Vandalism at the Watzmann: refuge suffers from devastation!

Vandalism at the Watzmann: refuge suffers from devastation!

In the breathtaking heights of the Watzmann, nature has attracted not only hikers but also strangers whose actions deeply concern the mountain rescue service and the local community. According to recent reports, massive damage was once again found at the emergency shelter at Watzmann-Hocheck. This hut, located at 2,651 meters in the Berchtesgaden National Park, is an important shelter for mountaineers and offers shelter in bad weather. On October 22nd, a mountaineer discovered that the wall between the shelter and the emergency storage room had been breached. The damage, which is estimated at 300 to 400 euros, is due to vandalism, reports Mercury.

Another act of vandalism was detected on October 27th, with the wall to the emergency storage room being damaged again. An attempt at repair failed due to the difficult weather conditions. The mountain rescue service and the Piding border police station are asking for information about the perpetrators by calling +49 (0) 8651-950-0, as such acts not only endanger the infrastructure, but also the lives of mountaineers in need.

Increasing cases of vandalism

This worrying development is not new. Measures were already taken in the summer of 2025 to counteract the increasing number of vandalism and littering. On July 25, the refuge was partially closed to prevent further damage. The mountain rescue service and the national park have made the decision to close the larger protected area in the future in order to protect it from further devastation. Overnight stays are now only possible under certain conditions, as the hut also serves as a storage facility for important emergency equipment that is necessary for mountain rescue, such as Alpine reported.

Although the shelter will remain accessible in emergencies, there will be more restrictions in the future. If there are too many climbers in distress, the door to the larger shelter can be opened via an emergency call. A renovation of the emergency shelter is planned to take the changed conditions into account. Multilingual signage is in the works to inform mountaineers of the necessary rules of conduct.

An appeal to mountaineers

These unpleasant developments not only raise questions, but also make it clear that a rethink is necessary. The mountain rescue service and the national park urgently appeal to all mountain lovers to take their rubbish with them into the valley and to treat the infrastructure with respect. The refuge has saved lives in the past and it is everyone's responsibility to protect this important facility.

As with many similar cases, the question arises: How can it be that the very places that offer protection and security repeatedly fall victim to vandalism? Only together can we ensure that our mountain forests and huts continue to serve as safe havens in the future.