In Austria, after more than six decades, a backpack and equipment belonging to an 86-year-old mountaineer were found. These items were left by him in a glacial crevasse after he was involved in an accident.
The tourist discovered the find in July while traversing the Zülztalferner glacier in the Austrian region of Tyrol. After the discovery, the items were handed over to the police, who, based on available documents, were able to identify the owner.
History of the incident
The incident itself took place in August 1963. While crossing the glacier, the mountaineer fell into a deep crevasse. His companions, who were tied to him with one rope, managed to get the man out, but to reduce the overall weight, he had to throw his backpack into the fissure. At that time, it was assumed that the equipment would remain forever buried under the ice.
Over time, the glacier began to show noticeable retreat and melting. As a result, various objects that had been in the ice mass for a long time started appearing on its surface. Among these finds were an ice axe, a camera, and other personal belongings of the mountaineer.
The police examined the documents and other items recovered along with the backpack, which allowed them to establish the owner's identity. Ultimately, the found items were returned to the 86-year-old man.
Such discoveries in the Alps are becoming increasingly common due to the accelerated melting of glaciers, which is directly linked to climate change. The melting ice releases objects that may have been under its thickness for decades or even millennia. Previously, military artifacts, mountaineering equipment, and human remains have been discovered in various mountain regions.
Furthermore, in the context of climate change, it is mentioned that the North Sea off the coast of the Netherlands reached a record temperature of 21.5 degrees Celsius, which is the highest recorded during the entire observation period since 1984. The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute attributed this abnormal heat to global climate change and stable solar weather.