Vandalism on Shar Mountain: winter marking destroyed

More than 45 of a total of 112 installed winter poles on the Popova Shapka - Titov Vrv trail, approximately 11 kilometers long, have been destroyed, damaged or removed, domestic organizations report. The material damage is assessed as substantial, and authorities warn that the consequences for safety and tourism could be even more serious.

Marking installed between November 2025 and the end of July 2026

The winter marking was part of the project "Slavkov – Marking of hiking trails in North Macedonia", financed by the embassies of Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia and by Skopska Pivara, and implemented and financially supported by the company Sustainable Adventure Travel and the Organization for Sustainable Development SAT Skopje, in cooperation with the Mountaineering Federation of North Macedonia (FPSM).

The installation was carried out from November 2025 until the end of July 2026, with the participation of more than 25 local volunteers and small businesses from the municipalities of Tetovo and Bogovinje, who invested many working hours in transporting, preparing and installing the equipment in difficult mountain conditions. The financial value of the damage is estimated at at least 8,000 euros (500,000 denars).

The Mountaineering Federation points out that this is not only a material loss. Under conditions of snow, fog, strong wind and reduced visibility the summer markings are often covered or not visible at all; winter poles then become key orientation points. When the marking disappears, so does the reference point that can show where to continue when the mountain landscape is not recognizable.

The poles were painted red and yellow to provide the strongest visual contrast in snowy conditions — a practice common in many European mountain regions and included in national marking rules. The destruction also damages the tourism infrastructure potential needed for the development of mountain and active tourism.

On 19.08.2026 a specialist police team, in the presence of representatives of Shar Mountain National Park, carried out an on-site inspection and documented the locations where damage and removal of equipment were determined. The Mountaineering Federation appeals to all visitors to respect and preserve the marking and to report any damage to the competent institutions.

Photo: press material from the event