Even dramatic falls in the mountains don't always end in tragedy, though relying on luck is a gamble. A mountain rescuer explains why someone might walk away from a fall with only a broken finger, what a field operation looks like, and what to make of bear encounters. He also adds practical notes on gear, insurance, and the weak and strong points of our system.
From sport to operations: who is a mountain rescuer
He was drawn to the mountains by a childhood in the Tatras and years of sport, from alpine to cross-country skiing. He then studied at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports and served first as a volunteer, later as a professional, in the Low Tatras. Alongside his work he also wrote a book, which is due for a reprint.
Mountain rescue differs from working on an “ambulance” mainly in the long and demanding approach to the accident site, often on foot and in inhospitable conditions. When a helicopter cannot be used, operations take longer and the logistics of transport are more difficult. A strength of the Slovak system is that every mountain rescuer is also a paramedic — a global rarity. A disadvantage is the absence of an in-house helicopter under HZS management, which would make both technical and medical flights easier.
Bears, tourists, and responsibility
Encounters with bears are real, but the media often exaggerate them; most of the time the animal leaves before rescuers arrive. The rescuer recalls a situation in a remote part of the Low Tatras where, after a dog’s warning bark, a bear charged, but the trees stopped it and it left after a moment. The team then located a female hiker with no signs of life — a sad reminder that the mountains can be unpredictable even without a direct animal attack. Despite this, the rescuer’s own experience didn’t deter him from going to the mountains; what matters is respect and preparedness.
Hikers’ gear and behavior are improving, although you still sometimes see “sandals on the ridge” or high heels for a social media photo. Responsibility also concerns insurance: cases without a policy are decreasing, but visitors coming from the Polish side are often a problem, as they do not expect an HZS intervention. Insurance is recommended for everyone in the operational area — even when foraging for wild berries. Common sense, appropriate equipment, and an insurance policy are the cheapest prevention against an expensive and risky rescue.
