Objective dangers are those posed by nature and the natural environment. Unlike subjective dangers, climbers usually have no direct influence upon objective dangers. However, with the right tactics, good planning and awareness they can be minimized.

WEATHER
The weather in the mountains is a crucial factor on any alpine tour. Storms and other weather-related dangers can soon put a rope team in danger.

FALLING ROCKS
Falling rocks are often caused by melted snow, wind, animals or rope teams climbing ahead. The type of rock can aggravate or reduce the problem.

SILENT WITNESSES
Climbers need to be vigilant and keep an eye on their surroundings. Silent witnesses refer to clearly visible traces of falling rocks. These include damaged trees, fresh boulders at the foot of the wall, light impact marks on the rock or damaged material on the rock face.

FALLING ICE
Falling ice is primarily caused by other climbers or by the influence of heat.

AVALANCHES
Avalanches are not just an issue for skiers. Climbers also have to look out for avalanches, especially in spring.

HELMET ON!
A chamois or a rope team climbing ahead of you can suddenly cause falling rocks or ice. In such serious situations, a helmet can save your life. But it can also prevent life-threatening head injuries in the event of collisions with the rock or slipping on ridged terrain.

The leading cause of accidents on mountains is human error. Accidents are often the result of climbers’ overconfidence, ignorance or overdoing it. These dangers are referred to as subjective dangers, because they are caused by humans themselves. Self-reflection, caution and thorough training can minimize these dangers.

OVERESTIMATING YOUR OWN ABILITIES 
An incorrect self-assessment and a lack of knowledge about the tour are the most frequent causes of accidents.

MISJUDGMENT OF THE SITUATION
Good, experienced mountaineers recognize misjudgments early on and have a plan B up their sleeves.

FEAR AND PANIC SITUATIONS
Fear in itself is not bad. On the contrary – it warns us and has an evolutionary purpose to protect us from dangers. The goal is therefore not to be fearless but to deal with fear and thus to recognize your own limits.

ALPINE TERRAIN
Compared to sport climbing, additional factors come into play in alpine climbing: Seriousness (protection), poor orientation, exposure and the length of the tour can push climbers to their limits both psychologically and physically.

Heat thunderstorms are local thunderstorms with heavy rain and lightning which occur in the summer months due to temperature rise. The air near the ground is rapidly warmed by intense sunlight and, once it reaches a certain temperature, it rises as humid hot air, because it is warmer and thus lighter than its surrounding air. The rising air then cools down and condenses in the higher, colder atmosphere, leading to thermal thunderstorms.

Heat thunderstorms can be identified by a swelling cloud formation resembling an anvil (cumulonimbus).

ALARM SIGNALS FOR HEAT STORMS:

• Little to no morning dew
• Muggy air and very little wind
• Sharp cloud edges and strong swelling (Castellanus) in the morning
• Observe the course of the cloud formation that can lead to a thunderstorm: from cumulus clouds (isolated, dense and sharply marked out cloud) to castellanus clouds (partial swelling and crenellated appearance) to cumulonimbus clouds (storm clouds, mostly in the shape of an anvil)
• Heat thunderstorms can also occur in stable high pressure conditions

NOTE: The weather forecast plays a key role, even as early as the planning stage. Alpine climbs should only be planned and climbing on the rock face only commenced under stable conditions. Frontal thunderstorms are forecast in good local weather reports. As is a likelihood of heat storms!

If a storm occurs in spite of good planning, ensure you do the following: 

• Seek out a sheltered place, such as a cave, recess or overhang away from conductive materials  

• In steep terrain, ensure you are protected from falling  

• Sit in a crouched position on your backpack or rope under a bivi bag and wait until the storm is over.  

• Only descend once the storm is over

• ATTENTION: There is also a danger of falling rocks or hypothermia. 

AVOID AT ALL COSTS:

• Never stay on the summit during a storm. Descend in good time

• Do not act rashly

• Do not move across unprotected steep terrain

• Do not separate from your climbing partner/group