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British tourist falls 90m to death while scaling ‘stairway to heaven’ ladder in Austria’s Dachstein mountains

Investigators rule out third-party negligence in tourist’s death, article bookmarked.

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A British tourist plunged 90m to his death from a ladder dubbed "stairway to heaven" in the picturesque Dachstein Mountains in Austria .

The 42-year-old tourist was climbing the mountain in the North Limestone Alps when he fell off the end of the ladder.

The 40-metre ladder, popular among thrill seekers, is run by Inter-Sport and is referred to as Via-Ferrata – Italian for the "iron way". It connects the lower portion of the Donnerkogel Mountain to its Grosser Donnerkogel part.

Investigators ruled out any third-party negligence in the man's fall, The Sun reported.

Two helicopters were deployed at the scene and the man's body was retrieved from the gully beneath the ladder.

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Thousands of climbers have shared their experience of ascending the popular ladder, where climbers are attached to harnesses for their safety.

The ladder was promoted as the new "top" tourist attraction on the Zwieselalm for "climbing enthusiasts” by the Dachstein region tourist website. The climb was described as "not ideal for beginners".

“The via ferrata on the Donnerkogel at the Zwieselalm in Gosau at Dachstein presents amazing and breathtaking views of the glacier of the Dachstein, as well as of the highest mountain of Austria – the Grobglockner,” according to the description on the tourism website.

“The ladder to heaven was built by Outdoor Leadership with their professional climber Heli Putz.”

An athlete was pictured balancing on the ladder with no harness in 2020, according to the outlet.

The same year a British tourist, Madalyn Davis, died after falling from a cliff in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

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Tourist plummets 300 feet to his death after crossing ladder on instagram-popular mountain.

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A 42-year-old British man plummeted 300 feet to his death in Austria after slipping off a ladder bridge in the Dachstein Mountains, a popular place tourists flock to for a good Instagram photo.

The unknown victim was alone on the famous 130-foot ladder when he experienced trouble and fell into the valley below, according to the Mirror.

The ladder connects the lower portion of the Donnerkogel mountain to the Großer Donnerkogel or “Greater” part of the mountain that includes the 6,740-foot peak.

Investigators called the man’s fall an accident and ruled out any third-party negligence, the outlet reported.

The ladder is promoted as the “new TOP attraction on the Zwieselalm for climbing enthusiasts” by the Dachstein region tourist website, which notes the climb is done in four stages with the ladder waiting “as the ultimate adrenaline kick.”

The climb is listed as a via ferrata, or “iron path,” a climb that uses steel cables, rungs, pegs and ladders that climbers are attached to via harness for their safety.

Two helicopters and multiple officers from two nearby police departments recovered the man’s body from the gorge.

On Instagram, thousands of thrill-seekers have shared their experiences of ascending the hair-raising tourist attraction, with some using its nickname “the stairway to heaven.”

The climb is rated moderate/difficult and is “Not ideal for beginners.”

Several Austrian towns have gotten tired of tourists invading their hometowns for social media content, with some even going as far as begging to be left alone.

In May, the small hamlet of Hallstatt closed down its famous lakefront view after tourists began to take over the town to check out what is believed to be the inspiration for several scenes in the Disney movie “Frozen.”

Mayor Alexander Scheutz said his town of 750 permanent residents gained over 7,000 visitors daily who were there to see the views that inspired “Arendelle” in the 2013 film.

Earlier this month, a 55-year-old Virginia man died while he attempted to complete the grueling, 24-mile Rim-to-Rim hike of the Grand Canyon.

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A man fell 300 feet to his death after slipping off an Instagram-famous 'stairway to heaven' ladder in the Austrian mountains

• A man has died after falling off an Instagram-famous ladder bridge in the Austrian mountains.
• The unnamed British man was on his own when he fell 300 feet to his death.
• Investigators ruled his death an accident.

A British man fell 300 feet to his death last week after slipping off an Instagram-famous ladder bridge in the Austrian mountains, police have said.

The 42-year-old man, who was not named, fell off the end of the aerial ladder in the Dachstein Mountains, in western Austria, and fell into the valley below, the Mirror reported.

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He was alone at the time and was retrieved by two helicopter crews and multiple officers, Hallein Alpine and Abtenau police said, according to the outlet.

The fall has been ruled an accident, it added.

The ladder, known as "the stairway to heaven" or "sky ladder", connects the lower part of the Donnerkogel mountain to the higher part, which includes the 6,740-foot peak.

It is around 130 feet long and very popular on Instagram. Stefanie Millinger, an extreme athlete with more than 700,000 Instagram followers, balanced on the ladder in a ballet costume in 2020.

A website promoting the climb says it is usually done in four stages with the ladder being in the final leg of the trip and providing the "ultimate adrenaline kick."

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British tourist falls 300 feet to his death from Austria mountain ladder popular on Instagram: report

The instagram-worthy spot in europe has been referred to as the ‘stairway to heaven’.

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A British tourist plummeted 300 feet to his death in Austria while climbing an aerial ladder that is popular in Instagram photos, reports say. 

The 42-year-old — whose name has not been publicly revealed — plunged into a valley in the Dachstein Mountains near Salzburg, Austria, on Sept. 12, according to the Mirror. 

The website reported that two helicopter crews and multiple police officers rushed to the scene after the man fell off the end of a 120-foot-long ladder known as a via ferrata, which climbers can traverse between cliff faces. 

The individual reportedly was alone on the ladder, and those investigating the fall have ruled out third party negligence as a cause, The Mirror also said. 

COLORADO SOLO CLIMBER, 29, FOUND DEAD AT OFFICERS GULCH IN SUMMIT COUNTY, OFFICIALS SAY  

The aerial ladder in Austria is shown that the British tourist, not pictured, reportedly fell from last week. (iStock)

"According to the conclusion of the police investigation, it is clearly an accident," the website also quoted a police spokesperson as telling The Daily Mail. 

The ladder on the Grosser Donnerkogel mountain, which has an elevation of 6,739 feet, is described on a Dachstein tourism website as being the "ultimate adrenaline kick" and the "highlight of every climbing tour." 

"The new 40-metre panoramic sky ladder is the new TOP attraction [in] the Zwieselalm [region] for climbing enthusiasts. Free-floating, the 40-meter-long sky ladder takes you over a deep gorge up to the ‘Donnermandel’. Pure thrills!" it continues. 

"In addition to an adrenaline kick, the climbing tour offers a fantastic view of the Dachstein Glacier, the surrounding mountains and the entire Gosau Valley," the website also says. 

SCOTTISH CLIMBER, 80-YEAR-OLD, DIES AFTER FALLING FROM 3,000-FOOT MOUNTAIN  

The tourist from Britain fell 300 feet to his death from the ladder, according to reports. (iStock)

In 2020, gymnast Stefanie Millinger, who describes herself as an "extreme athlete" on her Instagram account, posted a video online of her hanging onto the ladder with just one hand while performing. 

AVA, an excursions company that offers via ferrata hikes in Colorado, says the ladders allow "people with limited mountaineering experience to traverse mountainous areas that would otherwise be challenging or inaccessible."  

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"For this reason, they are commonly found in alpine regions, especially in Europe and North America," it says. "Via Ferratas can vary in length, with shorter routes only taking around an hour, and longer routes demanding more time and physical agility." 

Greg Norman is a reporter at Fox News Digital.

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Tourist dies after falling 300 feet while climbing ladder bridge at popular Instagram spot

The unnamed british tourist died at the popular 'stairway to heaven' tourist climbing spot in austria's dachstein mountain range.

A British man has died after falling 300 feet from at a climbing spot popular with Instagrammers.

The 42-year-old man died after plummeting to the ground at a place that is colloquially known as the ‘Stairway To Heaven’ because it spans a huge precipice.

The area, set in the beautiful Austrian mountains, is a hotspot for tourists seeking to get a perfect Instagram picture in the idyllic surroundings, but the actual climb is by no means one for absolute beginners.

The spot features a ladder bridge that goes between two rocky outcrops in the Dachstein mountain range.

The ladder goes 130 feet across, with a 300 foot drop beneath, connecting the Donnerkogel mountain to the Großer – Greater – area of the mountain, which boasts a peak that stands at 6,740 feet tall.

The police are investigating the circumstances that led to the man’s death, but it has not been treated as suspicious and is believed to have been an accident.

Rescue teams were unable to save the man after his fall, and his body was removed from the deep ravine beneath the ladder, which is part of a Via Ferrata, or ‘Iron Path’.

There are popular Via Ferrata in Italy, France, Slovenia, and France, as well as in Austria.

According to MailOnline, a police spokesperson said: "According to the conclusion of the police investigation, it is clearly an accident."

It is believed that the man was on his own at the time of the fall. His identity has not yet been released.

On the area’s tourist website, the ladder is described as a ‘new TOP attraction on the Zwieselalm for climbing enthusiasts’.

The climb to the ladder takes place across four stages, with the final crossing of the expanse offering climbers ‘the ultimate adrenaline kick’.

The Via Ferrata is a long climb that features metal cables, ladders, pegs, and rungs that climbers are harnessed to in order to keep them safe.

It’s definitely not one for the faint-hearted.

The man’s body was recovered by police officers from two police departments in the area, utilising assistance from two helicopters.

Thousands of adrenaline junkies have shared their photographs from the ‘stairway to heaven’, which is rated as a ‘moderate/difficult climb’ and ‘not idea’ for those without any climbing experience.

In 2020, extreme athlete Stefanie Millinger took a famous photograph whilst balancing on the ‘ladder’ wearing a ballet outfit.

The Dachstein Mountains are just one part of the Northern Limestone Alps, featuring 439 named mountains.

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UK Man Climbing Instagram-Famous 'Stairway To Heaven' Falls 300 Feet To His Death

The tragic incident happened on september 12 when the 42-year-old embarked on a solo climb up the ladder..

The identity of the man has not been released.

A British tourist died after he plunged more than 90 meters to his death while scaling a narrow ladder on an Austrian mountain,  Metro reported. This area is popular among tourists seeking picturesque Instagram photos. The aerial ladder, known locally as the "stairway to heaven" rises sharply in the Dachstein Mountains outside of Salzburg.

The tragic incident happened on September 12 when the 42-year-old embarked on a solo climb up the ladder. However, he slipped and fell into the valley below. Police officers and a pair of rescue helicopters rushed to the scene following the accident, but the man couldn't be saved. Shortly after, rescuers retrieved his body. 

Authorities have ruled out any third-party negligence, asserting that the climber was entirely alone at the time of the accident. The identity of the man has not been released.

Notably, the ladder is promoted as the ''new TOP attraction on the Zwieselalm for climbing enthusiasts'' by the Dachstein region tourist website , which notes the climb is done in four stages with the ladder waiting ''as the ultimate adrenaline kick.''

View this post on Instagram A post shared by 365 Austria (@365austria)

''The Panorama-ladder with its 40 meters is the new TOP attraction for all fans of via Ferratas. The via ferrata on the Donnerkogel at the Zwieselalm in Gosau at Dachstein presents amazing and breathtaking views of the glacier of the Dachstein, as well as of the highest mountain of Austria - the Grobglockner. The Ladder to heaven was built by Outdoor Leadership with their professional climber Heli Putz,'' the description on the website reads. 

However, the  website  warns that the climb is "only [for] experienced climbers" and should be completed in mild weather and calm wind conditions. 

The climb is rated as moderate/difficult and is not recommended for beginners.

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Tourist dies after 90m fall at popular Instagram spot ‘Stairway to heaven’

A tourist has fallen to his death while scaling a ladder on a picturesque mountain, known as the “stairway to heaven”.

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A British climber has plunged more than 90 metres to his death while scaling a ladder on a picturesque Austrian mountain.

The unnamed 42 year old fell off the end of the ladder in the Dachstein Mountains, an area popular with Instagrammers, The Sun reports.

Two helicopter crews rushed to the scene but the man was unable to be saved after the horrific fall.

The ladder, run by Inter-sport, is referred to as Via-Ferrata – Italian for “iron way” – and many climbers refer to it as the “stairway to heaven”.

The Brit was reportedly scaling the ladder alone, and third-party negligence has been ruled out.

Rescuers retrieved his body from the gully beneath the ladder.

A spokesperson stressed the incident was an “accident”.

The iron path has more than 3500 posts tagged, and is popular with extreme thrill seekers.

In 2020, an extreme athlete was pictured balancing on the ladder with no harness.

The edges of cliffs have become popular photo spots across the world, but have also lead to tragic deaths, including in Australia.

In January 2020, British tourist Madalyn Davis died after she fell from a cliff in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

The 21-year-old Instagram model had been at a party when she and seven friends decided to head to the cliffs at Diamond Bay Reserve in the early hours of the morning to take a photograph.

Less than six months earlier, a 27-year-old died after falling 30 metres from a cliff nearby at the Vaucluse reserve onto rocks below.

In December 2020, Melbourne mum Rosy Loomba was taking a selfie at a popular lookout in Victoria when she slipped and fell to her death in front of her horrified family.

The 38-year-old fell from the Boroka Lookout in the Grampians National Park, which is famed on Instagram as the “perfect selfie” spot.

In 2022, another Instagram-famous tourist location in Australia claimed the life of a woman and an elderly couple on two seperate occasions.

The woman in her 20s died after being swept off rocks at the popular Pink Caves in Lake Macquarie, NSW in April.

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An 80-year-old woman and her 76-year-old husband who were found drowned in July were hit by a freak wave while sightseeing at the same spot.

Not long after, the Pink Caves were permanently closed.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission

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British man plummets 300 ft to his death from 'the stairway to heaven' in austrian mountains, the route, which also includes a 6,740-foot peak, is famous among thrill-seekers.

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A British climber died after falling over 90 metres (300 feet) from a ladder bridge, popularly known as 'the stairway to heaven', in the Austrian mountains last week. The 42-year-old was climbing the ladder alone when he slipped and plunged into a gorge, according to media reports.

The famous ladder connects the lower part of the Donnerkogel Mountain to the Grosser Donnerkogel or greater part. The route, which also includes a 6,740-foot peak, is famous among thrill-seekers with thousands of photos of it shared on Instagram, reported the New York Post.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by 365 Austria (@365austria)

The man fell to his death last Tuesday. The Salzburg State Police told the Daily Mail that two helicopter crews and several officers from Hallein Alpine and Abtenau police tried to rescue the person but to no avail.

The climber’s body was retrieved from the deep gorge beneath the famous bridge. The police have declared that the man’s death was an accident, ruling out any third-party negligence, the Daily Mail report added.

On the Dachstein region tourist website, the ladder has been referred to as via ferrata, which means ‘iron path’ in Italian. Many call it the ‘stairway to heaven’ or ‘sky ladder’. The website describes it as “the new TOP attraction on the Zwieselalm for climbing enthusiasts” which is 40 metres in length and “free-floating”.

The whole hike, of which the ladder is a part, is completed in a total of four stages offering “a fantastic view of the Dachstein Glacier, the surrounding mountains and the entire Gosau Valley”.

In 2020, a gymnast named Stefanie Millinger posted a video of her hanging from ‘the stairway to heaven’ ladder with just one hand. She advised people against trying this and said, “I know exactly what I am doing. I have been training my whole life and I have 100% control of my body”.

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Video shows british tourist climbing instagram-famous 'stairway to heaven' in austria, falls 90m to death.

A tourist from the United Kingdom lost his life after a fall of 300 feet from a narrow ladder on an Austrian mountain. This aerial ladder is colloquially referred to as the "stairway to heaven" and is located in the steep terrain of the Dachstein Mountains near Salzburg.

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The lure of the 'stairway to heaven', the perils of the climb, a solo ascent ends in tragedy, what is the story behind stairway to heaven, is there a real stairway to heaven, read more news on.

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British tourist dies while climbing 'stairway to heaven' in Austria

A 42-year-old british tourist died after falling from a 90-metre-high aerial ladder, known as the "stairway to heaven", in austria..

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A British tourist died while attempting to climb an aerial ladder in Austria, popularly known as the "stairway to heaven", the Metro reported. The 42-year-old was solo-climbing the ladder scaling over 90 metres in height when he slipped and fell into the valley below on September 12.

Police officers and two rescue helicopters were dispatched to the location to rescue him. The man, however, could not be saved. His body was recovered by the rescuers.

Authorities have ruled out any third-party negligence and said the climber was alone at the time of the accident. His identity was not disclosed.

The ladder, which rises steeply in the Dachstein Mountains outside of Salzburg, is promoted as the "new top attraction on the Zwieselalm for climbing enthusiasts" on the Dachstein region tourist website.

It is described as a climb done in four stages, with the ladder offering an "ultimate adrenaline kick".

"The Panorama-ladder with its 40 metres is the new top attraction for all fans of via Ferratas. The via ferrata on the Donnerkogel at the Zwieselalm in Gosau at Dachstein presents amazing and breathtaking views of the glacier of Dachstein, as well as of the highest mountain of Austria -- the Grobglockner. The ladder to heaven was built by Outdoor Leadership with their professional climber Heli Putz," the website says.

However, it also includes a warning that the climb is "only (for) experienced climbers" and should be undertaken in mild weather conditions and calm winds. It is rated as moderate/difficult and not recommended for beginners. Published By: Aishwarya Dakhore Published On: Sep 21, 2023 ALSO READ | Google sued after US man drives car off collapsed bridge following map directions

Man Falls 300 Feet to His Death After Slipping Off ‘Stairway to Heaven’ Ladder to Climb Instagram-Worthy Austrian Mountain

A British man fell 300 feet to his death while trying to cross a famous 130-foot ladder bridge in the Dachstein Mountains.

The Austrian site is a popular spot for tourists seeking to snap awe-inspiring pictures for Instagram.

The unnamed tourist was only 42 years old and encountered trouble on the narrow 130-foot aerial ladder, also called the “iron path” or “the stairway to heaven,” causing him to slip on Tuesday, Sept. 19.

After the man’s fall, two helicopter crews and numerous officers from the Hallein Alpine and Abtenau police quickly responded to the scene to try to save him. Investigators quickly ruled out negligence or any third-party intervention — he was alone on the thrill-seeking excursion.

“According to the conclusion of the police investigation, it is clearly an accident,” a spokesperson said , according to the Daily Mail.

His mangled body was found underneath the climbing route, Via Ferrata.

Tourists have flocked to the bucket list site for years, but it is “not ideal for beginners.”

Those who dare to try it are supposed to be attached to the ladder by a harness for safety, using steel cables, rungs, pegs, etc., to help them get across. The ladder links the base of Donnerkogel mountain to the higher part, called “Greater” Donnerkogel top, which has a 6,740-foot peak.

Advertisement for the ladder calls the ladder a “TOP attraction” for “climbing enthusiasts.”

A similar incident happened in the United States.

On Saturday, Sept. 9, around 2 p.m., a 55-year-old man named Ranjith Varma from Virginia died while attempting the challenging 24-mile Rim-to-Rim hike in the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Authorities say it takes between 12 to 15 hours to complete.

First responders received a distress call about a hiker near a campground on the North Kaibab Trail.

The hiker fell unconscious and required an airlift from the canyon, but despite efforts by the National Park Service (NPS) search and rescue team to resuscitate Varma, they could not.

Read the full story at Atlanta Black Star.

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RAK hiker who fell to his death was Emirates pilot

Update: emirates airline has confirmed that the british hiker who plunged 1,000 metres to his death from the stairway to heaven in ras al khaimah was a first officer with the dubai carrier..

The Stairway to Heaven in Wadi Galileh, Ras al Khaimah, where the body of a hiker has been discovered. John Henzell / The National.

ABU DHABI // A man has plunged 1,000 metres to his death from the Stairway to Heaven, the popular but notoriously dangerous hiking path in the Hajar mountains in Ras Al Khaimah.

Emirates Airline has confirmed that the victim was a First Officer with the Dubai carrier.

The 31-year-old British expatriate had been tackling the treacherous route alone on Monday, and the alarm was raised when he failed to call home that evening.

Search teams led by police and the local community criss-crossed the rocky pathways in low light. The Air Wing of RAK Police joined the search on Tuesday, when the hiker’s body was found in the Wadi Ghalilah.

Police said the dead man had fallen from halfway up the path, which reaches a height of 1,930m.

Col Suleiman Mohammed Al Qaizi, head of Al Rams police station, urged hikers to exercise caution in the mountains and to adhere to safety guidelines, especially when climbing at night.

Hikers should also notify authorities before they begin the climb, the police chief said.

Despite numerous rescues on the dangerous pathway, which has exposed drops of several hundred metres, it is the first reported death in recent years.

“Stairway to Heaven is a very steep walk with sections of exposed scrambling where a slip is potentially fatal or could lead to serious injury,” said Pete Aldwinckle, a climber who has made the trek several times.

“Communication is very difficult and the ground is incredibly rugged. It’s unforgiving, and people just underestimate how unforgiving the terrain is out there.

“You would not be critical of someone going out on their own, but only if they thought about where they were going and understood the risks they would take.”

Experienced mountaineers say the descent is the trickiest part of the climb on a route that has grown busier in the past several years.

“It’s not a safe route for the masses,” said one climber.

Mr Aldwinckle said a number of outdoor enthusiasts who visit the mountains regularly have worked in outdoor centres in the UK.

The Stairway to Heaven route would require a high level of competence under UK guidelines, he said.

"If you're going to take your normal punter up, the majority of those working as a low-level instructor would not be competent enough for the Stairway because it's so serious." [email protected]

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British Tourist Falls 90 Meters To Death While Ascending 'Stairway To Heaven' In Austria

A British tourist died after he fell from more than 90 meters while ascending an aerial ladder, locally known as the "stairway to heaven" in Austria, Metro reported. It is referred to as Via-Ferrata - Italian for "iron way".

• By Abhishek Sheoran
• Published: Thu, 21 Sep 2023 03:06 PM (IST)
• Source: JND
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British Tourist Falls to His Death from Austrian Alps’ ‘Stairway to Heaven’

In a tragic incident which occurred in the Austrian Alps, a British tourist lost his life after plummeting a devastating 90 meters from a ladder fondly known as the “stairway to heaven”. The unfortunate event unfolded as the 42-year-old was scaling the impressive heights of the Dachstein Mountains, a remarkable part of the Northern Limestone Alps.

He was reportedly climbing the ladder in solitude when disaster struck. Emergency services swiftly deployed two helicopters to the scene, but they were met with the grim reality that the man could not be saved after his horrific plunge. His body was later recovered from the deep gully beneath the ladder.

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A rigorous investigation was initiated immediately, led by local authorities, who went on to dismiss any notions of third-party negligence. The officials stated the climber was completely alone during the unfortunate incident and they refrained from releasing his identity. It was emphatically stressed by a spokesperson that the deadly incident was purely accidental.

The ladder in question, situated in this stunning alpine region, is a popular destination among adventurers seeking the perfect backdrop for their photos. Managed by Inter-sport, it is part of a route called Via-Ferrata – Italian for “iron way” – earning its moniker as the “stairway to heaven”.

The Dachstein region tourist website, full of praise for this attraction, described it as the “new TOP attraction on the Zwieselalm for climbing enthusiasts”. According to their information, the arduous climb is partitioned into four stages, with the ladder acting as “the ultimate adrenaline kick”.

Situated in the Dachstein Mountains, the picturesque aerial ladder or the “stairway to heaven” elevates sharply amidst panoramic views of the highest mountain in Austria, the Grobglockner, and the breath-taking Dachstein glacier. The attraction was built by Outdoor Leadership and their professional climber Heli Putz as per the details provided on the Dachstein region tourist website.

Nevertheless, caution is urged for those seeking to attempt this climb. It is not recommended for beginners as it is rated as a moderate to difficult climb and is advertized as an attraction strictly for experienced climbers.

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Hawaii set to remove major attraction after tourists defy ban

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Famous for its glorious beaches and mighty volcanoes, Hawaii welcomes approximately 6 million tourists each year.

One attraction that has previously been visited by up to 20,000 people annually, however, is set to be removed, after tourists have continued to defy a previous ban.

Also known as the Stairway to Heaven, the Honolulu government has confirmed that it’ll be removing the Haiku Stairs at the end of April.

Despite the fact that the stairs have been closed to the public since 1987 due to their steepness, thrill-seekers have continued to seek them out, ignoring multiple ‘no trespassing’ signs in favour of the views.

The stairs were built by the US Navy in 1942 after it began building the Haʻikū Radio Station, a top-secret facility that was used to send radio signals to passing navy ships. To reach the heights to build the antennae, they built the steps across the valley, creating the famous stairway.

Since the closure of the stairs, officials have struggled to maintain the ban. In 2014, six people were arrested and 135 cited, while in August 2012, comedian Fritz Hasenpusch died of a heart attack after he tried to climb the 3,922 steps atop the 2,800 foot mountain.

Just last week, a further five were arrested and charged with trespassing, and police gave out 60 extra warnings to hikers.

Over the years, hikers haven’t just attempted to access the viewpoint via the stairs; they’ve also tried via the Moanalua Ridge, which is a much longer, more difficult terrain to navigate. As such, many have needed to be rescued by local authorities.

‘Due to rampant illegal trespassing, Haiku Stairs is a significant liability and expense for the city, and impacts the quality of life for nearby residents,’ Honolulu City Council member Esther Kiaʻāina told Hawaii News Now.

Mayor Blangiardi added that ‘this decision that was made was predicated upon our respect for the people who live in and around the entrance to the stairs, our respect for our  ʻāina  [land and sea], and our respect for both the future and the past history of the culture of the Haʻikū community.’

The local council had previously voted to remove the stairs in 2021, and now that it’s actioning the move, it could take at least six months at a cost of $2.5 million.

Importantly, the decision to remove the stairs ‘prioritises public safety, seeks to stop illegal trespassing on the stairs and nearby neighbors who have dealt with decades of disruptions and disturbances, addresses significant liability for the city, preserves the natural beauty and condition of the area and improves the quality of life for neighbourhood residents in the area,’ the council added.

This isn’t the only example of overtourism that has forced authorities to take action. In Japan, a spot in the town of Fujikawaguchiko , outside a Lawson convenience store, has become an immensely popular photo op for snapping a particular shot of Mount Fuji behind it.

Although  Japan ’s highest mountain can be pictured from many spots around Fujikawaguchiko, this particular point of view entices visitors because of the juxtaposition. While there are approximately 14,000 Lawson stores in the country, only one has the sacred, 3,776-metre active volcano in the background. 

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But now, this particular view is set to change. A mesh net measuring 2.5 metres (8ft) and spanning 20 metres – about the length of a cricket pitch – will begin construction as early as next week. 

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Deep Beneath London, Onetime Bomb Shelters Will Become a Tourist Attraction

Used for spying, a phone exchange and more over the years, a semi-secret web of tunnels in central London could open to the public in 2027.

By Claire Moses

Reporting from 98 feet below street level in London

There’s a locked door on the eastbound platform of the Chancery Lane station of the London Underground. The door is unassuming, sturdy and white.

Behind it is a wide set of stairs leading to a roughly mile-long maze of tunnels built in the 1940s that were first intended to serve as a World War II shelter and later used for espionage, the storage of 400 tons of government documents and telecom services.

Welcome to the Kingsway Exchange tunnels, set roughly 100 feet below street level in the center of London, sprawling beneath the Underground’s Central Line. Soon they could enter a new chapter: Angus Murray, the owner of the complex, who bought the tunnels last summer, has applied for planning permission to the local authorities together with the architecture firm WilkinsonEyre to turn the tunnels into a tourist destination that could handle millions of people a year.

Mr. Murray’s London Tunnels is planning to invest a total of 220 million pounds (about $275 million) on restoring and preserving the tunnels, as well as adding technology for art installations and other attractions. Mr. Murray hopes to open the complex in 2027, and said that it would be able to host temporary art exhibitions, fashion shows and more.

At the moment, entering the tunnels requires riding a small elevator tucked behind a side door in an alleyway off a wide street in central London. (Visitors to the attraction would use a different, bigger entrance, Mr. Murray said.)

When the elevator doors open, you step into a World War II-era tunnel — one of 10 civilian shelters proposed by the British government after the beginning of the Blitz, the eight-month bombing of London by the Germans that started in September 1940. The tunnels were never used as shelters. By the time they were completed in 1942, the Blitz was over.

During the Cold War, the British government instructed its telephone department, which later became British Telecom, to set up a secret communications system in the tunnels that could survive a nuclear attack. The famous hotline between the Kremlin and the White House ran through the complex, according to the project’s website. Some of the phone exchange’s equipment in the tunnels still survives today, even though it hasn’t been used since at least the 1980s.

“The idea was that it would provide a degree of protection,” said Martin Dixon, a trustee for Subterranea Britannica , a charity that documents and tries to preserve underground spaces.

“If the Cold War had turned into something more serious, it would have allowed communications on some level to continue,” Mr. Dixon, who joined Subterranea Britannica about 40 years ago, said.

The tunnels under the Chancery Lane station of the tube are more than a mile long and in some places have a diameter of almost 25 feet. Those dimensions make them among the largest sets of tunnels built for people in a metropolitan city, Mr. Murray said.

“They have a fascinating history,” he said.

For a group of Post Office and telecoms workers in the decades after World War II, the tunnel complex became a workplace, some aspects of which have survived. In one room, the stuffy smell of an old carpet is inescapable. Another still holds the remnants of a canteen. Yet another has fake windows framing images of nature as decorations. There are still offices, as well as rooms where workers could spend the night.

Some parts of the tunnels are lined with fake walls, and doors with nothing behind them. The effect is not unlike watching a scene from the dystopian Apple TV+ show “Severance .”

A bar where postal workers could drink is also still there, and Mr. Murray said he hoped to revive it and make it London’s deepest underground bar.

The tunnels’ communication operation became obsolete in the 1980s, and in 2008 British Telecom put the tunnels up for sale . BT employees used to go down into the complex up until the 1990s to inspect for fire safety and other conditions. The tunnels were otherwise vacant.

Many details of the new attraction still need to be ironed out, but Mr. Murray said the cost of the experience would probably be in the same price range as that of other major tourist sites in London. (The Tower of London’s entry fee is about $40, and Westminster Abbey’s is about $36.)

Mr. Dixon, of Subterranea Britannica, said he was excited about the prospect of the Kingsway Exchange turning into an attraction — provided it’s safe and the history is preserved.

“I’ve seen thousands of underground spaces, from the mundane to the spectacular,” he said. The Kingsway Exchange is particularly interesting, he added, because of all the different functions it had. “It played its part in World War II, and was ready to play its part in the Cold War.”

Claire Moses is a Times reporter in London, focused on coverage of breaking and trending news. More about Claire Moses