Vandalism in the Alps is on the rise, with mountain huts increasingly targeted, the German Alpine Club (DAV) has warned, reported dpa.
Winter shelters have been found trashed with rubbish, broken windows, burned furniture and empty alcohol bottles, according to the DAV.
The winter rooms of huts that are accessible from the outside and usually closed during snow and ice have been particularly affected, said club spokesman Julian Rohn.
These shelters are intended to provide mountain sports enthusiasts with safe overnight accommodation during often demanding winter ascents. However, in some places, they appear to have been discovered as party venues.
The Munich-Oberland section of the DAV has been particularly affected this year and recently filed a complaint against unknown perpetrators after one winter shelter in the Wetterstein mountains was found severely vandalized.
Press officer Markus Block said there was rubbish everywhere. "Alcohol bottles, four tents, sleeping bags. People had relieved themselves around the hut — it was a mess. Someone even ripped out the stove and left it outside," Block said. "The hut was broken into twice," he added.
Cash boxes for overnight fees in winter rooms have also been repeatedly broken into, Rohn said. Vandals have plastered summit crosses and signposts with stickers, according to Rohn, creating potential hazards for hikers. DAV volunteers regularly remove these stickers to maintain safety.
The damage leads to significant repair costs and effort, usually borne by DAV members. Broken doors often require replacement parts flown in by helicopter, while smashed windows expose huts to snow and water damage.
- Alps
- Vandalism
- Rises
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
