Vent, Oetztal, June 11 (Difficult ascent.) On Tuesday, as every year at this time, large flocks of sheep were driven over the Jöcher from Schnals. About 300 sheep went over the Hochjoch and more than 1000 over the Niederjoch. They were caught in a very heavy snowstorm on their ascent, which put people and livestock in danger. Several sheep, a goat and two lambs from the herd on the Niederjoch froze to death on the Schnals side up to the Joch, where the path is very steep. The people also got enough. First it rained, then it snowed; their clothes froze in the cold and the icy wind. One boy had to be carried a long way up to the Similaun hut. Instead of 9 o’clock, we got up to the pass at 2 o’clock. Things got better on the Venter side. The last ones arrived in Vent at half past midnight. The oldest shepherds don’t remember ever having gone through such a crossing. Things were a little better for those on the Hochjoch, probably because they had fewer cattle. One goat perished there too, while another could still be brought through by pouring wine over it. However, no one seems to have suffered any lasting damage. Apart from such an incident, the passages are easily passable.

Excerpt from the article: “Difficult ascent”
From: Tiroler Volksbote, Friday, June 26, 1913, page 6
1914_06_26_VB_6_SchafherdenüberdieJöcher_Schlechtwetter.jpg (left column, rather below)

Newspaper reports researched by Manfred Schwarz and Annemarie Hofer
published in: Manfred Schwarz, Annemarie Hofer: “Hören Sie einmal wieder ein Wort aus unserem Thale”. Ötztal and Schnals in newspaper reports and pictures 1849-1918. Publication series Ötztal-Archiv, Volume 29. ed.: Pro Vita Alpina, Schnals Cultural Association, 2023
“Difficult ascent”: page 53