Chamonas d'Ela

Chamonas d'Ela, commonly known as the Ela-Hütte, is a mountain hut owned and operated by the Sektion Davos (Davos Section) of the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC). It sits at an elevation of 2,252 metres above sea level in the upper Val Spadlatscha, within the Albula Alps and inside the Parc Ela nature park, on the territory of the municipality of Bergün Filisur in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. The hut is a self-catering facility with 38 sleeping places spread across two rooms, a kitchen equipped with dishes and cutlery, running water, a wood-fired stove used for cooking and heating, and electric lighting powered by a solar installation. It is open year-round and is unstaffed, though a section member is usually present on weekends during the summer season (typically July to October); no meals are provided even then. The hut is maintained largely through the voluntary work of section members. The site includes two structures: the current "new" Ela-Hütte and the older Ela-Hütte, which stands about five minutes' walk below the newer building and is often used by groups. The hut serves as a base for climbing Piz Ela (3,339 m) and other peaks in the area, including Corn da Tinizong / Tinzenhorn (3,172 m), Piz Mitgel (3,159 m), Piz Salteras (3,111 m), Piz Val Lunga (3,078 m), Piz Spadlatscha (2,871 m), Pizza Grossa (2,938 m), Piz Furnatsch (2,787 m) and Cotschen (2,829 m). Access routes approach from Filisur, Alvaneu Bad, Bergün/Bravuogn, Preda, Tinizong and Savognin, ranging from easy valley paths to demanding high-alpine trails. The original hut was built in 1879 by the Sektion Rätia of the Swiss Alpine Club and was taken over in 1909 by the Sektion Davos. In 1911 it was replaced by a new building with 22 sleeping places, while the old hut was preserved. Over the following decades the hut was repeatedly renovated and expanded, including a wood-storage annex and WC in 1920, a water pipeline with fire reservoir and fountain in 1980, electrification with emergency radio and solar-powered lighting in 1984, roof renewals in 1985, and a new fountain, renovated water line, new kitchen and benches in 2008. The "new" Ela-Hütte celebrated its centenary in 2011 with a ceremony on 13–14 August 2011 organised by the Davos Section. As a facility of a section of the Swiss Alpine Club, the hut is not a conventional commercial company but a membership-based alpine association asset. It is nonetheless a recognised named offering within Swiss mountain tourism, marketed through the SAC Davos section's website and guidebooks. Its operation depends on volunteer effort and modest overnight fees rather than on commercial hospitality services.

The history of Chamonas d'Ela begins in 1879, when the Sektion Rätia of the Swiss Alpine Club erected the original hut. In 1909 the hut was taken over by the Sektion Davos of the SAC. In 1911 the old Ela-Hütte was replaced by a new building with 22 sleeping places; the old hut was preserved and still stands somewhat below the new one. In 1920 the first expansion added an annex for wood storage and a WC. In subsequent years renovations and extensions followed repeatedly, including relocation of the entrance, installation of a new WC facility, roof renovation, and plastering and wood cladding of the hut. An important step came in 1980 with the construction of a water pipeline with a fire-water reservoir and a fountain in front of the hut. In 1984 electrification followed, with emergency radio and electric lighting via a solar installation. In 1985 the roofs of both the old and new huts were renewed. In 2008 a new fountain was installed and the water pipeline renovated, and the kitchen and benches were renewed; since then there has been running water in the hut, and a new kitchen was installed. In 2011 the "new" Ela-Hütte turned 100 years old. The anniversary was celebrated by the Sektion Davos of the SAC on 13 and 14 August 2011 with a ceremony at the hut.

• 2011

  Centenary of the "new" Ela-Hütte celebrated on 13–14 August 2011.

• 2008

  New fountain installed, water pipeline renovated, kitchen and benches renewed; running water available.

• 1985

  Roofs of the old and new huts renewed.

• 1984

  Electrification with emergency radio and solar-powered electric lighting.

• 1980

  Construction of a water pipeline with fire-water reservoir and fountain.

• 1920

  First expansion: annex for wood storage and a WC.

• 1911

  Old Ela-Hütte replaced by a new building with 22 sleeping places; old hut preserved.

• 1909

  Hut taken over by the Sektion Davos of the SAC.

• 1879

  Original hut built by the Sektion Rätia of the Swiss Alpine Club.

A volunteer-maintained, self-catering alpine hut of the Swiss Alpine Club, serving hikers and climbers in the Parc Ela area.

• Ela-Hütte (new hut)

  Self-catering mountain hut with 38 sleeping places, kitchen, wood stove, solar lighting, running water.

• Old Ela-Hütte

  Historic hut about five minutes below the new one, often used by groups.

1. 1Chamonas d'Ela – Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Ela-Hütte – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
3. 3Ela-Hütte auf der Website der SAC-Sektion Davossac-davos.ch