Rifugio Roda di Vaèl

Rifugio Roda di Vaèl (German: Rotwandhütte, also historically Ostertag-Hütte) is a mountain hut (rifugio) in the Rosengarten/Catinaccio group of the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It sits on the Sella del Ciampaz at 2,283 metres above sea level, in the municipality of Vigo di Fassa, Trentino, Italy. The hut is owned by the Società degli Alpinisti Tridentini (SAT), the largest section of the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI), and has been managed for several years by Roberta Silva. It is one of the reference huts for the Catinaccio group and serves as a base for hikers, climbers and via ferrata enthusiasts. The hut was built on the initiative of the Karersee-Welschnofen section of the German and Austrian Alpine Club (DuÖAV). Efforts to acquire land from the municipality of Vigo date back to 1899; the groundbreaking took place in spring 1906 and the hut opened in August of that year with 20 beds. Among its supporters were local tourism pioneer Theodor Christomannos and German industrialist Karl von Ostertag-Siegle, after whom the hut was named. In 1921 the Italian military entrusted the hut to SAT, which gave it the Italian name Rifugio Roda di Vaèl. A major rebuild began in 1983 and the new building was inaugurated in 1986; a final renovation took place between 2007 and 2008. The hut celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2007. Today the hut offers a restaurant, bar, 59 beds, a large terrace and a solarium. It is open in the summer season from June to October. It is a starting point for the Masaré via ferrata (difficulty C) and the Rotwand via ferrata (B/C), as well as numerous climbing routes in the southern Rosengarten group. Access is possible from the Paolina hut (chairlift top station, 2,125 m) in ¾ hour, from the Karerpass (1,752 m) in 1½ hours, from Rifugio Ciampedie (cable car top station, 1,998 m) in 2 hours, and from the Kölner Hütte (chairlift top station, 2,337 m) via the Hirzelsteig in 2–2½ hours. The dining room is named after Marino Stenico, a significant Dolomite climber considered a forefather of Trentino alpinists.

The initiative to build the hut came from a meeting of the Karersee-Welschnofen section of the German and Austrian Alpine Club (DuÖAV). First efforts to acquire a plot of land from the municipality of Vigo date back to 1899. Ground was broken in spring 1906 and the hut opened in August of the same year with a capacity of 20 overnight places. Among its promoters were local tourism pioneer Theodor Christomannos and German industrialist Karl von Ostertag-Siegle, after whom the hut was eventually named (Ostertag-Hütte). In 1921 the Italian military entrusted the hut to the Società degli Alpinisti Tridentini (SAT), the largest section of the CAI, which gave it the Italian name Rifugio Roda di Vaèl. From 1983 a rebuild took place, expanding the hut's capacity; the new building was inaugurated in 1986. A final renovation was carried out between 2007 and 2008. The hut celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2007. It remains owned by SAT and is managed by Roberta Silva. The dining room was named after Marino Stenico, a significant climber in Dolomite alpinism, considered a forefather of Trentino alpinists.

• 2007

  Hut celebrated its 100th anniversary.

• 2007

  Final renovation began (completed 2008).

• 1986

  New building inaugurated.

• 1983

  Rebuild began, expanding capacity.

• 1921

  Italian military entrusted the hut to SAT, which named it Rifugio Roda di Vaèl.

• 1906

  Groundbreaking in spring; hut opened in August with 20 beds.

• 1899

  First efforts to acquire land from the municipality of Vigo.

Historic SAT mountain hut in the Rosengarten/Catinaccio group, serving hikers, climbers and via ferrata users in the Dolomites.

• Accommodation

  59 beds

• Restaurant and bar

  On-site dining and bar services

• Terrace and solarium

  Large outdoor terrace and solarium

1. 1Rifugio Roda di Vael official websiterodadivael.it
2. 2Wikidata entrywikidata.org
3. 3Rotwandhütte – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org