A British hiker’s trip to the Italian Dolomites got significantly more expensive after he was rescued from a closed trail and charged over $16,000 by emergency services.
The 60-year-old man was on the Ferrata Berti Trail in the Dolomites near San Vito di Cadore, Belluno when he came upon a sign indicating the trail was closed due to ongoing rockfalls from a landslide. Instead of turning around he kept going and predictably found himself panicked and pinned down by falling rocks hanging on for dear life at 8,200 feet elevation.
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The man called for rescue and helicopter was dispatched. It was delayed and had to circle back to locate the man due to poor visibility. He was safely extracted from the mountain and when he got back to civilization he was slapped with the $16,000 bill for the rescue operation. The same rescue for EU nationals would only have been a few hundred Euros (if the man had rescue insurance it would have been cheaper).
The hiker claimed he did not see the signs but if it comes to arguing that in court, we don’t like his chances.
Key Takeaways:
Purchasing backcountry insurance is highly recommended—something this hiker is likely regretting right now.
No matter how skilled or confident you feel, never venture onto closed trails—especially in high-risk mountain terrain.
Travel ambitions can cloud your judgment after flying to an outdoor destination, only to find routes shut down. Always remember: no single hike is worth risking your safety (or a $16K bill).
