Austrian Climber Charged in Girlfriends Fatal Peak Ascent

Austrian prosecutors have charged experienced mountaineer Thomas Plamberger, 36, with grossly negligent homicide in the death of his girlfriend, Kerstin Gurtner, 33, who froze to death near the summit of Grossglockner, Austria's highest peak, on January 19, 2025. The couple, from Salzburg, had been attempting a technical winter ascent of the 12,461-foot mountain via the challenging Stüdlgrat route when Gurtner collapsed from exhaustion in subzero temperatures, leaving her vulnerable as Plamberger descended alone to seek help.

The incident unfolded during an overnight climb that began later than recommended, around 6:45 a.m. on January 18. Officials noted the pair was ill-equipped for the harsh winter conditions, including high winds exceeding 40 miles per hour and temperatures dropping to around 4 degrees Fahrenheit with wind chill. Gurtner, on her first high-altitude winter tour, wore soft snowboard boots unsuitable for the mixed terrain, and the couple carried insufficient emergency gear, such as blankets or bivouac sacks. By evening, they were roughly 150 feet from the summit cross when Gurtner could no longer continue, prosecutors said.

Investigators allege a series of...