This communication examines the vulnerability of mountain infrastructures that facilitate recreational activities (e.g., hiking, mountaineering, mountain biking, ski touring) to climate change. It analyzes how climate change is impacting infrastructures such as trails, huts, and climbing routes, making the development and sustainability of these activities more challenging. Utilizing the multidimensional concept of vulnerability, this study explores the application of its three dimensions—exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity—to these infrastructures.
The findings indicate that these infrastructures exhibit high exposure and sensitivity to climate change, emphasizing the decisive role of adaptive capacity in shaping their vulnerability. This capacity is influenced by the actions of various stakeholders, whose decisions and interventions can either amplify or mitigate risks. This study investigates their roles, strategies, and interactions in this regard. The analysis is based on fieldwork conducted in six valleys within the French-Swiss Alps, offering insights into the governance and adaptation of these infrastructures in the face of climate challenges.