In an audacious act, the climbing community was baffled, and a robbery was executed. This ended up targeting a collection box situated atop one of Switzerland’s most perilous mountain passes.

The daring thieves, armed with mountaineering gear, steel ladders, and cables, scaled the unforgiving rockface at an elevation of 8,000 feet (2.4 kilometres) above sea level.

Climbing Peaks is Scarred by Evil Intentions

The prize for their audacity? Somewhere between 400 to 500 Swiss francs (£400). This is taken from the Leukerbad climbing club’s donation box, strategically placed near the summit of the Daubenhorn. The box is intended to amass contributions to maintain the rugged pass. This gets pried open and left in disarray beneath a sign emphasizing the vital role of donations in preserving the route.

This route, known as Switzerland’s longest, bears the challenging K5 “via Ferrata” classification, an honour reserved for the most demanding Alpine climbs. It seems the perpetrators were seasoned alpinists. They were well-acquainted with the terrain and equipped with formidable tools to force their way into the collection box.

Patrick Grichting, a board member of the club, speculated that this was no impromptu act. “These are not run-of-the-mill hikers,” he asserted. “It’s a massive box that you can’t just pry open with a screwdriver.” The heist occurred adjacent to a meadow. This is where climbers typically rest following a gruelling 3,000-foot ascent up a sheer cliff. This is a challenge embraced by around 50 climbers daily during peak season.

The daring act left the climbing community in disbelief. This led to questioning the motives of the thieves. On social media, the climbing club expressed their astonishment and disappointment. They labelled the robbery a “huge insult” that displayed a lack of respect for the community’s efforts.

Even after the installation of cables and ladders in 2015, the route remains accessible solely to the most experienced climbers, magnifying the audacity of this theft. The club’s members suspect that the criminals embarked on their climb either in the early morning or evening hours.

However, amidst this setback, a glimmer of solidarity emerged.

A ray of light after the evil 

 A local businessperson stepped forward, donating 500 francs to make up for the stolen funds. Fellow climbers and well-wishers also rallied on social media, offering donations to aid the climbing club’s cause.

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Despite Switzerland’s reputation for low crime rates, it ranks eleventh on the Global Peace Index, just after Japan. The nation has witnessed a surge in robberies aimed at cash machines in recent years. With its abundance of cash machines and a strong reliance on hard currency for payments, Switzerland grapples with an unexpected criminal underbelly within its serene landscapes.

As the climbing community navigates the aftermath of this audacious theft, their collective spirit remains unbroken. Amid the incredulity, climbers and supporters echo sentiments of resilience and unity. The mountains, though often seen as a realm of solitude, continue to weave a thread of camaraderie among those who dare to conquer their heights, transcending even the most daring acts of theft.

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