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Sulztalferner glacier reveals lost climbing gear after 63 years
A melting glacier in the Stubaier Alps has revealed a backpack and climbing equipment lost over 60 years ago. An alpinist discovered the items, including an ice axe, camera, and whistle, on the Sulztalferner glacier at nearly 3,000 meters altitude.
Tyrolean police conducted an investigation to identify the owner, using weathered documents found within the bag. The search led to an 86-year-old man from Bavaria. He recalled a dramatic incident in August 1963 when he fell into a glacier crevasse. While his companions managed to pull him to safety using ropes, he had to discard his backpack to reduce his weight during the rescue.
Due to his health, the man could not collect the items personally, so the equipment was returned to his son. This discovery highlights the ongoing impact of climate change on alpine glaciers, which are shrinking and exposing long-buried objects.
Entities
Alfred Rothfischer · Austrian police · Regensburg · Stubaier Alpen · Stubaier Alps · Sulztalferner · Sulztalferner glacier · Tirol · Tirol police · Tyrol