 Poster: A snowHead
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Fed-up Italian farmers set up mountain turnstiles to charge access to Instagram hot spots
If Carlo Zanella, president of the Alto Adige Alpine Club, had his way, travel influencers would be banned from the Dolomites.
He blames them for the latest Italian social media trend, which has lured hundreds of thousands of tourists to the mountain range in northern Italy, with many traipsing across private land to get that perfect shot.
In response to the influx, frustrated local farmers have set up turnstiles, where tourists must pay 5 euros (nearly $6) to access several “Instagrammable” spots, including the Seceda and Drei Zinnen (Three Peaks) mountain ranges.
Photos showing lines of up to 4,000 people a day, have been popping up on social media in recent weeks. But rather than deter people from coming, the images have acted as a magnet.
“The media’s been talking about the turnstiles, everyone’s been talking about it,” says Zanella. “And people go where everyone else goes. We’re sheep.”
Italian law mandates free access to natural parks, such as the Alps and Dolomites, but the landowners who set up the turnstiles say they have yet to receive any official pushback from authorities.
Georg Rabanser, a former Italian national team snowboarder who owns land in a meadow on Seceda, told the Ladin-language magazine La Usc he and others started charging tourists to cross their land to make a point.
“So many people come through here every day, everyone goes through our properties and leaves trash,” he says. “Ours was a cry for help. We expected a call from the provincial authorities. But nothing. We only read statements in the newspapers. Gossip; nothing concrete. We haven’t even received warning letters. So we’re moving forward.”
Zanella, who says he avoids his once beloved alpine hiking trails during the summer months, supports the landowners charging admission to cross their property. He thinks the government should pay for the upkeep of the entrance system, likening the overtourism to Venice, where visitors have to pay a 10-euro entrance fee (around $12) on busy weekends.
“I would increase the price from 5 to 100 euros,” he tells CNN. “And close the accounts of travel influencers.”
Beyond the public nuisance of overcrowding, he fears the naivete of social media tourists puts them at risk.
“Once upon a time, those who came up to the mountains were prepared, dressed for the mountains, and came for hiking. Especially the Germans, who had maps and knew where to go. The Italians, on the other hand, set off, go, and take a cable car,” he says in a statement shared with CNN. “Now I’ve seen people go up to Seceda with sun umbrellas and flip-flops and get stuck because the cable car closed and they hadn’t checked the lift schedules (…) This isn’t what the mountains should be,” he says.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Alastair Pink, just a note that farmers are never happy.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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They need to go Swiss and just funnel them into 2-3 places (hey Grindelwald, Jungfraubahn and Engelberg Titlis).
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Always fu*ks me off when the minority spoil it for the majority and the 'authorities' are quick enough to take the money but too lazy and dimwitted to penalise the culprits.
Have hiking police who dole out hefty - talking hundreds of euros - on the spot fines for litter.
Charge an absolute fortune for rescues for unprepared 'victims' - there can be a minimal checklist for entering the National Parks and Via Ferratta routes for examples.
Unlucky, prepared visitors get charged a nominal fee paid for by the donkeys. Or should that be sheep.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Interestingly just back from the Haute Tarentiase quieter than normal I’d say , the Instagram and Tik Tok effect is huge these days and the Dollie’s do in spades
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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"Influencers". Gag me.
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I’m in the Dolomites at the moment and it seems to be a bit quieter than it has been the last couple years. This may be because we are several weeks earlier than usual and to be honest the weather is not great. We have done a couple rock climbs and only came across one other party. Even sport climbing at the Cinque Torri was almost deserted.
Over the years the Dolomites have become more and more crowded. It was at the state last year when I was wondering whether I’d come again. And I have been coming for over 40 years. The big problem has been the rise in camper vans that struggle on the mountain passes and park almost any or everywhere. There are no more hotels or huttes so accommodation hasn’t increased.
I was also enticed to start coming 40 years ago by an image. This time a photo of the Scala di Menighel via ferrata (that’s the one on Dolomite Highway 1 with iron bars just stuck horizontally into the rock face near Tofana de Rozes) as the front cover on Cimber and Rambler. So there is nothing new in seeing images and fostering the desire to go some place.
That Youtube video of the Seconda telecabine from St. Ulrich has made me change my plans. We were thinking of doing the Kline Fermeda but now the thought of waiting hours for the telecabine has totally put me off.
As to the rise in mountain rescue incidents; Italian footpaths are very well marked so only basic map and compass skills are required. However when walking up Sas de Pordoi from Pordoijoch I was shocked by the number of walkers who appeared poorly equipment. I think a lot of people don’t realise that these are big mountains. It was snowing today on the mountain tops. It may be the simple fact that the paths are so clear that entices the ill equipped to venture onto them.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Just tell them helmets are now mandatory to walk to the viewpoint..........
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@johnE, 
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@GreenDay, I'm little suprised that they haven't mandated helmets to be worn at all times, but of course mandatating water proof clothing and appropriate shoes would have a bigger impact
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You know it makes sense.
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we stayed a few days in both in Seiser Alm and then Alta badia a few weeks ago. Some places were heaving and others were pretty deserted.
Near the top of the Ortisei-Seiser alm gondola it was very busy as the wildflowers were blooming but the further you moved away from there the quieter it became. There is a short circular walk which 95% of people seemed to be doing. There were clearly coach loads of people on day trip that parked in Ortisei and then took the gondola up. Maybe they also head up the other side to Seceda, we didn't have time to go up there so I can't comment. Unfortunately like everywhere some people don't show respect and were walking and cycling where they shouldn't so some farmers had narrowed the footpaths with temporary fencing. At one point there was a stile with a large no bikes sign but people were just throwing their bikes over and carrying on.
Alta Badia was pretty quiet but there were a couple of busy places that evidently are popular on Instagram. We walked down in the Lagazuoi valley and only saw a handful of people until we reached the lake which was busy. It's a short, but rather steep, walk from Rifugio Scotoni so easily accessible.
I thought we were well equipped but we don't use poles and as @johnE says there was still snow around which was a bit tricky in places so to be fair that put us in the 'non quite prepared' category 
I'm originally from the lakes and it's no different there, some places are too busy, others equally pretty are deserted. Some people are respectful and prepared, others aren't.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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More clueless tourists causing problems in the Dolomites, English Tourist Faces €14,000 Rescue Bill After Ignoring Trail Closures in the Italian Dolomites 
A 60-year-old British hiker is facing a €14,225 bill after ignoring trail closures and becoming stranded in a dangerous area of the Italian Dolomites last Thursday, July 31. The incident occurred on the Berti Ferrata in the Croda Marcora zone, which is located around 11 miles from the Cortina d’Ampezzo ski resort. The hiker had ventured out onto the Berti Ferrata trail, which is closed in both directions, from Cortina as well as from San Vito di Cadore. The hiker persisted despite several clear safety warnings and closure orders posted along the trail. The 60-year-old man had set out in the morning from Passo Tre Croci and called emergency services around 3:30 p.m. when he found himself stuck on the ferrata due to rockfall.
The rescue, coordinated by Italy’s Ulss 1 Dolomiti health authority, involved a complex operation with high costs and significant risk to emergency crews due to incoming bad weather and persistent rockfall. The most expensive component was a 93-minute helicopter flight, which alone cost €11,160 before VAT. Additional charges included €200 for activating the Alpine Rescue team and €50 per hour of intervention, capped at €700.
To determine the best rescue strategy, the exact location of the hiker needed to be identified. This required waiting for the weather to clear and for the clouds to lift. The Falco 2 helicopter arrived for a potential reconnaissance flight and landed while on standby, but was later diverted to another mission. Once visibility improved, the San Vito di Cadore Alpine Rescue team confirmed that the hiker was located in the middle of the landslide zone, at an altitude of 2,400 metres.
A team of three Alpine Rescue technicians from CNSAS Veneto was prepared for possible high-altitude transport. A second helicopter, Leone, was dispatched from Treviso and took off immediately, making use of the clear skies to conduct a reconnaissance. At around 5:30 p.m., the crew reached the area and, in a swift and precise operation, recovered the hiker by lowering a rescue technician approximately 20 metres with a winch. The technician quickly secured the man, and the helicopter immediately lifted off.
The hiker was transported to base camp and handed over to the rescue personnel.
“This rescue is unfortunately a typical case,” said Giuseppe Dal Ben, commissioner of Ulss 1 Dolomiti. “Despite numerous warnings and clearly visible signs alluding to the danger, the hiker’s decision to continue forced the mobilization of helicopters, mountain rescue teams, and emergency services—all of which could have been avoided.”
Well quite. Hopefully the authorities get the €14,000 paid before they allow the English hiker to leave Italy.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Scooter in Seattle wrote: |
| "Influencers". Gag me. |
Isn't that more of an Only Fans thing?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Richard_Sideways wrote: |
| Scooter in Seattle wrote: |
| "Influencers". Gag me. |
Isn't that more of an Only Fans thing? |
I believe they prefer the phrase, content creators 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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“ bypassing barriers and ignoring the closure sign, written in English and Italian, at the start of the path and others urging hikers to turn back.”
“He said he wasn’t aware that the path was closed and didn’t see the signs”
Perhaps it’s got something to do with the UK “reading age”?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Its getting busier everywhere now, On Como the once quiet ferry over to Bellagio was never full and seats were freely available. Now there dock is full and atleast 350-400 are on each ferry across the lake.
Restaurants are heaving and the centre is now packed.
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@homers double, well at least the local lake Como economy will be doing well (ferry company, hotels, restaurants). Tourism is always a double edged sword, it boosts the economy but has adverse impacts on the locals when too many tourists visit.
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| homers double wrote: |
Its getting busier everywhere now, On Como the once quiet ferry over to Bellagio was never full and seats were freely available. Now there dock is full and atleast 350-400 are on each ferry across the lake.
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When “was” that?
I was at Como a month ago. The line to buy tickets took 3/4 an hour! But people standing in the line said it’s been like that for years!
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I'd say over the last three years it's got to a point where the queues are rediculous, especially after Covid.
Unless there is a specific reason or we have friends over who want to go I'd avoid Bellagio like the plague. The downside is that from Menaggio its a decent 60km ride to Bellagio and then hop on the ferry back again.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Alastair Pink wrote: |
| Tourism is always a double edged sword, it boosts the economy but has adverse impacts on the locals when too many tourists visit. |
The amount you hear locals complaining about it, yet they're all absolutely loaded as a result of it. Their family land and properties are now worth in the millions, their summer farms make a fortune in the winter now as restaurants for the ski areas.
I understand it, especially when I'm sat in traffic trying to move round the valley, but you can't have one without the other.
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| homers double wrote: |
| I'd avoid Bellagio like the plague. The downside is that from Menaggio its a decent 60km ride to Bellagio and then hop on the ferry back again. |
I ran into situation when they simply said “no space for bikes”!  (Or at least “Wait to see if there’s space”, which is quite worrisome seeing the mass of humanity on the dock)
I was fortunate that I was traveling alone. So I was always able to persuade them to let one more bike on board. They’d probably allow a couple too. But more than that, it’s quite possible they won’t be allowed on.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| swskier wrote: |
| I understand it, especially when I'm sat in traffic trying to move round the valley, but you can't have one without the other. |
The worst is when you have one (crowding) but not the other (economic benefits). Friend of mine from Naples said that’s been the case down there. The tourists drove up the price of everything. But the economic benefits are uneven amongst the locals. Young people can barely make enough to live on.
Yes, they can wait to inherit the family property eventually. But they are basically unable to be independent unless they leave the region.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@abc, wages in Italy in General are awful. My friend lives there and for some time was living 20 minutes outside of Naples earning barely anything. It was super cheap to eat out there though, €5/6 for some of the best pizzas you've ever had.
He now lives in Parma, was working in a bar for a while, €5 an hour! Crazy, especially as rent isn't cheap there. There's a number of Italians at our work north of the border in Austria where wages are way better than in Italy.
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You know it makes sense.
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@Peter S, 
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@Peter S, congratulations. There have been two big changes in the dolomites since yesterday: the weather has improved dramatically. The cold rainy weather of last week has been replaced with blazing sunshine and scorching temperatures and it has become very very busy, probably the busiest I’ve ever known it. I came over passo Giao yesterday and there wasn’t a parking space to be seen within 2km of the summit and some bad parking reducing the road to a single carriageway.
As you know corvara you are probably very familiar with the path/via ferrata up to piz da lech and the pisciadu via ferrata but we have just done the picalo cir from the grodner joch (we moved to the hotel cir yesterday) and would say that’s a very enjoyable straightforward ferrata. It is,however, very popular and you may need to queue before actually getting onto the summit. It was so clear today you could see the snow covered Austrian mountains to the north.
I’m sure you’ll have a very enjoyable holiday
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Peter S, congratulations. There have been two big changes in the dolomites since yesterday: the weather has improved dramatically. The cold rainy weather of last week has been replaced with blazing sunshine and scorching temperatures and it has become very very busy, probably the busiest I’ve ever known it. I came over passo Giap yesterday and there wasn’t a parking space to be seen within 2km of the summit and some bad parking reducing the road to a single carriageway.
As you know corvara you are probably very familiar with the path/via ferrata up to piz da lech and the pisciadu via ferrata but we have just done the picalo cir from the grodner joch (we moved to the hotel cir yesterday) and would say that’s a very enjoyable straightforward ferrata. It is,however, very popular and you may need to queue before actually getting onto the summit. It was so clear today you could see the snow covered Austrian mountains to the north.
I’m sure you’ll have a very enjoyable holiday
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| ster wrote: |
| @Alastair Pink, just a note that farmers are never happy. |
Would you want people trampling all over your land damaging crops ?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I have just returned from a summer holiday in Italy.
First days were in Aosta, hiking trips in Cogne and Val Ferret, returning to Courmayeur on foot.
Rather busy but not crowded on the paths/in the rifugios. Mostly Italians around us. On our way from the airport we went North at Pont St Martin for a quick visit to Gressoney and Staffal. Very peaceful and quiet, not many tourists on sight.
Then we switched to Ortisei. The town felt less crowded than Courmayer but Alpe di Suisi and Rescesa's paths had rather large numbers of hikers, all ranges and languages.
We were explained at the Tourist Office that the huge queues at the middle station for Seceda were on a particular day, first sunny day after a rainy week.
Still we decided to give it a miss and went to Col Raiser, which was rather comfortable.
On our way to the airport we passed through Paso de Sela and Canazei.
Plenty of motor traffic and of hikers in every possible spot.
Aosta seems the sensible choice for me for next year, unfortunately my OH loved the easiness of reaching mountain tops by cable cars in order to walk them down. This, plus Instagram etc. makes the Dolies such an eye candy for most.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@drporat,
Sounds lovely tbf.
Sounds similar to table mountain after high winds for a week. Quicker to walk up than queue.....
Also I was wondering is it not easier on the knees to walk up and cable car down? Admittedly more effort though.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@dynastar84, definitely healthier to walk up. And safer.
My father, a very old and retired GP, taught me to always use the stairs on my way up, and the lift on my way down.
The risk to lose your balance, slip and fall.
But not everyone likes the challenge of conquering your own vertical limits. So we settled 
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Didn’t seem that busy above Crusc yesterday. Had spells of up to hour on the walk down without seeing anyone. Down in the valley I didn’t think it was any busier than say Ambleside at this time of year and you can still get parked! Apparently some of the reported congestion is over in the Val Gardena. Going there tomorrow!
Climbed the Sassonger from the hotel in Corvara today. Looks like a new or expanded water reservoir is going in under the Pradat piste above Colfosco. Also the Forcelles chair is being upgraded to 6 person. It’s only slightly faster and slightly higher capacity than the current chair but perhaps parts are getting difficult to find for the 1990 chair?
I can report that the new Crusc 10 person gondola is as smooth and efficient as you would expect.
Have to say the Dollies are as good in the summer as the winter.
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| Quote: |
Have to say the Dollies are as good in the summer as the winter.
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I always thought they were better in summer with a greater variety of things to do.
We went up the Pian del Crep lift from Pecol in the Val di Zoldo yesterday and it was exactly the same as the old Transarc lift and just as uncomfortable.
According to Google Maps the fastest way from Grodnerjoch is through Corvara, Arabba, Selva and the Val di Zolda. A very beautiful drive.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| dynastar84 wrote: |
| is it not easier on the knees to walk up and cable car down? Admittedly more effort though. |
I found “running” the easiest to the knees, both up or down. Granted, even more effort. But I prefer to run and stop (to breath/rest), than to slowly haul myself up by my quads.
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I'm here with the kids now. Hot as balls today and I live in Dubai....
It is hard to complain when I'm a tourist too but the amount of people in the area has put me off returning. We needed a rest day after hiking down from Sassolungo on Sunday and e biking Alpe di Suisi loop from Selva yesterday, so visited Orteissi today. Didn't seem too bad and nothing like that lift queue at Seceda in the video.
Apparently we are off to find a lake to swim in tomorrow, although I haven't taken total notice of the plan as I was enjoying the scenery.
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FAQ
