have one. Had one before. Barely ever used it cause althought theyre protecting phone very well theyre terrible to take pics with it. Kerstin obviously liked taking pictures.
So my best guess would be to keep it on silent, in some sort of inner pocket and take it out only to take pics.
She wasnt posting pics as she was somewhere but sometime later, sharing few best shots. She might be doing that to some point.
Later...
To a degree makes sense why she wasnt checking it. She had to be exhausted beyond imaginaition and all numb, especially in her hands. Logical to not even try accessing the phone to not risk dropping and losing it. Later relied on him, not on her phone. And towards the end just unable to do it.
I doubt in his inability to do it with this reason:

They both have socials. They both posted online. Unknown if he was as willing to share her links on his as she was with his on hers but...
Would be inappropriate to call her an influencer cause she wasnt one, she just seem to enjoy her fun times with people. What about him?

If I was able to think somewhat clearly, called for rescue, heard that they wont come. I think I would try to call them again, call 911, call friends to notify them whats going on in hope that they will put some pressure on rescue services while likely at home and able to normally use their devices.
But thats obviously too far to wonder why they didnt do that. May be not obvious thing to do, may be impossible/too hard with some reason, may not have any friends who arent asleep at that time of day (that also happens). So with this I get it, with this small part of its overall insanity, that Thomas as an experienced climber, tired and cold to some degree was more prone to think of climbing as a thing he can do more than calling friends - if he acted fast.
Not so much if he spended 1,5 hour with Kerstin. If not moving and not trying to escape the cold as much as possible - wouldnt that time be full of desperate attempts to think of something to do to get out of this situation?

Like... assuming that hes just moderately evil - how confident you can still be in your girlfriend's endurance and your own skills to not even try to call rescue again before departing?
Endlessly I guess but God, it has to be more than we dont know about. It just has to be.