Capanna Corno Gries

Capanna Corno Gries (also known as Capanna Corno-Gries or Corno Gries Hütte) is a mountain hut of the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) located at 2,338 metres above sea level in the Val Corno, in the municipality of Bedretto in the upper Bedretto Valley, Canton Ticino, Switzerland. It sits above the Alpe di Cruina and the village of All'Acqua, northeast of the Grieshorn (Corno Gries), from which it takes its name, and above the Nufenen Pass road. The hut is owned by the SAC Section Rossberg in Zug, which acquired it in 2017 from the SAC Section Bellinzona (formerly SAC Leventina). The hut was first established in 1920 when SAC Leventina purchased an old military barracks at 2,410 m for CHF 1,000, with the land and right of way donated by the Patriciate of Bedretto. A new hut was built in 1925 at 2,350 m, and in 1927 a stone building was erected at 2,338 m at a planned cost of CHF 33,000, with the SAC central association subsidizing 55% of the cost. It accommodated 60 alpinists. In 1933 it was expanded to 110 beds. After a renovation in 1979, the hut offered 60 seats in the dining room and 90 beds, with electricity from a generator during wardened periods. In 1997 the owning section changed its name from SAC Leventina to SAC Bellinzona e Valli. In 2007 the hut was rebuilt and expanded according to plans by architect Silvano Caccia: the traditional stone building had its roof "cut off," with the dining room and kitchen taking its place, glazed on all four sides for a 360° panorama, and a spectacular wooden structure above housing the sleeping quarters. Since 1 June 2017 the hut has been owned by the SAC Section Rossberg in Zug, which also owns the Sustlihütte. The current hut has three floors (entrance and sanitary facilities, dining room and kitchen, sleeping rooms), a dining room for about 50 people with a 360° panoramic view, and 46 beds in eight rooms. In the absence of the hut wardens, a winter room with a wood stove and kitchen utensils is available. Toilets and running water are inside the building. It is heated with wood, and lighting is provided by mains electricity as well as solar panels. The hut has a material cable car. The hut is a popular starting point for hikes with children, ski and summit tours, and as a stage on long-distance trails such as the GTA (Grande Traversata delle Alpi), a roughly 1,000 km route to the Mediterranean. The Via Alta Idra, an alpine route through the heart of the Ticino mountains, also starts at the Corno Gries Hut and runs in 12 stages from the source of the Ticino River to its mouth in Lake Maggiore. The hut is designated a "BIKE FRIENDLY" accommodation, offering overnight stays and services specifically for cyclists, and e-bikes can be charged for CHF 5.00 (cable must be brought). It is featured in the SAC family hut book "Familienausflüge zu SAC-Hütten" published by Weber Verlag. The hut is typically open in summer, with the 2020 season running until 4 October, and reservations are made online through the hut reservation system. Access in summer is possible on hiking trails: from Alpe di Cruina (2,002 m) on the Nufenen Pass road in 1 hour (T2), from the Nufenen Pass summit (2,478 m) in 3 hours (T2), and from All'Acqua (1,614 m) in 3 hours (T2). All three starting points are stops on the PostBus line from Airolo. Summit tours from the hut include the Blinnenhorn (3,374 m), Corno Gries (2,969 m) and Piccolo Corno Gries (2,930 m). Nearby huts include the Piansecco Hut (3 hours), Rifugio Maria Luisa in Val Toggia, Italy (3 hours), Rifugio Città di Busto, Italy (3 hours), Rifugio Cesare Mores (3.5 hours), Capanna Basòdino (5 hours), Cristallina Hut (6 hours) and Rifugio Margaroli on Alpe Vannino, Italy (6 hours).

The history of the Capanna Corno Gries begins in 1920, when the SAC Leventina section purchased an old military barracks at 2,410 m above sea level in the Val Corno for CHF 1,000. The Patriciate of Bedretto donated the land and the right of way to the SAC. This first hut offered 10 sleeping places. In 1925 a new hut was built at 2,350 m, again with 2,500 m² donated by the Patriciate of Bedretto. It was immediately recognized that the wooden building was too small. In 1927 the hut was rebuilt in stone at 2,338 m, with a planned budget of CHF 33,000; the SAC central association subsidized 55% of the cost. The new stone building could accommodate 60 alpinists. In 1933 the Corno Gries Hut was expanded to 110 sleeping places. After a new renovation in 1979, the hut had 60 places in the common/dining room and 90 beds. During wardened periods the hut had electricity produced by a generator. In 1997 the SAC Leventina section changed its name and has since been called SAC Bellinzona e Valli. In 2007 the current reconstruction was carried out according to plans by architect Silvano Caccia. The traditional stone building had its roof "cut off"; the common/dining room and kitchen now occupy its place. Glazing on all four sides allows a 360° view. Above the windows a spectacular wooden structure was built to house the sleeping rooms. Since 1 June 2017 the hut has been owned by the SAC Section Rossberg in Zug, which also owns the Sustlihütte.

• 2017

  Since 1 June, hut owned by SAC Section Rossberg in Zug, which also owns the Sustlihütte.

• 2007

  Current reconstruction by architect Silvano Caccia: roof "cut off," dining room and kitchen with 360° glazing, wooden sleeping structure above.

• 1997

  SAC Leventina changes its name to SAC Bellinzona e Valli.

• 1979

  After renovation, hut has 60 places in common/dining room and 90 beds; electricity from generator during wardened periods.

• 1933

  Corno Gries Hut expanded to 110 sleeping places.

• 1927

  Hut rebuilt in stone at 2,338 m at a planned cost of CHF 33,000, with 55% subsidy from SAC central association; accommodates 60 alpinists.

• 1925

  A new hut is built at 2,350 m; Patriciate of Bedretto donates 2,500 m².

• 1920

  SAC Leventina purchases an old military barracks at 2,410 m for CHF 1,000; Patriciate of Bedretto donates land and right of way; hut has 10 sleeping places.

A remote, architecturally distinctive SAC mountain hut in the Ticino Alps, marketed as the "Alpenraumschiff" (Alpine spaceship) and a base for hiking, ski touring, summit climbs and mountain biking.

• Overnight accommodation

  46 beds in eight rooms.

• Dining room

  Seats about 50 people with a 360° panoramic view.

• Winter room

  Available in absence of hut wardens, with wood stove and kitchen utensils.

• Bike-friendly services

  Overnight stays and services specifically for cyclists; e-bike charging for CHF 5.00 (cable not included).

• Material cable car

  Used for transporting supplies.

1. 1Das Alpenraumschiff – Idealer Ausgangspunkt für Berg-, Ski- und Mountainbiketouren im Tessincorno-gries.ch
2. 2Geschichte – Das Alpenraumschiffcorno-gries.ch
3. 3Capanna Corno Grieswikidata.org
4. 4Capanna Corno Griesde.wikipedia.org