Alpengletscher (alpine glacier):
A homage to the high alpine world of ice and firn - before it disappears

The glacier has given the Alps their unmistakable, sublime face for centuries; it is melting away at breakneck speed. It is only a matter of time before the great glistening glacial streams turn gray under the rubble and soon disappear completely.
The dynamics of this process show us the ephemeral beauty of the high alpine world in all its drama. The aim of this book is to capture what we have to lose in unique images and texts. Because the end of the glacier cannot leave anyone cold - especially not if you have connected your life with the alpine ice in the way that mountain photographer Bernd Ritschel and glacier researcher Andrea Fischer did. This elaborate illustrated book is not only a scientifically sound inventory, but above all a fascinating hymn to the size and beauty of the high mountains and a feast for the eyes.
The focus of this volume lies in its image selection. In unique, partly large-format views, all high alpine mountain regions of the eastern and western Alps are taken into account in equal measure. The captions draw attention to the geographic and glaciological features. A practical appendix complements the large glacier show: 25 places (viewpoints, nature trails, huts) are presented with a short information block, where non-mountaineers can also experience glaciers up close. In the text contributions, the book is dedicated to the history of glaciers and the dynamics of current developments.
Another focus is people in the mountains: What do the glaciers mean for life and business in the Alps? What's in store for us when the ice breaks? And what can people expect today when they venture into the high alpine ice?