Payerhütte

The Payerhütte, officially the Julius-Payer-Hütte (Italian: Rifugio Julius Payer), is a high-alpine mountain hut (Schutzhütte) situated at 3,029 metres above sea level on the Tabarettakamm ridge in the Ortler Alps of South Tyrol, Italy. It lies within the Stelvio National Park and is the most important base for climbers attempting the Ortler (3,905 m) via the classic Normal Route. The hut is owned by the Autonomous Province of Bolzano – South Tyrol and is operated under a concession by a tenant, with oversight from a parity commission that includes the provincial government, the Alpenverein Südtirol (AVS) and the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI). The Payerhütte was first built in 1875 by the Prague Section of the German and Austrian Alpine Club and named after Julius Payer, the explorer who discovered the Normal Route over the hut to the Ortler summit. Over the following decades it was repeatedly enlarged: a new building doubled sleeping capacity in 1885, further extensions followed in 1892–1894, and the large additional dormitory that forms today's main hut was erected in 1906–1907. During the First World War the hut served as an Austrian military base, and a material cable car was built from Sulden to supply the highest wartime position on the Ortler summit. After the war it was expropriated by the Italian state and assigned to the Milan Section of the CAI. In 1947 a fire destroyed the middle part of the hut, and in 1949 a water reservoir had to be built because of glacier retreat. A helicopter landing pad was added in 1965. In 1999, together with 24 other expropriated huts, the Payerhütte passed into the ownership of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano – South Tyrol; the CAI's management concession expired at the end of 2010. Since 2015 a parity commission has assisted the province in administering the hut, including leasing it to tenants, monitoring its operation and carrying out renovations. Today the Payerhütte is a popular destination for both summit aspirants and leisure hikers. It offers overnight accommodation, a cosy dining room and panoramic views of the Ortler massif. The hut is typically reached from Sulden via the Langenstein chairlift and the Tabarettahütte (3–4 hours), or from Trafoi on trail no. 19 (3–4 hours). From the hut, the Ortler summit can be reached in about four hours. The Payerhütte is open seasonally, typically from late spring to autumn, and its official website provides reservation information, prices and a photo gallery. The hut is a member of the network of alpine huts in the Ortler area and maintains connections to the Tabarettahütte, Berglhütte, Schaubachhütte and Hintergrathütte.

The idea of building a shelter at this location was first discussed in 1870 at the first general meeting of the German Alpine Club. In 1874 the Leipzig and Prague sections of the German and Austrian Alpine Club made initial efforts, but in 1875 the Prague Section began construction alone. A path was built from Trafoi to the building site, and all material had to be carried up. The shelter was inaugurated on 6 September 1875 during a three-day gathering and named after Julius Payer (1841–1915), the explorer of the Normal Route to the Ortler. This first small hut accommodated up to 30 people. In 1876 it was extended with a wood store and the trail from Sulden was improved. The now more accessible hut was visited by 135 mountaineers in 1877, and the following year it was enlarged. By 1885 the first Payerhütte was too small, so a new building doubled the sleeping places. From 1887, a year later than planned, the house was catered. The next extension took place from 1892 to 1894. By 1899 over 1,000 people had stayed at the Payerhütte. From 1901 it received daily mail from Sulden. From 1906 to 1907 a large additional dormitory building—today's main hut—was erected, offering 80 beds and, from 1911, a telephone connection. During the Mountain War of the First World War, the Payerhütte served as an Austrian military base, and in 1916 a material cable car was built from Sulden. From here the highest position of the war, on the Ortler summit, was supplied. After the war the hut was expropriated by the Italian state and assigned to the Milan Section of the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI). During the Second World War there were two years without catering, and in 1947 the middle part of the hut burned down, so all economic rooms had to be relocated to the dormitory building. The already problematic glacier retreat made the construction of a water reservoir necessary in 1949. Since 1965 there has been a helicopter landing pad at the hut. Together with 24 other state-expropriated huts, the Payerhütte passed into the ownership of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano – South Tyrol in 1999; the CAI's concession to manage it expired at the end of 2010. Since 2015 the province has been assisted in administering the hut (leasing to tenants, monitoring operations, renovation measures) by a parity commission that includes, alongside the public sector, the Alpenverein Südtirol (AVS) and the CAI. The hut remains a key base for Ortler climbers and a destination for hikers, with access routes from Sulden and Trafoi and onward routes to the summit and neighbouring huts.

• 2015

  Parity commission established to assist the province in administering the hut.

• 2010

  CAI's management concession expires at the end of the year.

• 1999

  Hut passes into ownership of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano – South Tyrol.

• 1965

  Helicopter landing pad added.

• 1949

  Water reservoir built due to glacier retreat.

• 1947

  Fire destroys the middle part of the hut.

• 1916

  Material cable car built from Sulden during World War I; hut serves as Austrian military base.

• 1911

  Telephone connection installed.

• 1906

  Construction of large additional dormitory building (today's main hut) begins (until 1907).

• 1901

  Daily mail delivery from Sulden begins.

• 1899

  Over 1,000 guests have stayed at the hut.

• 1892

  Next extension begins (until 1894).

• 1887

  Catering begins, a year later than planned.

• 1885

  New building doubles sleeping places.

• 1878

  Hut enlarged.

• 1877

  Visited by 135 mountaineers.

• 1876

  Extended with a wood store; trail from Sulden improved.

• 1875

  Construction begins by the Prague Section; hut inaugurated on 6 September and named after Julius Payer.

• 1874

  Leipzig and Prague sections of the German and Austrian Alpine Club make initial efforts.

• 1870

  First discussion of building a shelter at the site at the German Alpine Club general meeting.

A historic, high-alpine mountain hut and essential base for Ortler summit attempts, offering traditional hospitality in a spectacular setting.

• Overnight accommodation

  Beds in a high-alpine hut at 3,029 m.

• Meals and drinks

  Traditional alpine dining room service.

• Reservation services

  Online reservation for stays.

1. 1Payerhütte - Homepayerhuette.com
2. 2Payerhütte - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
3. 3Payerhütte - Wikidatawikidata.org