A 52-year-old German hiker reported missing on Saturday, July 12, in the rugged Pale di San Martino range of the Italian Dolomites was found dead on Sunday, July 13, bringing a tragic end to the search and rescue efforts that had spanned two provinces. The man, identified only as “Mike,” had last been seen early Wednesday morning, July 9, when he departed the Mulàz Refuge (Rifugio Volpi al Mulàz) for what should have been a day’s hike toward the Rosetta Refuge (Rifugio Rosetta), a well-trafficked route crossing the alpine highlands above Trentino and Veneto. He had spent the previous night at the Mulàz Refuge and exchanged a final message with his family just before midnight on July 8. When no further contact was made, and he failed to return to Germany, relatives filed a missing person report with German police on Saturday, triggering international coordination with Italian authorities.
The Trentino Alpine Rescue (Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico Trentino), Carabinieri units from Cavalese and Primiero, and local mountain police began search operations Saturday evening, contacting surrounding refuges for any sign of the hiker. Neither the Treviso nor Pradidali refuges had seen him, and there was no confirmation he had reached the Rosetta Refuge. Early Sunday morning, teams from Val Biois were mobilized as worsening weather loomed. A brief window of favorable conditions allowed a helicopter from the Dolomiti Bellunesi Alpine Rescue to launch a reconnaissance flight along the high-alpine trail system. Accompanied by a Val Biois rescuer and a Guardia di Finanza officer, the crew traced route 703, the descending trail from Mulàz to Rosetta. Around the Valgrande Torch area, roughly 100 meters (328 feet) below the trail, they located a body wedged between two boulders in a narrow gully.
After receiving clearance from judicial authorities, a second team was airlifted to the site. The hiker’s remains were recovered using a winch system and transported to a temporary base camp at Capanna Cima Comelle, before being transferred to local authorities. Though full details of the fall remain unclear, the location suggests the man may have slipped or strayed from the marked trail and fallen into steep terrain — a known hazard in the Dolomites’ exposed limestone landscapes.
The Pale di San Martino, one of the largest and most dramatic massifs in the Dolomites, draws thousands of hikers each year, particularly in the high summer season. The Mulàz Refuge is located at an altitude of 2,571 meters (8,435 feet) above sea level. It sits high in the Pale di San Martino group of the Dolomites, on a rugged ridge between the Veneto and Trentino regions, and serves as a key waypoint for hikers traversing from Passo Rolle or heading toward the Rosetta Refuge. The route between the Mulàz and Rosetta refuges, while popular, includes high-altitude sections with loose rock and rapidly changing weather, demanding strong navigation skills and caution. The area where the hiker went missing is close to the San Martino di Castrozza – Passo Rolle ski resort which is part of the expansive Dolomiti Superski network.
Earlier in the search, the local mountain rescue, Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico (CNSAS) Veneto, had issued a public appeal for information. “Anyone who has met him in the past few days or has any details is asked to contact the Carabinieri,” the original notice read on the organization’s Facebook page.
Sunday’s recovery brings a painful resolution for the man’s family, who had held out hope for a safe return. It also highlights the continued dangers of solo travel in alpine terrain—even on well-known routes—and the vital role of coordinated international rescue efforts.
