Lost Backpack Reemerges After 63 Years in Austrian Glacier

In an astonishing twist of fate, a backpack lost by climber Alfred Rothfischer in 1963 has resurfaced from the depths of a glacier, thanks to melting ice. Rothfischer, then 23, narrowly escaped a disastrous fall into a crevasse while descending Austria's Schrankogel, the second-highest peak in the Stubai Alps, after he jettisoned his backpack to lighten his load.

Fast forward to July 16, 2026, when a mountain guide discovered the weather-worn bag at an altitude of approximately 9,695 feet on Sulztalferner Glacier. Inside, the pack contained distinctive items including an ice axe, a camera, and a folder with documents dating back to the 1950s and 1960s, all of which led investigators to Rothfischer.

Upon examining the contents, police found Rothfischer's name faintly inscribed on the papers. This prompted an inquiry that included a call to a landline number in Bavaria, where Rothfischer now resides at 86 years old. He recounted his harrowing experience, recalling how he dangled precariously above the crevasse before being rescued by his climbing partners.

On August 25, the recovered backpack was returned to Rothfischer’s son. This discovery highlights the alarming rate of glacier retreat, with Sulztalferner losing significant ice in recent years, mirroring trends seen across Europe, where glaciers have lost nearly 39 percent of their mass since 2000.

Source: www.outsideonline.com