Leo Schlömmer

In 1971, American Norman Dyhrenfurth led an expedition of 30 climbers from 13 different countries, including Don Whillans, Dougal Haston, Naomi Uemura, Pierre Mazeaud, Michel Vaucher, and others. This expedition aimed to simultaneously climb the southwest face and the direct west ridge. During the ascent, Indian climber Harsh Vardhan Bahuguna perished at Camp 3 in a storm. The expedition, already suffering from organizational problems, was severely tested after his death. The Americans decided, unilaterally, to abandon the west ridge. The Europeans, who had spent days equipping the route, were left out and felt relegated to the roles of route setters and porters. Frenchman Pierre Mazeaud, Swiss climbers Michel and Yvette Vaucher, and Italian Carlo Mauri then left the expedition. The Americans continued their ascent of the southwest face up to 8,350 meters before giving up.

"The Dachstein, 2,995 m high and exactly on the border between Styria and Upper Austria - and thus the highest mountain of both federal states. The documentary presents this natural beauty in overwhelming pictures. The mountain guide Heli Putz, who grew up on the Simony hut, crosses the mountains with different mountain partners and in different disciplines. As varied as the mountains themselves. The documentary stages the beauty of nature in overwhelming images."