How Climate Change is Reshaping Mountain Rescues: New Risks and Evolving Strategies

Mountains have always presented challenges for outdoor enthusiasts and the rescuers tasked with ensuring their safety, BBC reports.

But as climate change reshapes the natural environment, these challenges are becoming more complex. Skiers, climbers, cyclists, and even foragers like mushroom-pickers face growing hazards, while rescue teams encounter higher risks and increased operational demands. In response, scientists and emergency services are developing innovative training and rescue techniques to navigate these life-and-death scenarios.

Warmer global temperatures are altering mountain environments, especially in regions like the European Alps, which are warming at twice the global rate. One key consequence is the destabilization of rocky terrain. As glaciers and permafrost thaw, the “glue” that once held rocks together weakens, leading to an increase in rockfalls. Avalanches, too, are changing in nature, with a shift from light, powdery snow to denser, wetter snow. This change significantly impacts rescue operations, as the denser snow is more difficult to penetrate and can reduce survival times for buried victims.

Beyond environmental shifts, human behavior is also driving up the risk. The surge in outdoor tourism since the COVID-19 pandemic has brought more inexperienced visitors to the mountains. Many are unprepared for the unpredictability of mountain weather, from sudden snow and ice to early nightfall. Unfamiliarity with mountain-specific risks is leading to a rise in accidents involving climbers, cyclists, and even mushroom-pickers who lose their way on rough terrain.

To prepare for increasingly hazardous rescue missions, emergency response teams are turning to new technologies like climate simulators. At the Eurac Research Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine in Bolzano, Italy, rescuers train inside the “terraXcube” — a high-tech facility that mimics extreme weather and mountain conditions. This climate simulator allows teams to practice rescues in conditions of darkness, freezing temperatures, strong winds, and blizzards.

According to Simona Berteletti, director of the medical school for Italy’s Mountain and Cave Rescue Service, the ability to simulate complex scenarios indoors reduces the risk of injury during training while providing crucial experience. For example, rescuers practice saving climbers stuck on vertical rock faces or people trapped on high-altitude glaciers. Compared to training on a glacier at 4,000 meters (13,000 feet), where a simple injury could require a complicated evacuation, the climate simulator offers a safer and more controlled alternative.

The demand for mountain rescues is on the rise. Italy’s Mountain and Cave Rescue Service now carries out over 12,000 missions annually. The surge in rescue calls places strain on rescue teams, many of whom are volunteers. These volunteers face significant risks themselves, as nearly 41% of injuries sustained by Italian rescuers happen during missions, with another 59% occurring during training.

Advances in rescue methods have improved survival rates for victims. In Switzerland, for instance, the survival rate for avalanche accidents increased by 10% between 1981 and 2020. Faster response times, better emergency medical care, and increased use of avalanche warning systems have contributed to this improvement. Yet, rescuers now face a shorter window for successful rescues. The time available to rescue a person buried in snow before their chance of survival drops below 90% has decreased from 15 to 10 minutes, likely due to the denser, wetter snow, which is harder to escape from and more difficult to breathe in.

While skiing and climbing are well-known high-risk activities, other, less obvious outdoor pastimes are also driving rescue operations. In Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, mushroom-pickers frequently find themselves in dangerous situations. People venture into forests and steep, uneven terrain searching for mushrooms, often unaware of the risks of sudden drops or slippery surfaces.

“Our area is famous for mushrooms… and we see a lot more people foraging for them. They underestimate the terrain,” explains Oscar Santunione of the Piste Cimone rescue service.

Another emerging hazard comes from the growing popularity of e-bikes. Unlike traditional mountain bikers, many e-bike riders lack technical downhill riding skills. The motorized bikes make it easier to climb steep trails but offer no assistance on the descent. As a result, accidents involving e-bikers have increased. According to Berteletti, this wasn’t an issue in the past, as only experienced riders could reach these heights under their own power.

Helicopters play a vital role in mountain rescues, offering rapid access to remote areas. However, they come with their own risks. Helicopters operate at high altitudes where air is thinner, affecting cognitive performance and reaction times for pilots and medical personnel.

At the Eurac Research facility, researcher Marika Falla studied the effects of altitude on cognitive function. Her team found that at altitudes of 5,000 meters (16,400 feet), reaction times slowed. While oxygen bottles could improve performance, providing oxygen to helicopter crews is not yet a standard practice. Given the dangers associated with helicopter rescues — including the possibility of crashes or the difficulty of maneuvering in narrow gorges — alternative solutions are being explored.

Drones are emerging as a potential game-changer in mountain rescue operations. Unlike helicopters, drones can fly in adverse weather and access narrow, hard-to-reach places. Giacomo Strapazzon, head of the Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine, suggests that drones could be used to deliver essential supplies like defibrillators or first-aid kits to stranded climbers or avalanche victims. Their speed, flexibility, and ability to operate in treacherous weather conditions make them a promising tool for the future of mountain rescues.

While mountain risks are growing, there are steps that adventurers can take to protect themselves. Giacomo Strapazzon offers three essential pieces of advice for skiers and climbers:

1. Don’t ski too fast: Many skiing injuries result from high-speed collisions, especially on intersecting slopes.
2. Follow piste rules: Adhering to the rules of the slope can help prevent accidents.
3. Avoid alcohol: Skiing under the influence increases the likelihood of injury.

For climbers, skiers, and backcountry explorers, avalanche preparedness is crucial. Carrying an avalanche safety kit — including a transceiver, probe, and shovel — and taking avalanche safety training can make the difference between life and death. Strapazzon stresses that even if climbers are accompanied by a guide, they should be equipped and trained to act.

“If the guide is buried by the avalanche, what are you going to do?” he asks.

The increasing frequency of rescue missions is taking a toll on rescue volunteers. In Colorado, one of the busiest mountain rescue locations in the United States, teams report burnout and stress due to the rising number of emergency calls. This problem is mirrored globally, where volunteer rescue teams face physical, mental, and emotional strain. Despite these challenges, rescue teams continue to risk their own safety to save others.

As climate change alters the landscape of the world’s mountains, the dangers faced by outdoor enthusiasts and rescuers alike are increasing. Warmer temperatures are causing more frequent rockfalls, wetter avalanches, and less predictable weather patterns. Meanwhile, inexperienced adventurers, armed with e-bikes and a thirst for exploration, are finding themselves in risky situations. In response, rescue teams are embracing new training techniques, using climate simulators, testing cognitive performance at high altitudes, and exploring the use of drones to enhance rescue operations.