TOPR rescuer: the Tatra Mountains must not be underestimated – there are no easy mountains here

«On the day of the tragedy on Giewont, the storm was visible from the very morning. Despite this, people still crowded to the top and flocked around the cross. We didn’t have to wait long for the effect »- recalls the event from almost a year ago, Mieczysław Ziach, TOPR rescuer with 40 years of experience, deputy head of TOPR. How did it happen that he chose one of the most difficult jobs? Why the Tatra Mountains, although small, are very dangerous and why is it better not to go to the mountains immediately after coming to rest? He told about it in an interview with Medonet.

In the photo above: Mieczysław Ziach, professional rescuer of the Tatra Volunteer Rescue Service with nearly 40 years of experience, deputy head of TOPR.

1. Mieczysław Ziach, TOPR rescuer: – There is no time for fear in rescue operations. Of course, something can always happen, but that’s the nature of the job. There will always be risk in the mountains and it will have to be taken – we decided to do it when choosing this job
2. The most tragic was the accident on August 11, 1994 at the Olczyska Valley. – I participated in it. Me and a few colleagues managed to get out of it alive. However, in 26 years, not a day goes by without me thinking about it
3. In an interview with Medonet, the lifeguard talks about the most dangerous situations that can happen to us in the mountains
4. One of the greatest threats are storms: – I have witnessed many times when we – mountaineers, mountaineers – hearing a storm want to evacuate from the endangered area and go down as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, many tourists keep going up
5. The expert also advises what every tourist must do and take with him before going on a trek

Monika Mikołajska, Medonet: TOPR lifeguard – it sounds proud and evokes respect. But this is a hard piece of bread – you risk your own health and life every day, you go to help regardless of the time of day and in all conditions. This is an extreme job. What is so attractive about this activity? You have extensive experience – he has been working as a toprower for almost 40 years.

Mieczysław Ziach: I have been working as a toprower since 1982. But the mountains have always been inside me. In elementary school, I used to ski at the club, and at the age of 14 I started climbing. Joining the ranks of TOPR and helping people was another natural step. My grandfather was a famous Tatra rescuer and guide, so probably genes also mattered.

I submitted my application as soon as I turned 18. This is the age required to become a TOPR member. And I was accepted as a lifeguard-candidate. After two years – after completing all trainings and passing the courses, I became a real member.

There are 285 names on the list of TOPR members. Many candidates come to you?

Today, together with the professional staff, there are about 150 of us, there are also members who are out of service (due to their age or health condition, they are not obliged to participate in rescue operations). It is known, sometimes there are more of us, sometimes less. However, on average, about 10 young adepts come to us every year. If they do not get discouraged, they will after some time become ordinary rescuers of TOPR.

Do you have a feeling of anxiety, even fear of what the day will bring, when you go on duty in the morning? Before someone’s health and life will depend on you and your colleagues?

There is no time for fear in rescue operations. Anyway, we train all the time, so we are well prepared for the tasks and, as a result, this work has no great secrets for us. Of course, something can always happen, but this is the nature of this work – we must take the risk into account, although we minimize it as much as possible. There will always be risk in the mountains and it will have to be taken – we decided to do it when choosing this job.

An extremely dangerous job. It happens that during rescue operations, the mountains also take toprowers …

The first rescuer to die was Klimek Bachleda. It happened in August 1910 – a few months after the official establishment of TOPR. The most tragic was the accident on August 11, 1994 at the Olczyska Valley. I participated in this action. We rescued two Swedish tourists who, while descending Kasprowy Wierch, came across a storm and suffered an injury. Two of our rescuers and two pilots died during the rescue operation. The expedition ended in a great tragedy for us. Me and a few colleagues managed to get out of it alive. However, in 26 years, not a day goes by without me thinking about it. I always have it in my head that something like this could happen.

1. 110 years ago, Klemens Bachleda, the legendary “King of the Guides”, died

On the other hand, the work of a TOPR rescuer is associated with great satisfaction, when the rescue operation is successful, people can be saved.

That’s for sure. Someone who comes to the emergency room and wants to work here does not count on splendor and great salaries, but goes to work because he wants to help people.

Who has a chance to become a TOPR rescuer? What does an “rehearsal” look like at a party?

You must have good health. One of the conditions for admission to the TOPR ranks is to have a health card – if someone has health problems, they will not get it. This is exercise work, so fitness also matters. Wherever the helicopter cannot reach, you need to take out the equipment, carry the injured person … It is important to also have some skills in navigating the mountains, climbing and skiing on your own. You have to know – very well – the topography of the Tatra Mountains. This is required in the entrance examination which allows the candidate to participate in further courses.

What does this exam look like?

It takes place in the field. There is a fitness run, a summer and winter climbing test, there is skiing and an exam in the topography of the Tatra Mountains. Young people really have to walk a lot in the mountains to get it all and join our ranks at the age of 18. Perhaps a later age would be even better – people would have more time to gain experience. It should also be remembered that when joining TOPR you must have two introductory members who will guarantee for us that we are the right person for this service.

We are in the peak of the tourist season, crowds in the Tatras. What mistakes of tourists are especially noticeable to you. Are there more accidents?

In nice weather, we have several applications every day – more or less difficult cases. The worst thing is that tourists still overestimate their skills – they get stuck somewhere, run out of strength and are unable to go any further.

Another thing is that people come from the cities and probably do not have much time, they go on strenuous trips right away. Meanwhile, even in the Tatras, acclimatization should take place – the point is to get the body used to breathing air with less oxygen. Let’s take about two days for it.

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Late hiking is also common – at ten or even at noon. Then there is a surprise that it got dark and there was not enough strength and daylight before we reached our goal. Then they ask us to rescue and bring back. You have to be aware that in the mountains the weather is usually better in the morning, so it will not surprise us so easily. So we go out on the trail very early – if it’s a long route, then even at dawn. Plan your trip so that you will be in the valley by noon or lunchtime. So that there would be no time to descend.

Another mistake with dire consequences is goals that are too ambitious. It often ends with falls from heights – often fatal. Such an Orla Perć – falling off in such terrain is actually certain death. There are over a dozen fatal accidents in the Tatras each year. But, for example, in the 30s, this number reached XNUMX.

The Tatras are not big or exceptionally high, maybe hence the downplaying of the threat, lack of humility …

The Tatra Mountains should not be underestimated – there are no easy mountains here. Each one requires either skill or physical preparation. And if we are talking about the High Tatras – these mountains do not forgive any mistakes. This is something to be reckoned with. Besides, Tarty mountains are alpine type, we don’t only have glaciers.

Has the number of accidents been smaller, greater or similar over the years?

There are fewer deaths, but the lighter ones are much more. There are also more events caused by people than random events. Of course, it’s easier to notify us these days – almost everyone has a cell phone. Once, to call for help, someone had to go down to the shelter. This ease of contact has pros and cons. On the one hand, we can help faster and transport the victim to the hospital, on the other hand, it happens that less experienced tourists ask us for help in nonsense cases.

Can you give an example?

A perfect example is the annual summoning of the police and guard to the Morskie Oko region. This happens around 16pm during the Christmas season. Reason? Tourists argue that it is dark in Morskie Oko, and they do not have flashlights and cannot go down. We have been observing such situations for several years. They have been quite well publicized, so we hope that there will be no more such cases.

Soon it will be a year since the tragic storm on Giewont, in which four people died and over 150 were injured …

It was one of the trips that left a mark on us. We have not yet met with such a large number of seriously injured people. There were 157 injured people, 40 of them in a very serious condition, four people died.

1. How to behave in a storm? First aid to a person who was struck by lightning

Let’s hope it won’t happen again….

I am not sure because tourism is very mass now and people do not necessarily realize that when a storm is coming, you have to go down, not wade into the mountains. I am a witness many times when we – mountaineers, mountaineers – hearing the storm want to evacuate from the endangered area and go down as soon as possible. Meanwhile, many tourists keep going up. With a plan in mind, they often go against the tide.

And the storm is one of the greatest summer dangers in the mountains.

This is one of the most drastic threats for us. On the day of the tragedy on Giewont, the storm was visible from the very morning. We heard the thunder two hours earlier – enough time to get down from the summit. Nevertheless, people in great numbers went to the top and gathered around the cross. We didn’t have to wait long for the effect. Around 13 p.m. there was one strong thunder that hurt so many people there. Four did not survive. Two children and two women.

Remember, every tourist should check the weather before going out – he should follow it before going to the mountains. And choose targets that are appropriate for the weather, and not watch the sky change when it’s high. Now we can easily predict the storm, there are weather alerts, the forecasts are quite accurate. I encourage you to use them and adapt your trips to the forecasted weather. The Tatras are capricious mountains, we often have bad weather here.

But what if we are “surprised” by a storm high in the mountains? Apparently, just before the lightning strike, the air is so electrified that people’s hair stand on end.

Yes, but then it is too late to escape the storm. Unless we are in the valley, but then it is not 100 percent. guarantee that we will not be struck by lightning. It would be best to be in the shelter then.

A storm in the mountains is a very unpleasant phenomenon, mentally difficult to bear. The first instinct is to run, and that is a very bad idea. Instead, it is better to crouch with your legs together near the ridge, but at a distance from the wall – because if the ridge is struck by lightning, the load will “flow” down the ridge. Let’s isolate ourselves with a backpack from the wall, from the ground and try to survive. Never stick to a wet chain, never hide under trees – lightning can strike them.

1. How does lightning strike happen?

Are there any diseases that make it better to resign from going to the mountains?

Certainly, all cardiovascular diseases are a contraindication for strenuous mountain trips. These include past heart attacks, strokes. Then you should always consult a doctor before a planned trip. In these diseases, we advise against going high in the mountains. It is better to choose lower ones – Gorce, Bieszczady.

What can we not forget when going to the mountains? As an experienced mountaineer and guide, what would you advise tourists?

When going to the mountains, especially somewhere higher, we have to plan our trip well. Let us not forget to let others know where we are going, what route we are taking, how do we go back, when we are more or less downstairs.

What about clothes?

Even though it is summer, trekking shoes will be the best, remember about a warm jacket, take something rainproof. Let’s also put a flashlight and NRC foil (also known as emergency blanket, isothermal foil) in the backpack. Remember to charge your mobile phone well before leaving and write down our number (985 or 48 601 100 300) – if you are in need, you can also call 112.

Of course we take provisions with us and very importantly – a lot of drinking. A liter is the minimum for a trip of several hours. Let’s not forget about the physical preparation and acclimatization – if we are not feeling well yet, let’s visit the lower parts of the mountains, leave the more difficult things for later. The mountains will not run away, they will wait. And above all, let’s not forget to take common sense with us to the mountains.

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