A 36-year-old Florida woman died Saturday after she stepped off a hiking trail in Italy's Dolomite mountains to snap a photo and slipped, falling down a steep slope as her sister watched. Michelle Alejandra Rubio-Leiva was visiting the Val di Fassa area with family when the fall happened near Forcella Pordoi, above the town of Canazei.
Rubio-Leiva and her sister had left the marked trail to reach an exposed spot on an upper cliff in order to take a picture when Rubio-Leiva lost her footing and fell, according to CNN. Her sister, who was with her at the time, witnessed the fall and alerted emergency services, the network reported. Accounts of exactly how far she fell vary: ildolomiti.it put the distance at roughly 200 meters, Corriere della Sera estimated it at 300 meters, and CNN reported the fall exceeded 300 meters, or about 1,000 feet.
Emergency Crews Raced to a Remote, Treacherous Slope
The emergency call reached Italy's 112 dispatch line around noon from bystanders who had seen Rubio-Leiva fall, according to Soccorso Alpino Trentino. A rescuer who happened to already be in the area reached the site quickly and relayed precise coordinates to a helicopter rescue technician, allowing crews to pinpoint the location for recovery. The rescue group said the operation wrapped up at about 2:30 p.m.
When the helicopter technician lowered medical personnel to the site, per rainews.it, Rubio-Leiva was already dead. Her body was recovered and transported to Canazei, where it was handed over to the Carabinieri, the outlet reported.
A Trail Known for Loose Gravel and Steep Drops
AL.com reported that the ground beyond the marked path near Forcella Pordoi is known for loose gravel and difficult footing. The broader hiking area has a reputation for steep inclines, loose rock and falling debris, CNN reported. The Forcella Pordoi route itself is considered difficult to traverse because of its steep pitch and gravel that reduces traction underfoot, corrieredeltrentino.corriere.it noted in its initial report on the fall.
Rubio-Leiva's death adds to a grim tally across the range this year. CNN reported that more than 80 people had died in the Dolomites in 2026 by the time of its report, underscoring how dangerous the mountains' dramatic cliffs and viewpoints can be even for cautious visitors.
Family Says She Was an Avid Volunteer
Rubio-Leiva was born in Guatemala, graduated from Brigham Young University and worked as a consultant, most recently at a firm in Miami, according to AL.com. She was also described as an avid volunteer. She had been visiting the Dolomites of northern Italy as part of a tour group traveling with her family, AL.com reported, a trip attributed to the New York Post and Italian media.
