Since 1923, the Austrian Alpine Club has honored outstanding mountain rescuers with the "Green Cross." This year, two Tyrolean mountain rescuers received the award, which is considered the highest and most prestigious honor in mountain rescue.
Today, more than 500 people wear the "Green Cross," which the Austrian Alpine Association awards to exceptional mountain rescuers. On October 18, two mountain rescuers from Tyrol were honored for their many years of service: Josef Hofer and Alois Höflinger, members of the Scheffau/Söllandl mountain rescue service in Tyrol for more than 40 years.
This award is not just a tribute to two individuals – it is also a thank you to all those who, day after day, serve humanity in the Alpine region.
Alpine Club Vice President Markus Welzl
Recognition for selfless service in extreme situations
Josef Hofer and Alois Höflinger were active as members of the Scheffau/Söllandl Mountain Rescue Service in countless mountain and ski-piste rescue missions. They also worked as air rescuers, officials, and, last but not least, as mentors for future generations.
During the award ceremony at the annual general meeting in Graz, Vice President Markus Welzl called the Green Cross "a sign of deepest recognition for selfless, voluntary work in extreme situations such as only the Alpine region can produce." The award stands for exceptional achievements on the mountain, but also for courage, determination and solidarity.
The "Green Cross" has been awarded to 521 people since its establishment in 1923. The requirements for the awards include, among others: repeated, extremely difficult and life-threatening alpine rescues or recovery operations.
About the award winners
Since joining the mountain rescue service in 1983, Josef Hofer around 400 mountain rescue missions, 500 piste rescue missions, and over 1.200 missions as a mountain and air rescuer in Kitzbühel. "Josef Hofer's participation in the many missions demonstrates his determination, humanity, and exceptional resilience in difficult situations," according to the Alpine Club.
An example of a particularly dramatic operation: At the end of the 1990s, a mountaineer fell during an approaching thunderstorm in the Wilder Kaiser Mountains and was left with severe injuries. When the helicopter rescue was thwarted by the storm, Josef Hofer detached himself from the rope to secure the injured man and provide first aid. After placing the mountaineer in the rescue bag, he persevered for hours until the helicopter could arrive for rescue. "The fact that the victim survived was solely thanks to the selfless and courageous efforts of Josef Hofer," according to the Alpine Club.
Even Alois Höflinger He joined the Scheffau/Söllandl Mountain Rescue Service in 1983. Since then, he has participated in more than 300 alpine and approximately 500 piste rescue missions. For many years, he served in various positions on the committee and led many complex operations.
His time with the mountain rescue service repeatedly led him into challenging and emotional situations. From nighttime rescues on the Leuchsturm south face to other tragic missions like the one in the Wilder Kaiser, he always demonstrated dedication, according to the Alpine Club: "Alois Höflinger never shied away from a challenge when it came to rescuing victims or caring for their families."
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Credits cover photo: Alpine Club/P. Neuner-Knabl