Chamonna Tuoi

Chamonna Tuoi (Romansh for "Tuoi Hut") is a mountain hut of the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC), owned and operated by the SAC's Engiadina Bassa section. It sits at 2,250 metres above sea level in the Val Tuoi, within the municipality of Scuol in the Swiss canton of Graubünden, close to the Vermunt Pass on the border with Austria and directly beneath the Grosser Piz Buin. The hut is a well-known base for hiking, mountaineering and ski touring in the Silvretta range. The building was constructed in 1914 and was initially used by hunters. In 1920, after a conversion that gave it 25 beds, it passed into the ownership of the SAC Pilatus section, and in 1934 it was transferred to the SAC Engiadina Bassa section. A major renovation and extension in 2008 added a new wing. Today the hut offers 80 beds in seven dormitories and is staffed from mid-June to late October, over Christmas and New Year, and from early February to early May. Facilities include a common room, washrooms and toilets with running water, a boot room, a drying room that doubles as a winter room when the hut is unstaffed, an outdoor ski room, and a large wooden terrace. Power comes from a solar array backed by a generator, waste water is treated in a small treatment plant, and heating is by wood-fired tiled stove. In winter the hut is supplied by helicopter; in summer by vehicle over a service track. In December 2022, the municipality of Scuol, in coordination with the canton of Graubünden and the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF) in Davos, ordered the hut closed for the entire 2022/23 winter season because of rockfall danger. Two unstable zones on the south-east side of the Piz Buin Pitchen (Kleiner Piz Buin) and the Buinlücke had been monitored for years, and 2022 measurements showed the rock mass moving downhill faster, at one to one and a half metres per year. Experts considered it likely that by 2028 a rockfall of around 1,000 cubic metres could occur, with a pressure wave capable of damaging the hut. The closure also affected the high route and ski route from the hut to the Silvretta Pass and Fuorcla dal Cunfin, and the normal ski route to the Piz Fliana. In April 2023 the authorities permitted the hut to reopen from June 2023, and it has since operated normally, although the endangered zones below the Piz Buin Pitchen remain off-limits. Other approaches, such as over the Vermunt Pass, from Ardez, and from the Futschöl Pass via Furcletta, remain open and lie outside the danger zone. The hut is run by hut manager Denise Tinner, whose contact address is Plazzetta 57, 7545 Guarda. The website notes that there is no mobile phone reception in the valley or at the hut, that the nearest ATM is in Scuol or Zernez, and that parking is available for a fee at the entrance to Guarda. The hut does not offer a mountaineer's meal, and bookings without half board are possible only by telephone arrangement.

The Chamonna Tuoi was built in 1914 and was initially used by hunters. In 1920, following a conversion that provided 25 beds, it became the property of the Pilatus section of the Swiss Alpine Club. In 1934 it was transferred to the SAC's Engiadina Bassa section, which still owns and operates it today. A major renovation and extension took place in 2008, adding a new wing to the hut. In December 2022, the municipality of Scuol issued a closure order for the hut, including its winter room, for the entire 2022/23 winter season. The decision was coordinated with the canton of Graubünden and the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF) in Davos. The reason was slope movements in two areas on the south-east side of the Piz Buin Pitchen (Kleiner Piz Buin) and the Buinlücke (Fuorcla Buin), in a strip running down over Cronsel to the hut. Both unstable areas had been under observation for several years, but 2022 measurements showed the rock moving downhill faster, at one to one and a half metres per year. Experts rated the probability as high that by 2028 a rockfall of around 1,000 cubic metres could occur, whose pressure wave could damage the hut. The public was urgently advised to avoid the entire danger zone. As a result, the high route and ski route from the hut to the Silvretta Pass and Fuorcla dal Cunfin (transition to the Ochsentaler Glacier toward Grosser Piz Buin) could no longer be used between the hut and the Plan Rai firn field. The normal ski route from the hut to the Piz Fliana was also affected, while the route from the Silvretta Pass or from the Silvrettahütte remained passable. In April 2023, the authorities permitted the resumption of hut operations from June 2023, and the hut reopened as usual for the summer 2023 season. The endangered areas below the Piz Buin Pitchen remain off-limits due to acute rockfall danger. All other approaches and crossings to the hut, such as over the Vermunt Pass, from Ardez, and from the Futschöl Pass via Furcletta, are passable and lie outside the danger zone. The summer alpine route was rerouted to the south and, apart from a short section in a worst-case scenario, lies outside the danger zone. The hut continues to operate under hut manager Denise Tinner, offering accommodation and services to hikers, climbers and ski tourers in the Silvretta range.

• 2023

  April: Authorities permit reopening from June 2023; hut resumes normal summer operations.

• 2022

  December 14: Municipality of Scuol orders hut closed for winter 2022/23 due to rockfall danger.

• 2008

  Hut renovated and extended with a new wing.

• 1934

  Hut transferred to SAC Engiadina Bassa section.

• 1920

  After conversion to 25 beds, hut passes to SAC Pilatus section.

• 1914

  Chamonna Tuoi built; initially used by hunters.

Traditional Swiss Alpine Club mountain hut in the Silvretta range, offering simple, remote accommodation for hikers, climbers and ski tourers.

• Mountain hut accommodation (80 beds)

  Seven dormitories, common room, washrooms, boot room, drying room, ski room, terrace.

• Half-board stays

  Meals and overnight stays during staffed periods; no mountaineer's meal offered.

• Winter room

  Self-catering space with small kitchen when hut is unstaffed.

1. 1Chamonna Tuoi official websitetuoi.ch
2. 2Impressum - Chamonna Tuoituoi.ch
3. 3Chamonna Tuoi - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
4. 4Chamonna Tuoi - Wikidatawikidata.org