ZDF.reportage - Adventure Zugspitze - Rush to Germany's highest mountain
Up to 7000 summiters every day - Germany's highest mountain is a hot spot. For some it's pure pleasure, for others it's pure stress. Transporting thousands of people to high alpine heights every day alone is a logistical challenge. In addition, there is the supply of food and drink and, time and again, necessary medical assistance. Since 2017, visitors have been able to make their way to the summit in a new, ultra-modern cable car, in addition to the historic rack railway. The construction cost 50 million - the Zugspitze thus sets new standards: no other aerial tramway overcomes a height difference of 1945 metres - the only support on the route is also a world record at 127 metres high. At the top of the ski area, on peak days, eight volunteers from the Bavarian mountain rescue teams are on site to rescue and care for injured or sick winter sports enthusiasts. Not infrequently, the rescue helicopter has to come - because the way to the nearest hospital by cable car is too far for seriously injured people. Helicopter crews and mountain rescue teams then work hand in hand, because it is not uncommon for winter sports enthusiasts to have an accident in terrain that is difficult to access and have to be rescued by winch. In storms or fog, the missions can also be extremely dangerous for the rescuers. If you want to spend the night on Germany's highest mountain, you have only one option: the igloo village, which the operators dig out of the snow every winter. The reward for a night at 0 degrees in an expedition sleeping bag: winter magic and alpenglow - away from mass tourism and running warm water. Germany's highest mountain is also an authority on research: the Federal Environment Agency and the Technical University of Munich are researching the effects of greenhouse gases on the atmosphere, glacier melt and permafrost on the summit as one of 31 stations worldwide. That, too, is a logistical challenge. 15 employees have to shovel out and check the equipment in permafrost, maintain the research cable car and keep the snow masses at bay with CO2-free blowers. The Zugspitze - Germany's superlative mountain.
Broadcasting on 11th of January 2021 at 06.00am on ZDFinfo/ZDF
Music: POPVIRUS Library