Mountain rescue gmunden at the limit: fatal accidents and rising operations!
The mountain rescue company warns of resource bottlenecks due to increasing operations on the Traunstein. Hikers should exercise caution.

Mountain rescue gmunden at the limit: fatal accidents and rising operations!
The Traunstein, a popular destination for hikers and climbers on the border with the Upper Austrian Alpine region, is increasingly becoming a focus for emergencies in the mountains. With the increasing number of visitors, the operations of the mountain rescue, which is under pressure, are increasing to maintain security in this popular leisure area. "The last few weeks have had it all," reports Exxpress.at, while the helpers from the mountain rescue gmunden point out that the resources reach their limits.
The volunteers of the mountain rescue work overtime, often to the disadvantage of their own free time. Leo Windtner, a member of this important organization, tragically lost his life in an accident that underlines the serious risks of mountain sports. In view of this situation, the mountain rescue to mountain athletes appeals to carefully plan their tours, to realistically assess their skills and start climbing early.
Resources and operations
The mountain rescue Gmunden currently has 50 members, whereby around 40 of them are constantly ready for use. Use to save an injured person usually requires eight helpers, which can lead to an enormous burden on several simultaneous alarms. This pressure is not only noticeable locally, but also in the mountain rescue in Lower Austria/Vienna. In the first half of 2025, this organization recorded 513 missions, which corresponds to an increase of about 20 percent compared to 432 missions in the same period 2024.
The mountain rescue urges the athletes to prepare for the challenges in the mountains. A high degree of responsibility also benefits users of the infrastructure, because the right behavior can save lives.
Conclusion and outlook
The situation on the Traunstein illustrates urgency to raise awareness of the dangers of mountain sports and to take the appropriate measures to make accident prevention. The mountain rescue will continue to work tirelessly to ensure security in the mountains, but it also requires consideration and prudent by every single mountain athlete.