Alpine club hut
Encyclopedia
Alpine club huts or simply club huts (Clubhütten) form the majority of the over 1,300 mountain huts in the Alps
and are maintained by branches, or sections, of the various alpine clubs.
s. These include: better sleeping accommodation, mountaineer's meals, hot water for tea, the right to provide one's own food and alcohol-free drink for a fee. For unmanaged huts members can obtain a master key (alpine club key or AV-Schlüssel) for a deposit from the local alpine branch. Sleeping accommodation may consist of beds, a mattress room (Matratzenlager
) and emergency beds or shakedowns.
s in Europe have a multilateral agreement to treat members of other clubs as their own members at their club's huts (reciprocal rights). These clubs include: the German
and Austrian Alpine Clubs, the Club Alpin Français
, the Club Alpino Italiano
, the Swiss Alpine Club
and the Federación Española de Montanismo
.
(ACC) is Canada's national mountain club, based in Canmore, Alberta, the ACC has been a focal point for Canadian mountaineers since 1906. The Alpine Club of Canada operates the largest network of back-country accommodation in North America. Its network of 25 alpine club huts are scattered across Canada, predominantly throughout the Canadian Rockies
. The extensive backcountry hut system (approx. 400 beds on any one night) can be enjoyed by its 10,000 members or non members. The ACC has 20 active regional club sections across Canada, membership in the Union Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme (UIAA), year-round mountain adventures. The Alpine Club of Canada fosters alpine experiences, knowledge and culture; promotes responsible access; and supports excellence in alpine leadership and skills.
The Alpine Club of Canada Clubhouse located in Canmore is also accommodation. The Clubhouse facilities, (affiliated with Hosteling International), are located 4.5 kilometers northeast from downtown Canmore. Positioned on the sunny north side of the bench, it has spectacular views of the Bow Valley
. Step out the front door to a multitude of hiking/biking trails, climbing routes and a number of other outdoor activities. Members and Non-member are able to stay at the accommodation.
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
and are maintained by branches, or sections, of the various alpine clubs.
Purpose and facilities
They provide hikers and climbers with accommodation and shelter, mainly in the Alpine region. The greater number of these huts are managed, several are only suitable for those able to be self-contained. Although fundamentally all those involved in mountain activities have access to the huts, preferential service is given to members of the Alpine clubAlpine Club
The first Alpine Club, founded in London in 1857, was once described as:Today, Alpine clubs stage climbing competitions, operate alpine huts and paths, and are active in protecting the Alpine environment...
s. These include: better sleeping accommodation, mountaineer's meals, hot water for tea, the right to provide one's own food and alcohol-free drink for a fee. For unmanaged huts members can obtain a master key (alpine club key or AV-Schlüssel) for a deposit from the local alpine branch. Sleeping accommodation may consist of beds, a mattress room (Matratzenlager
Matratzenlager
A Matratzenlager , sometimes called massenlager or touristenlager, is the simplest and cheapest type of sleeping accommodation offered in mountain huts. It generally consists of a large room with mattresses usually placed very close together.The Matratzenlager is usually found in the attic of the...
) and emergency beds or shakedowns.
Reciprocal agreement between clubs
The larger alpine clubAlpine Club
The first Alpine Club, founded in London in 1857, was once described as:Today, Alpine clubs stage climbing competitions, operate alpine huts and paths, and are active in protecting the Alpine environment...
s in Europe have a multilateral agreement to treat members of other clubs as their own members at their club's huts (reciprocal rights). These clubs include: the German
German Alpine Club
The German Alpine Club or DAV is the largest climbing association in the world and the eighth largest sports union in Germany. It is organised into 354 legally independent branches with a total of around 815,000 members...
and Austrian Alpine Clubs, the Club Alpin Français
Club alpin français
The Club alpin français, usually referred to as the CAF, is a federation of club promoting mountain sports. It offers multiple training and courses to help people understand mountains....
, the Club Alpino Italiano
Club Alpino Italiano
The Club Alpino Italiano is the senior Italian alpine club which stages climbing competitions, operates alpine huts, marks and maintains paths, and is active in protecting the Alpine environment...
, the Swiss Alpine Club
Swiss Alpine Club
The Swiss Alpine Club is the largest mountaineering club in Switzerland. It was founded in 1863 in Olten and it is now composed of 111 sections with 110,000 members...
and the Federación Española de Montanismo
Federación Española de Deportes de Montaña y Escalada
The Federación Española de Deportes de Montaña y Escalada , loctaed in the Floridablanca 84 in Barcelona, is the Spanish federation of mountain and climbing sports...
.
Categories
The German and Austrian Alpine Clubs as well as other alpine clubs divide their mountain huts into 3 categories based on situation and facilities as follows:- Category I: these huts are usually situated at least 1 hour's walk from road transport or the nearest road and may have basic facilities. Members have priority only in allocation of accommodation and claim a minimum of 50% reduction.
- Category II: located in popular areas; and usually accessible by road or cableway, these huts are often open throughout the year. With better facilities and more varied catering than category I huts, members have a minimum discount of 30%.
- Category III: primarily used by day visitors and accessible by car or cableway. These huts are almost akin to hotels, offering a minimum overnight discount of 10% to alpine club members.
Private huts
In addition to the alpine club huts there is also a large number of alpine accommodation huts run by private individuals. These are listed in the List of mountain huts in the Alps.North America
The Alpine Club of CanadaAlpine Club of Canada
The Alpine Club of Canada is a mountain club with a National Office in Canmore, Alberta that has been a focal point for Canadian mountaineering since its founding in 1906. The club was co-founded by Arthur Oliver Wheeler, who served as its first president, and Elizabeth Parker, a journalist for...
(ACC) is Canada's national mountain club, based in Canmore, Alberta, the ACC has been a focal point for Canadian mountaineers since 1906. The Alpine Club of Canada operates the largest network of back-country accommodation in North America. Its network of 25 alpine club huts are scattered across Canada, predominantly throughout the Canadian Rockies
Canadian Rockies
The Canadian Rockies comprise the Canadian segment of the North American Rocky Mountains range. They are the eastern part of the Canadian Cordillera, extending from the Interior Plains of Alberta to the Rocky Mountain Trench of British Columbia. The southern end borders Idaho and Montana of the USA...
. The extensive backcountry hut system (approx. 400 beds on any one night) can be enjoyed by its 10,000 members or non members. The ACC has 20 active regional club sections across Canada, membership in the Union Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme (UIAA), year-round mountain adventures. The Alpine Club of Canada fosters alpine experiences, knowledge and culture; promotes responsible access; and supports excellence in alpine leadership and skills.
The Alpine Club of Canada Clubhouse located in Canmore is also accommodation. The Clubhouse facilities, (affiliated with Hosteling International), are located 4.5 kilometers northeast from downtown Canmore. Positioned on the sunny north side of the bench, it has spectacular views of the Bow Valley
Bow Valley
Bow Valley is a valley located along the upper Bow River in Alberta, Canada.The name "Bow" refers to the reeds that grew along its banks and which were used by the local First Nations peoples to make bows; the Peigan name for the river is "Makhabn", meaning "river where bow weeds grow".-Parks:Bow...
. Step out the front door to a multitude of hiking/biking trails, climbing routes and a number of other outdoor activities. Members and Non-member are able to stay at the accommodation.
External links
- Hut finder of the German Alpine ClubGerman Alpine ClubThe German Alpine Club or DAV is the largest climbing association in the world and the eighth largest sports union in Germany. It is organised into 354 legally independent branches with a total of around 815,000 members...
, dav-huettensuche.de - Hut finder of the German Alpine ClubGerman Alpine ClubThe German Alpine Club or DAV is the largest climbing association in the world and the eighth largest sports union in Germany. It is organised into 354 legally independent branches with a total of around 815,000 members...
, www.alpenvereinshuetten.at - Hut data bank of the Swiss Alpine ClubSwiss Alpine ClubThe Swiss Alpine Club is the largest mountaineering club in Switzerland. It was founded in 1863 in Olten and it is now composed of 111 sections with 110,000 members...
, www.sac-cas.ch - Huts of the Liechtenstein Alpine Club
- Hut data bank of the Club Alpino ItalianoClub Alpino ItalianoThe Club Alpino Italiano is the senior Italian alpine club which stages climbing competitions, operates alpine huts, marks and maintains paths, and is active in protecting the Alpine environment...
, rifugi.cai.it (Italian) - Jo's hut list, private hut data bank, worldwide
- alpin-koordinaten.de – Geographic coordinates of huts (e.g. for use with GPS devices)
- Reciprocal rights at alpine club huts