Šar Planina winter hiking markers vandalized

Vandalism has targeted the newly installed winter hiking trail markings on the approximately 11-kilometer path between Popova Šapka and Titov Vrv in the Šar Planina mountains. The Sustainable Development Association SAT Skopje reported that more than 45 of the 112 installed poles have been destroyed, damaged, or removed.

The damage is estimated to be worth at least 8,000 euros. Beyond the financial loss, officials emphasized that the destruction poses a significant safety risk to hikers. In conditions of heavy snow, fog, or high winds, summer markings are often invisible, making these red and yellow high-contrast winter poles essential for navigation and route safety.

The marking project was part of the ‘Slavkov – Marking of Mountaineering Paths in North Macedonia’ initiative, supported by the embassies of Austria, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, as well as Skopska Pivara. The installation involved over 25 local volunteers and small businesses from the Tetovo and Bogovinje municipalities.