Rifugio Casati

Rifugio Casati (officially Rifugio Gianni Casati, also known as Rifugio Casati e Guasti or Casatihütte) is a mountain hut owned and operated by the Milan Section of the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI). It sits at 3,254 metres above sea level on the Langenfernerjoch (Passo del Cevedale) on the main ridge of the Ortler Alps, within Stelvio National Park. Administratively it lies in the Province of Sondrio, Lombardy, Italy, close to the border with South Tyrol. A few metres above the main hut, at about 3,270 metres, stands the smaller Rifugio Guasti, now used only as an emergency and winter shelter. The hut was built on the initiative of the CAI Milan Section, with construction beginning in 1922. The site was chosen to link the Valfurva, Sulden and Martell valleys and to replace huts destroyed during the mountain war of 1915–1918, notably the Capanna Cedec and the Hallesche Hütte at Eisseepass. Material from the Hallesche Hütte and a wartime structure was reused. After delays caused by bad weather, the hut was inaugurated on 9 December 1923 and named after Gianni Casati, an Italian officer killed in 1916 at Gorizia during the First World War; his father had helped finance the construction. With the rise of ski touring, lifts were built on the Zufallferner and a ski school was established at the hut in 1932. The Casati hut became very popular and was repeatedly expanded and modernised, eventually taking on more the character of a hotel than a simple mountain hut. In 1934 an annex was added to accommodate growing visitor numbers. In 1986 the annex was named after Alessandro Guasti, a Milan CAI adviser. The main hut was renovated in 1985, and a modernisation in 2003 brought running hot water. In the winter of 2021 the CAI Milano decided to demolish and rebuild the hut at a different location because thawing permafrost had destabilised the entire structure, causing it to move. The Casati hut is currently closed. Access is normally from Santa Caterina Valfurva via Rifugio Pizzini (2,706 m), from Sulden via the Schaubachhütte (2,581 m) and the Suldenferner, or from Martell over the Langenferner. The hut is supplied by a material cable car whose valley station is near Rifugio Pizzini. It serves as a base for summit tours to the Suldenspitze (3,376 m, 15 minutes), Monte Cevedale (3,769 m, 2 hours), the Zufallspitzen (Vordere 3,700 m, Hintere 3,757 m, 2½ hours) and the Königspitze (3,851 m, 3½–4 hours), and is well suited to ski tours including Monte Cevedale and the Königsspitze.

The Rifugio Gianni Casati was built on the initiative of the Milan Section of the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI). Construction began in 1922 at the Langenfernerjoch on the main ridge of the Ortler Alps. The location was chosen to provide an optimal connection between the Valfurva, Sulden and Martell valleys and to replace huts destroyed during the mountain war of 1915–1918, in particular the Capanna Cedec and the Hallesche Hütte at Eisseepass. Material from the Hallesche Hütte and from a wartime structure was reused in the construction. After delays caused by bad weather, the hut was solemnly inaugurated on 9 December 1923 and named after Gianni Casati, an Italian officer who fell in 1916 at Gorizia during the First World War; his father had financially supported the building. With the growing popularity of skiing, lifts were built on the Zufallferner and a ski school was established in the Casati hut in 1932. At that time the hut became very popular and had to be expanded and modernised several times, eventually acquiring more the character of a hotel than a hut. The increase in visitor numbers also led in 1934 to the addition of an annex building. In 1986 this annex was named after Alessandro Guasti, a Milan CAI adviser. The main hut was renovated in 1985, and since a modernisation in 2003 running hot water has been available. In the winter of 2021 the CAI Milano decided to demolish the hut and rebuild it at a different location. Because of thawing permafrost, the entire building had begun to move and was no longer stable. The Casati hut is currently closed. Access to the hut is normally from Santa Caterina Valfurva via the Rifugio Pizzini (2,706 m), from Sulden via the Schaubachhütte (2,581 m) and the Suldenferner, or from Martell over the Langenferner. The hut is supplied by a material cable car whose valley station is near the Rifugio Pizzini. Neighbouring huts include the Rifugio Pizzini, Schaubachhütte, Marteller Hütte and Zufallhütte. The hut serves as a base for summit tours to the Suldenspitze (3,376 m, 15 minutes), Monte Cevedale (3,769 m, 2 hours), the Zufallspitzen (Vordere 3,700 m, Hintere 3,757 m, 2½ hours) and the Königspitze (3,851 m, 3½–4 hours). It is also excellently suited for ski tours, including Monte Cevedale and the Königsspitze.

• 2021

  CAI Milano decides to demolish and rebuild the hut at a different location due to thawing permafrost; the hut is currently closed.

• 2003

  A modernisation brings running hot water to the hut.

• 1986

  The annex is named after Alessandro Guasti, a Milan CAI adviser.

• 1985

  The main hut is renovated.

• 1934

  An annex building is added due to increasing visitor numbers.

• 1932

  A ski school is established in the hut; lifts are built on the Zufallferner.

• 1923

  The hut is solemnly inaugurated on 9 December and named after Gianni Casati.

• 1922

  Construction of the hut begins on the initiative of the CAI Milan Section.

High-altitude alpine hut and base for mountaineering and ski touring in the Ortler Alps, operated by the Club Alpino Italiano.

• Rifugio Gianni Casati (main hut)

  High-altitude mountain hut at 3,254 m on the Langenfernerjoch, with accommodation and food service.

• Rifugio Guasti (annex)

  Smaller building a few metres above the main hut at about 3,270 m, now used only as an emergency and winter shelter.

1. 1Rifugio Casati official websiterifugiocasati.it
2. 2Wikidata: Rifugio Casatiwikidata.org
3. 3Wikipedia (German): Rifugio Gianni Casatide.wikipedia.org