A fatal ascent on the Grossglockner sparked a debate on alpine responsibility

Sport & Games · Published 9 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In January 2025, Kerstin Gurtner died of hypothermia while attempting to summit the Grossglockner. Her death, occurring after her partner left her behind on a mountain slope, ignited intense controversy regarding the legal and moral duties climbers owe to their partners in high-stakes environments.

The tragedy occurred during a winter ascent of the Stüdlgrat route, a technical path that was particularly treacherous due to snow and ice covering the fixed belay systems. Kerstin Gurtner, a 33-year-old competitive trail runner, was attempting the summit for the first time. Her partner, 36-year-old Thomas Plamberger, was an experienced mountaineer who had completed the ascent approximately 14 to 15 times. The pair had deviated from official safety recommendations, which suggest that first-time climbers should use a guide and split the ascent over two days with an overnight stay in a mountain hut.

As conditions deteriorated, with wind gusts reaching 74 km/h and temperatures dropping to a wind chill of −20 °C, the couple failed to acknowledge a rescue helicopter that performed six passes. Despite the presence of emergency equipment in Gurtner's pack, including a bivouac bag and hand warmers, Plamberger testified that he did not use them before leaving her around 2 am to seek help. Gurtner, who was struggling to move and reportedly could only progress 20 centimeters in five minutes, died of hypothermia before rescuers could reach her.

The legal aftermath saw Plamberger tried for negligent homicide on 19 February 2026. He was found guilty and sentenced to a five-month suspended prison sentence and a €9,600 fine, a verdict many commentators deemed lenient. The case has since become a focal point for the 'alpine divorce' phenomenon, where women share stories of partners abandoning them in the outdoors, prompting a broader discussion on individual responsibility and gender dynamics in mountaineering.

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