Bernd Ritschel is fascinated by the mountains. In particular, he feels deeply connected to the alpine glaciers. He has been travelling there since childhood. For many years, he has been observing their retreat and the resulting changes for nature - and for people. He knows that by 2050, ¾ of all Alpine glaciers will have disappeared. Their beauty from the perspective of outdoor photographer Ritschel and his impressions show these pictures:
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The fascination of alpine glaciers and their shrinking in pictures
The Aletsch Glacier (Swiss Alps) is the longest ice stream in the Alps. It has a designated length of about 22 km and an area of about 78 square meters. Ritschel's tip: "If you want to see the Unsesco World Heritage Site, it's best to climb the 2926m high Eggishorn."
Fragile ice forms in the ice tunnel of Vernagt Glacier (Ötztal Alps).
The thin ice of the Taschachferner (Ötztal Alps) results in a special incidence of light.
The 4478m high Matterhorn (Switzerland). In Ritschel's childhood days, the east face of the Matterhorn (in the picture) was covered with snow in large parts, even in summer. At that time, there were spectacular skiing events there until June. The barely visible remnant of the glacier in the shadow below has long since lost its actual connection to the Furggletscher.
Ritschel's view from the glacier gate of the Gepatschferner.
Gorner Glacier (Valais Alps): Summer meltwater flows down the ice in meandering glacial streams.
The world-famous crescent-shaped structures on the surface of the Mer De Glace glacier (Mont Blanc Group)....
...and what remains of it 20 years later.
One of the treacherous dangers for Ritschel during the production for the illustrated book Alpengletscher: Due to the heat and high solar radiation, he had to get out of the Gurler Ferner (Ötztal Alps) as quickly as possible, because he had to reckon with falling rocks at any time when leaving the glacier gate.
