Útulna Ďurková

Útulna Ďurková (also known as Útulňa Ďurková pod Chabencom, Turistická útulňa pod Chabencom, or simply Ďurková útulňa) is a mountain hut and tourist shelter in the Low Tatras (Nízke Tatry) of central Slovakia. It stands at an elevation of 1,623 metres just below the main ridge of the Low Tatras, beneath the peak Ďurková and the saddle of the same name. The building occupies the site of a former salaš (a traditional shepherd's hut), and the present structure is operated as a managed tourist shelter offering paid overnight accommodation and meals, gradually being upgraded toward the standard of a full mountain chalet. The hut is open year-round. Its accommodation capacity is 30 beds, with an additional 30 emergency sleeping places. Overnight stays cost 10 euros per bed with one's own sleeping bag, or 7 euros for emergency accommodation in the dining room with one's own sleeping bag; reservations are not possible. Camping is permitted within 100 metres of the hut for a fee of 2 euros, with capacity for 20 tents. Drinking water is available from a spring about 200 metres from the hut, and food service is offered with a dining capacity of 30. The manager is Tomáš Lupták. Access is on foot only. Marked trails lead from the village of Donovaly, from the Magurka settlement (about 2 hours 15 minutes), from Kyslá (about 3 hours 15 minutes), from Kamenná chata pod Chopkom (Kamienka) and from the village of Jasenie-Lomnistá dolina (about 4 hours 30 minutes). The hut is a popular stop for hikers traversing the main ridge of the Low Tatras in summer, and in winter it is visited for the excellent conditions for ski mountaineering (skialpinizmus). The site has a longer history than the current building. A first chalet was opened in 1932 and was enlarged in 1933, 1937 and 1938. In the summer of 1940 the whole structure burned down, and the place remained empty for decades. A newly built hut was opened on 28 September 2002, restoring the location as a functioning mountain shelter. The hut is listed on Wikidata as a mountain hut in Slovakia and is documented on the Slovak-language tourism portal nizketatry.sk.

The site of Útulna Ďurková has been used as a mountain shelter since the interwar period. A first chalet was opened in 1932 on the spot of a former salaš (shepherd's hut) below the main ridge of the Low Tatras, beneath the peak Ďurková and its saddle. It was enlarged in 1933, 1937 and 1938, indicating growing use by hikers and skiers in the region. In the summer of 1940, however, the entire chalet burned down. After the fire the location remained empty for more than six decades, with no permanent building on the site. The modern hut was built and opened on 28 September 2002, reviving the location as a managed tourist shelter. According to the operator's website, the object was put into use as a managed tourist shelter (obhospodarovaná turistická útulňa) with paid overnight stays, and it has been continuously under construction toward the standard of a regular tourist chalet. The hut stands at 1,623 metres above sea level, just below the main ridge of the Low Tatras, and has a water spring nearby as well as areas suitable for pitching tents. In summer the hut serves hikers traversing the main ridge of the Low Tatras, while in winter it is visited for the excellent conditions for ski mountaineering. The facility offers 30 beds plus 30 emergency sleeping places, meals with a dining capacity of 30, and a paid campsite for up to 20 tents within 100 metres. Drinking water comes from a spring about 200 metres from the hut. Reservations for accommodation are not possible. The manager is Tomáš Lupták. Access is on foot via marked trails from Donovaly, Magurka (about 2h15), Kyslá (about 3h15), Kamenná chata pod Chopkom (Kamienka) and Jasenie-Lomnistá dolina (about 4h30).

• 2002

  Newly built hut opened on 28 September 2002.

• 1940

  The entire chalet burned down in summer; the site remained empty thereafter.

• 1933

  Chalet enlarged.

• 1932

  First chalet opened on the site below the Low Tatras main ridge.

A managed, year-round mountain hut and emergency shelter for hikers and ski mountaineers on the main ridge of the Low Tatras, offering basic paid accommodation and meals in a remote high-mountain setting.

• Overnight accommodation

• Emergency accommodation

• Meals

• Campsite

• Drinking water

1. 1Útulňa pod Chabencom (Ďurková) – official websitenizketatry.sk
2. 2Útulna Ďurková – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Útulna Ďurková – Czech Wikipediacs.wikipedia.org