Birnlückenhütte

The Birnlückenhütte (Italian: Rifugio Brigata Tridentina or Rifugio Forcella del Picco) is a mountain hut located at 2,441 metres above sea level in South Tyrol, Italy. It sits southwest of the Austrian-Italian border pass Birnlücke, west of the Großvenediger, on the Italian side within the Rieserferner-Ahrn Nature Park. Because it can only be reached via very steep and narrow paths, it is supplied by helicopter. In summer, its exposed location can occasionally lead to water supply bottlenecks. The hut was first built in 1900 by Alois Voppichler, a Prettau innkeeper, and operated until 1927, with an interruption during World War I. At that time it was also known as Bockegghütte. It was later purchased by the Italian state, which used it for the financial guard. The military brigade Tridentina gave the hut its current name, Rifugio Tridentina. During World War II, part of the hut was destroyed. It was hastily repaired and briefly operated in 1953, but was soon abandoned again. In 1969/1970, the Italian army restored the hut and it served military purposes for several years. In 1975, the hut was taken over by the Bruneck section of the CAI and officially reopened in 1977. Between 1987 and 1999, major renovations focused on environmental protection (sewage treatment, water purification) were carried out. Together with 24 other huts expropriated by the state, the Birnlückenhütte passed into the ownership of the Autonomous Province of Bozen – South Tyrol in 1999; the concession for its management by the CAI expired at the end of 2010. Since 2015, the Province of South Tyrol has been supported in the administration of the hut (leasing to tenants, monitoring of management, renovation measures) by a parity commission in which, alongside the public sector, the AVS and the CAI are represented. The hut is a starting point for tours to the Dreiherrnspitze (3,499 m, approx. 4 hours) and the Klockerkarkopf (2,912 m, approx. 2 hours). It also serves as a stopover on transitions to other huts, including the Plauener Hütte (2,363 m, approx. 8 hours), Warnsdorfer Hütte (2,336 m, approx. 3 hours), Lenkjöchlhütte (2,603 m, approx. 5 hours), Richterhütte (2,374 m, approx. 7 hours), and Krimmler Tauernhaus (1,631 m, approx. 4 hours).

The Birnlückenhütte was first built in 1900 by Alois Voppichler, an innkeeper from Prettau. It was a three-storey hut and was operated until 1927, with an interruption during World War I. During that early period, it was also known as Bockegghütte. After 1927, the hut was bought by the Italian state, which used it for the financial guard (Guardia di Finanza). The military brigade Tridentina gave the hut its current Italian name, Rifugio Tridentina. During World War II, part of the hut was destroyed. It was repaired in a makeshift manner and briefly operated in 1953, but was soon abandoned again. In 1969/1970, the Italian army restored the hut and it served military purposes for several years. In 1975, the hut was taken over by the Bruneck section of the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI) and officially reopened in 1977. Between 1987 and 1999, major renovations focused on environmental protection were carried out, including a sewage treatment plant and water purification systems. In 1999, together with 24 other huts expropriated by the state, the Birnlückenhütte passed into the ownership of the Autonomous Province of Bozen – South Tyrol. The concession for its management by the CAI expired at the end of 2010. Since 2015, the Province of South Tyrol has been supported in the administration of the hut (leasing to tenants, monitoring of management, renovation measures) by a parity commission in which, alongside the public sector, the AVS (Alpenverein Südtirol) and the CAI are represented.

• 2015

  Parity commission established to support hut administration.

• 2010

  CAI management concession expires.

• 1999

  Ownership transferred to the Autonomous Province of Bozen – South Tyrol.

• 1987

  Start of major environmental renovations (sewage treatment, water purification).

• 1977

  Hut officially reopened.

• 1975

  Hut taken over by the Bruneck section of the CAI.

• 1969

  Italian army restores the hut for military use.

• 1953

  Hut briefly operated after WWII repairs, then abandoned.

• 1927

  Hut operation ends; purchased by the Italian state.

• 1900

  First three-storey hut built by Alois Voppichler.

Remote high-alpine mountain hut in the Rieserferner-Ahrn Nature Park, accessible only by steep trails and supplied by helicopter.

• Mountain hut accommodation

• Food and beverage service

1. 1Birnlückenhütte - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Birnlückenhütte - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org