TRAUMA
Review Article – Editor’s Choice
Trauma
2015, Vol. 17(1) 4–16
! The Author(s) 2014
High-altitude mountaineering Reprints and permissions:
made safer DOI:
tra.
Gu¨nther Sumann1,2, Thomas Hochholzer2,3,4, Martin Faulhaber2,3
and Martin Burtscher2,3
Abstract
Mountains all over the world are attracting a steadily growing number of visitors due to the increasing number of cheap
flights; the construction of new roads, railways, and cable cars; mercial offers of trekking tours and expeditions
to attempt even the world’s highest peaks. However, one must not forget that mountains are typically inhospitable areas
characterised by cold and hypoxic environments and rapidly changing weather and track conditions associated with a
relatively high risk of accidents and emergencies. Beside the objective hazards, subjective hazards, for example physical
fitness and health status, mountaineering skills, and equipment, contribute substantially to the risk. Whereas in some
regions, for example the Alps, rescue operations and medical emergency interventions can be performed rapidly and
effectively, this is absolutely not the case in most of the very remote areas and on very high mountains. Therefore, the
understanding of the risk associated with the various modes of mountaineering as well as knowledge about how to
optimise prevention is of the utmost importance. Ultimately, it is the informed mountaineer who has to decide whether
the risks are acceptable or not. Continuing joint efforts of scientists, medical and alpine institutions, an-
isers, and mountaineers will help to make high-altitude mountaineering safer.
Keywords
Mountaineering, high altitude, risk, mortality, prevention
Introduction rapidly changing weather and track conditions.
Extreme environmental conditions associated with
Mountains all over the world are attracting a steadily insufficient fitness and mountaineering skills,
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