Rete Rifugi AKU

RETE RIFUGI AKU

An aware mountain

The Rete Rifugi AKU (AKU huts network) brings together managers and operators of high-altitude refuges, experienced operators motivated by the common goal of promoting a responsible, safe and environmentally friendly approach to the mountains. A project in an evolutionary phase, driven by the growing number of new mountain visitors.

Responsibility, safety and environmental impact

Responsibility, safety and environmental impact are very sensitive issues for mountain hut owners. They are in the front line of managing the growing flow of new enthusiasts seeking in the mountains a place to escape and rediscover their relationship with nature, perhaps with a touch of adventure.

Times have changed. In the past, mountain huts, especially those in the high mountains, were the usual destination of a limited public, sometimes even so few that the economic management of the structure was sometimes unsustainable. Today, the traditional difficulties related to the organisation and costs of maintaining an Alpine hut remain, but many facilities in the Alps and Apennines have seen a significant increase in the number of hikers. The challenge for hut owners is to face new demands from a wider and more diversified public. These new hikers in many cases have little or no knowledge of the mountains, and above all little awareness of the hut’s real function.

Sulla base di queste considerazioni si muove l’impegno di AKU nel promuovere, insieme ai gestori dei rifugi partner, iniziative dirette a sensibilizzare il pubblico verso comportamenti che consentano di trarre la giusta gratificazione dal contatto con la montagna, sia per chi muove i primi passi in questa direzione sia per chi si muova già sul terreno dell’esperienza consolidata. Due mondi che devono saper convivere spesso sotto un unico tetto, magari piccolo e non pensato per accogliere il turismo di massa che bussa alla porta delle terre alte.

Visit the 12 huts in the AKU network

The Quinto Alpini mountain hut is located in Val Zebrù, in the municipality of Valfurva (SO) in the Rhaetian Alps, in the heart of the Stelvio National Park. Situated on a rocky ridge, it is surrounded by an imposing circle of mountains; to the south is the Confinale group and in the background the Swiss side of the most imposing peak of the Rhaetian Alps, the Bernina Group (4036 – 4049 m) and the peaks of the Ortles – Cevedale Group, including Monte Zebrù (3740 m) and the sharp west ridge of Gran Zebrù on the border between Lombardy and Trentino-Alto Adige. The dominant position gives the impression of being on an eagle’s nest, and it is not uncommon to observe the flight of the bearded vulture, which has been nesting in Val Zebrù for years. It is run by Elena Marinoni and Michele Bariselli, young but experienced managers, who offer a well-kept, family environment with excellent Valtellina cuisine.

The hut dates back to 1911, when the Fassa Section of the DÖAV (Deutsch-Österreichischer Alpenverein) decided to build a small alpine hut on the banks of the small lake in the Vallone d’Antermoia (Antermoia Valley) for traverses and ascents in the innermost area of the Catinaccio. At the end of the First World War, the territory was assigned to Italy and the hut passed to the SAT (Società Alpinisti Tridentini) in 1921. In 1981, the hut was extended and renovated. During the management of the mountain guide Almo Giambisi (1990 to 2016), photovoltaic panels were installed to contribute to the building’s energy needs. Since 2017, the hut has been under the management of Martin Riz, mountain guide, former athlete of the Italian national ski mountaineering team and coordinator of mountain rescue operations in the Fassa and Fiemme area.

If you are looking for wide alpine pastures, unspoilt landscapes and want to immerse yourself in nature, you can visit the Maddalene refuge or malga Val (1925 metres) in the heart of the Maddalene chain in Val di Non, Italy. You will be welcomed by the new management of Luca Toldo, first manager of the Marmolada Glacier hut. From here you can walk along the countless paths that will take you to the wild peaks of the Maddalene. It is only open in summer because it is an avalanche-prone area in winter.

The Capanna Cima Comelle hut is situated at the head of the Val di Gares in a meadowy basin rich in pastures and woods in the heart of the Agordine Dolomites. It can be reached from Canale d’Agordo along an asphalted road; it is the starting point for numerous excursions to the Pale di San Martino and a destination for tasting the typical dishes of Val Biois cuisine. The surrounding area, an authentic natural oasis, is the ideal place for easy walks with children, even horse riding (a riding school service is available). In ten minutes on foot it is possible to reach the first Comelle waterfall. For those who practice sports climbing, the crags and boulders in the surrounding area are among the most interesting in the entire Agordino area, and in winter it is the destination for Nordic skiers and for snowshoeing or ski mountaineering excursions. It is open all year round. Manager: Deola family.

The Rosetta bar and restaurant, adjacent to the top station of the Rosetta cable car, is one of the best starting points for all excursions and climbs on the Pale di San Martino, in summer and winter. From San Martino di Castrozza, take the Colverde cable car up to the start of the Rosetta cable car and from there it takes less than 5 minutes to reach the arrival station at an altitude of 2700 metres. From the terrace, the view leaves you breathless: a grandiose spectacle of the Pale di San Martino plateau, the Cimon de la Pala (3184 m), the most famous peak of the group, and less than half a kilometre away, the Rifugio Rosetta, one of the oldest refuges of the Società Alpinisti Trentini, having been built in 1889, stands out among the limestone rocks. The Rosetta bar and restaurant is run by Laura Meneghini and Antonio Zagonel. Antonio is a mountain guide with a long family tradition of mountain guides, whose progenitor Bortolo Zagonel was one of the founders of the famous group ‘Aquile di San Martino di Castrozza’.

It is situated in the eastern sector of the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park, in a basin of alpine pastures of great beauty, on the border between the provinces of Belluno and Trento. Bruno Boz mountain hut is a starting point for excursions in the Cimónega and Vette Feltrine Dolomite groups. The building was created from the structures of Malga Nevetta, of which it preserves the genuine alpine characteristics. The Boz is a stop on the Alta Via n.2 of the Dolomites and the Alta Via of the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park. Manager: Erika De Bortoli and Andrea Marchetti.

Dal Piaz mountain hut is situated in the Vette Feltrine, at the western end of the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park, it is a marvellous balcony over the Feltrina valley, just a stone’s throw from the Busa delle Vette. This is a vast glacial cirque also known as the ‘Busa delle Meraviglie’ (Busa of Wonders) due to the presence of numerous rare botanical species. But it is the entire area of the Vette Feltrine (Feltrine Peaks) that presents itself with a great wealth of floral species, geological and geomorphological phenomena and ridge trails on the edge of the sky. The Dal Piaz is a stage of the Alta Via n.2 of the Dolomites and the Alta Via del Parco Nazionale Dolomiti Bellunesi. Manager: Giorgio Da Rin.

Vederna mountain hut is situated on Alpe Vederna, on the northern slopes of the Vette Feltrine (Feltrine Peaks). The basin appears as a scattered village, with the small refuge open in summer, the small church, the vegetable gardens, a place that still preserves traces of rural alpine life, with masi and baite huts still inhabited during the summer period. This hut is the destination and starting point for numerous hikes on the Vette Feltrine, such as the climb to Mount Pavione or the easier one to Mount Vederna, a panoramic balcony over the Primiero valley and the Pale di San Martino. The main access paths ascend from Val Nona. The refuge can also be reached by bicycle and car. Manager: Cristina Rizzante.

The Malga Caldenave Refuge is located in the Lagorai, in the granite sub-group of Cima d’Asta – Cime di Rava in north-east Italy, in a beautiful basin rich in woods and water springs with numerous testimonies of the First World War. Those who enjoy simple hikes will find peace and tranquillity, without having to hike hard, the perfect place to regenerate and rest. In the nearby Val Orsera, the granite walls of Cima Costabrunella, Cima Trento and Creste di Rava offer several classic climbing routes and an equipped gym. Caldenave is a stage on the Alta Via del Granito. Manager: Guido Trevisan.

The mountain hut stands on a crag of Monte Telgrafo, one of the peaks of Monte Baldo, and it dominates a large part of Lake Garda with a 360° panorama intercepting many mountain ranges: the Apennines to the south, the Venetian and Trentino Pre-Alps to the east, the Dolomites to the north and the central Alps to the west. Far away, if you sharpen your eyesight, you could even see the Matterhorn! The hut is known as the ‘Telegraph Refuge’ since Napoleon’s army placed an optical telegraph for long-distance communication. Inaugurated in 1896, it has always belonged to the Verona Section of the Italian Alpine Club (CAI) and it is a fundamental stop for those who cross the Baldo chain. The refuge can be reached from multiple access points, both from the Lake Garda side and the eastern side of Baldo. Since 2013, the refuge has been managed by equipENatura guides who also offer guided excursions on Mount Baldo. Manager: Alessandro Tenca, equipENatura.

The Quintino Sella refuge is located in the Po Valley in the Cottian Alps, in the municipality of Crissolo (CN), at 2640 m. It was built in a basin below the east face of Monviso, on a rocky promontory above Lago Grande di Viso. It is the starting point for the ascent to the summit of Monviso along the normal route (south face), climbed every year by hundreds of mountaineers. The ‘classic’ access to the refuge is from Pian del Re and takes about 2.30 hours. The hut is named Quintino Sella in honour of an Italian scientist, economist and politician, who founded the Italian Alpine Club in 1863. He also headed the first Italian expedition that reached the summit of Monviso. The structure is owned by the Alpine Club headquarters and administered by the CAI Saluzzo section. Manager: Alessandro Tranchero.

The Duca degli Abruzzi hut is located on the Apennine ridge that marks the border between Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany, more precisely on the banks of Lake Scaffaiolo. It can be accessed from both the Pistoia and Modena sides; it was the first alpine refuge built on the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. The Duca degli Abruzzi is a stopover place on the Sentiero Italia CAI (Italian Alpine Club), the Alta via dei Parchi (High Parks Road) and the Grande Escursione Appenninica (Great Apennine Excursion). It was inaugurated in 1878 thanks to the joint initiative of the Florence and Bologna CAIs. Apart from the annual opening period (13 June – 13 September) for the rest of the year it is open every weekend, except in November. Manager: Antonio Tabanelli.

The Campomuletto hut is a pearl set amidst the greenery of fir and beech trees, where you can relax in harmony with nature. Would you like to get away from the city, breathe pure air in contact with a gentle, invigorating environment? This hut is the perfect answer to your needs. A modern structure, but one that still retains the old architectural features of the old casara (mountain house), lying on a plain surrounded by rich fir and colourful beech woods, which lull it in its feigned solitude. It is not uncommon, at sunset or at the first light of day, to meet, intrigued, the graceful inhabitants of the woods, intent on scanning the terrain in search of herbs and shrubs that will serve them their daily meal. There will be no shortage of visits from the mountain pasture animals, who will announce themselves with the cheerful pealing of the bells hanging from their necks, fearlessly approaching the pasture.

News da Rete Rifugi AKU:

Oltre a fornire ai gestori e ai suoi collaboratori le calzature idonee a svolgere il proprio lavoro dentro e fuori il rifugio, la collaborazione con AKU prevede la promozione e la conoscenza del rifugio partner attraverso i canali di comunicazione AKU in Italia e all’estero e una serie di progetti specifici a sostegno delle attività del rifugista, vediamo alcuni progetti:

Feltrino e Primiero insieme sul passo del Pavion.

Domenica 25 giugno grazie alla montagna si rinsalda il legame che unisce Feltrino e Primiero. Partendo dai due rifugi alle pendici opposte della stessa montagna ci si incontrerà sull’antico confine fra la Repubblica di Venezia e il Tirolo.

Importanti novità al rifugio Maddalene.

La stagione estiva si apre con una importante novità per il rifugio Maddalene: Luca Toldo è il nuovo gestore della struttura in Malga Val. Dopo l’esperienza presso il rifugio Ghiacciaio della Marmolada Luca si è abbassato di quota prendendo in gestione uno dei più belli punti di partenza per chi vuole visitare le selvagge cime delle Maddalene, come cima Lavazzè, cima Olmi e cima Slavazzaie.

Il programma estivo del rifugio Vederna.

Il rifugio Vederna è immerso nei paesaggi mozzafiato delle Alpi Feltrine, per la stagione 2023 propone una serie di incontri in rifugio fra laboratori e musica live: non solo per chi ama la montagna ma anche per chi la vive! Nel mese di giugno è in programma una escursione in condivisione con il vicino rifugio Dal Piaz.

Feltrino e Primiero insieme sul passo del Pavion.

Apertura confermata al rifugio V Alpini nonostante la neve.

In questa primavera che volge al termine le precipitazioni nevose sono state inaspettate ed abbondanti. L’apertura della stagione dei rifugi è sempre soggetta a quelli che sono i “capricci” del tempo. Nonostante la neve sia ancora presente il rifugio V Alpini comicia la sua stagione in perfetto orario!

Clean of Baldo: per vivere la montagna in maniera più pulita.

Dai il tuo contributo per la pulizia della montagna! AKU insieme con Montura sostiene l’iniziativa del Rifugio Telegrafo sul monte Baldo. Una chiamata a raccolta per attivarsi in prima persona nella pulizia della montagna, troppo spesso sporcata dai rifiuti che noi escursionisti non riportiamo a casa. Nella stagione 2023 è possibile partecipare a delle giornate dedicate alla pulizia dei sentiri sul monte Baldo (VR).

Usa la borraccia! Per dire stop alle bottiglie di plastica.

Per sensibilizzare la rinuncia all’utilizzo delle plastiche monouso durante le escursioni in montagna, AKU ha lanciato un nuovo progetto, in collaborazione con la rete rifugi AKU, per la vendita ad un prezzo vantaggioso di borracce tecniche Ferrino (partner del progetto) con l’obiettivo di sostituire o abolire progressivamente l’abitudine da parte di molti escursionisti di portare nello zaino o richiedere in rifugio l’acqua nelle bottiglia in plastica monouso. Le borracce si possono trovare presso i rifugi: Telegrafo, Caldenave, Giorgio Dal Piaz, Vederna e Bruno Boz.

In rifugio con il piede giusto. A scuola di escursionismo.

L’intesa prevede di organizzare delle giornate di formazione base per la pratica escursionistica, nei pressi del rifugio. L’accompagnamento e formazione è affidato a guide alpine, guide di media montagna e guide escursionistiche che collaborano con aku. Attraverso una breve escursione, vengono affrontati i principali aspetti di come preparare ed effettuare un’escursione in montagna in modo consapevole (materiali da usare, l’importanza delle calzature, pericoli oggettivi e soggettivi, autosoccorso e chiamata di soccorso), oltre all’illustrazione delle peculiarità ambientali e culturali del luogo.

Un aiuto in rifugio.

L’intesa prevede un supporto da parte di AKU nel sostenere i costi di alcune attività funzionali alla gestione quotidiana del rifugio. Per i rifugi Giorgio Dal Piaz, Vederna e Bruno Boz, AKU ha realizzato la grafica delle tovagliette per i pasti. Inoltre per il rifugio Vederna sono state fornite delle foto (100×70 cm) come complemento all’arredo, stampate su legno di betulla con colori a base d’acqua che garantiscono il rispetto delle proprietà naturali del legno.

RETE RIFUGI AKU

An aware mountain

Responsibility, safety and environmental impact

Visit the 12 huts in the AKU network

News da Rete Rifugi AKU:

Feltrino e Primiero insieme sul passo del Pavion.

Importanti novità al rifugio Maddalene.

Il programma estivo del rifugio Vederna.

Feltrino e Primiero insieme sul passo del Pavion.

Apertura confermata al rifugio V Alpini nonostante la neve.

Clean of Baldo: per vivere la montagna in maniera più pulita.

Usa la borraccia! Per dire stop alle bottiglie di plastica.

In rifugio con il piede giusto. A scuola di escursionismo.

Un aiuto in rifugio.

Bentornato!

Welcome back!

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