Tragedy in the Kamnik Alps: Hungarian hikers’ trek turns fatal – PHOTOS, VIDEO

On the 22nd of December, two Hungarian hikers got lost in the Kamnik Alps, one of Slovenia’s most picturesque but extremely dangerous mountain ranges. They were stranded on the Kamniki saddle, at an altitude of 1930 metres, when one of them, a man, fell and broke his leg. The harsh weather conditions in the mountains, snowfall, strong winds and the risk of avalanches made the rescue operation difficult and it took days to complete.

According to Telex, the rescue operation faced serious challenges from the start. Slovenian mountain rescuers were informed of the victims late on Sunday afternoon. With wind gusts of 100 km/h and near-zero visibility in the area, a helicopter rescue was not possible. Rescuers tried to reach the hikers on foot, but the extreme weather conditions slowed progress. More than 40 rescuers working in the area struggled to make progress, even with the most advanced equipment.

The Kamnik Alps in northern Slovenia, close to the Austrian border, are a beautiful but dangerous mountainous region. The mountain range covers 900 km² and has 28 peaks over 2,000 m, including the highest, Grintovec at 2,558 m. It is popular with hikers, but in the winter months it is a dangerous place, especially due to the danger of avalanches and rapidly changing weather.

Chronology of the dramatic events

The Hungarian hikers got lost on a trail starting from Turska Hill, probably straying from the marked path. According to Telex, rescuers found the woman hiker alive on Monday afternoon. The woman was hypothermic and exhausted, but survived the ordeal unharmed. Her clothes and sleeping bag kept her alive through the cold nights. After being warmed up by rescuers, she descended into the valley under her own power and was taken to hospital.

The male hiker met a tragic end. After the fall, when he was still able to communicate with his companion and the rescuers, he probably tried to return to the path. Tragically, this attempt led to his untimely death as he slid deeper into a ravine. The man’s body was found on Thursday, 250 metres downstream, under two metres of snow. A rescue team used ropes to descend into the gorge to retrieve the body.