Overview

• The Ferrata Berti via ferrata was officially closed in June after weeks of heat-induced rockfalls.
• On July 31 rescue teams completed two helicopter missions to winch the 60-year-old British trekker to safety through low clouds.
• The Veneto regional health service has invoiced him €14,000 under non-EU fees, compared with only a few hundred euros for insured EU hikers.
• Rescue authorities installed larger multilingual placards and blocked both entrances to the route on August 3 to prevent further trespassing.
• A severe heatwave has destabilized Alpine rock faces this summer, driving a 20% rise in search-and-rescue operations and at least 83 fatalities across the Dolomites.