SKI-RUNNERS' ADVENTURES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 318, 6 July 1912, Page 1 (Supplement)

SKI-RUNNERS' ADVENTURES

HAIR TURNED GREY. ! The adventures of two ski-runners, Kuotz (31) and Bauersax (21), wlio for four days lost themselves on the Dachstein, were so extraordinary (says the Cologne Gazette) that they are worth giving in detail. From Schladming to the top of the mountain is an ascent of about 4900 ft, the height of the Dachstein being 9815 ft; the ground covered comes to about five miles. Klotz and Bauersax, both experienced skiers, and as hard as nails, set off on a Sunday. At 1 in the afternoon snow began to fall, and at 2.30 this developed into a blizzard, which again and again drove them back in their tracks and left them breathless. At this time they wee close to the first goal, the "hungergap," and under normal conditions would have reached it in another half-hour, but for two hours they struggled in vain against the storm. ' At 4.30 two snow avalanches descended on them, one after the other, and carried them down a considerable distance. When they came to 1 a stop, up to their armpits in flaky snow, they were luckily close to one another,

and had sustained no injuries, but their compass was gone. They struggled up out of the snow, but the storm drove them down the slope away from their goal. At last they came to a standstill, only 15ft from a precipice, as they discovered next day. In this last descent Klotz broke his right ski, and further progress was impossible until it was mended. The example set them by a mountain hare, and the recollection of Nansen's experiences, inspired them with the happy idea of digging out a cave in the snow. With the help of a ice-axe and a saucepan they finished this by 9.30 p.m. In this they cooked some food, rubbed themselves to keep off frostbite, changed their clothes, patched up the ski, and, using Bauersax's waterproof as a mattress and Klotz's cloak as a blanket, they tried to get some sleep, taking it turn and turn about to hold the candle for ten minutes. At 6 o'clock on the Monday morning they left the cave, but the storm was still raging, and another accident to Klotz' skis forced them to return. By 9.30 they had mended the skis, and until 4 in the afternoon made attempts to get up to the "hunger-gap." It was no use; hungry and exhausted, they were compelled to return to their cave. The ice-crust forming the roof of the cave now began to melt, and they were soon soaked to the skin. Then the matches refused to strike, and without any light or warm food they had to pass the night as best they could. At 6 o'clock on the Tuesday morning they dragged themselves again out of their hole, wet and hungry, half-frozen and very tired, but the weather had improved, and though the peaks were veiled in clouds the valley stood out clearly. Their first concern was to get warm and dry. They were just thinking that the firs in the Brandriedthal, which leads down to the Enns, would provide them with the necessary fuel, when the sun broke through the clouds and dried their clothes. At iin the afternoon the Dachstein came out clearly, and as a climb up the snow of the Brandriedthal seemed to involve endless labor, they changed their plans, and at 6 p.m. began to climb up to the Schaldminger Glacier. This they reached at 11 o'clock in bright moonlight; while a cutting, icy wind blew, and in another four hours they were across it. , By 3 o'clock on the Wednesday morning they had reached the "Karis 'icefield" (9000 ft), the chief glacier of the Dachstein. With dulled senses they were just going to begin the descent, when Bauersax, in a sudden access of rigor, bethought him of the danger from crev asses, and called a halt. So they anchored themselves with iceaxes and rope, and slept standing, until at 6 a.m. the rising sun shone in their faces and woke them up. Then they found that they had been sleeping on the edge of a precipice, into which another step or two would have plunged them. Skirting this, they reached at S o'clock the Simony hut (7205 ft), broke open the door, and made a fire. This took them a whole hour, as they were constantly falling asleep while chopping the wood. Their meal—their first since the Monday evening—consisted of tabloids, crusts and a few onions found in the hut. After this they slept through the whole day till evening, when they dined off bread crusts, boot grease, and half an onion, and slept again till the Thursday morning, when they descended painfully to Hallstatt, getting there at midday. Bauersax, the younger of the two, suffered most, both his feet being frostbitten, and amputation may be necessary. The nervous tension has turned Klotz's hair grey.