Seven Belgian hikers are facing a hefty bill after being rescued from a high mountain on the border between Austria and Switzerland. The four adults and three children had climbed the Schesaplana – the highest point in the Rätikon massif at 2,946 metres above sea level.
After spending the night in a mountain hut, the steep slopes of the mountain frightened the Belgians as they began their descent, according to the police in the Austrian state of Voralberg.
Their host then contacted the police, who flew them off the mountain by helicopter. However, mountain officials are considering charging them for the operation because of a “lack of preparation”, the police said in a statement on Saturday.
Alpine countries have in fact been debating for several years whether to charge negligent or ill-equipped hikers when they find themselves in difficulty. The Schesaplana is notoriously difficult for hikers because of its slopes and the snow-covered areas that cover them.
