Hike becomes a test of nerve as helicopter rescues frightened family from steep mountain trail

A mother and her two children found themselves unable to move on a steep mountain trail near Bad Reichenhall, prompting a helicopter rescue.

The 43-year-old woman had been hiking with her 10- and 11-year-old children toward the Reichenhaller Haus, an Alpine Club hut, via the trail known as the Steinernen Jäger. They became stuck at about 1,650 meters above sea level, not far from their destination.

A rescue helicopter dropped off two mountain rescuers, who secured the mother and children. The family then flew to the valley suspended from the helicopter’s winch. All three were uninjured, the Bavarian Red Cross said.

The Hochstaufen is a well-known destination in the Berchtesgaden Alps, with steep paths and climbing routes. The city administration in Bad Reichenhall describes the trail as a demanding mountain hike requiring some scrambling. The Bavarian Red Cross uses the term “blocked” for hikers and climbers who become so frightened that they can no longer continue.

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