A massive rock and debris flow buried a popular mountain lake near the Hohenzollernhaus, a mountain hut operated by the Starnberg branch of the German Alpine Club (DAV), and forced the evacuation of all guests. Only the hut’s operators remained behind to monitor the situation.
Alpine Tranquility Shattered as Authorities Close Off Valley
The Hohenzollernhaus, located at an elevation of 2,123 meters, narrowly escaped being engulfed when a violent debris avalanche swept down from the 3,353-meter-high Glockturm peak. Triggered by torrential rainfall and unstable geological conditions, the rockslide completely filled the lake situated just above the hut. Police sealed off the affected valley for several days, ordering the evacuation of all guests. Only the two caretakers, Daniel Wanek (32) and Marissa Gruber (29), stayed behind with their dog Odin to keep the site secure.
Severe Storm Set the Stage for Nighttime Disaster
The sequence of events began on Monday around 6 p.m., when a powerful thunderstorm struck the region surrounding the Hohenzollernhaus. Lightning and intense rainfall created ominous conditions. At that time, seven guests and the two hut operators had no inkling of the destruction to come.
Shortly after midnight, at exactly 1:17 a.m., the hut’s fire alarm system was triggered by a power outage. Wanek, a trained metalworker, set out with a headlamp to inspect the power unit. Along the way, he noticed that the streambed was dry—an unusual and troubling sign. As he neared the lake, he heard a thunderous roar of water and falling debris.
“In that moment, it was clear something massive had occurred,” Wanek said.
Lake Disappears Overnight as Landscape is Transformed
By 5 a.m., the scale of the destruction became evident. The once-idyllic lake above the hut had completely vanished. A vast mass of granite debris from the Glockturm had filled the basin, radically altering the terrain.
Dominik Dreyer, chair of the DAV Starnberg section, explained: “Many of these boulders were likely held in place by so-called dead ice. Due to ongoing warming, this ice is now melting—with dangerous consequences.” A similar event in 2019 had actually formed the now-destroyed lake.
Future of Historic Mountain Hut in Jeopardy
The Hohenzollernhaus, owned by the DAV since 1978, now faces an uncertain future. Of particular concern is the fate of the Radurschelbach stream. If its course is permanently diverted by the rockslide, the hut’s technical infrastructure could be compromised.
“That would be extremely problematic,” Dreyer warned. The hut’s electricity comes from hydropower, and its wastewater is treated via a facility reliant on the stream. A change in the watercourse could require significant structural intervention to maintain operations.
Geological Assessment Underway to Determine Further Risks
A geologist has already been flown in by helicopter to survey the affected area from the air. An expert report is expected in the coming days to determine the stability of the surrounding terrain and to assess potential risks for alpine pastures and inhabited areas further downslope.
In the meantime, the two hut keepers are working with a backup generator to preserve perishable supplies. It remains unclear if or when the hut, originally scheduled to operate until September 28, will be able to reopen for guests.
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