Mountain Rescue Warns Against Carelessness While Hiking

The Mountain Rescue Service responded to 83 emergencies in Saxon Switzerland during the first half of the year. This means the number of calls in this popular hiking and climbing area was as high as during the same period last year. Unlike in 2025, there have been no fatal climbing accidents so far this year, according to Kai Kranich, spokesperson for the German Red Cross Mountain Rescue Service.

Most accidents continue to occur while hiking. People stumbled and sustained injuries from falls. Others experienced cardiovascular problems, which did not necessarily have to be related to their hike. Of the 147 rescue operations in Saxon Switzerland last year, 99 were recorded as hiking-related emergencies.

More rescue helicopter flights

It is striking that rescue helicopters are being called upon with increasing frequency. The number of missions rose from 30 in 2019 to 44 in 2025. This year, for example, a rescue helicopter had to be called after an 18-year-old fell eight meters into a ravine. According to the mountain rescue service, the young man had been climbing on the Affensteine in February.

Prepare Well for Hikes

Safety experts in Saxony’s mountains believe that the majority of accidents occur because people either underestimate the mountains or overestimate their own abilities. This leads to hikers simply not wearing the right footwear or using the wrong navigation tools. The low mountain ranges can be quite challenging, so thorough preparation for a hike is truly important.

The Mountain Rescue Service in Saxony currently has 386 rescue personnel. All members are volunteers, spokesperson Kranich said. In addition to rescuing climbers and hikers who have had accidents, the rescuers also rescue cyclists from rough terrain and handle a large number of skiing accidents in the winter.