Fründenhütte

The Fründenhütte is a mountain hut owned and operated by the Altels section of the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC), located at 2,562 metres above sea level in the municipality of Kandersteg, canton Bern, Switzerland. It sits on a rocky outcrop known as the Mittelknubel above the Fründengletscher in the Bernese Alps. To the south lies the Fründengletscher, to the north the Oeschinensee some 1,000 metres below, to the southwest the Galletgrat leading to the Doldenhorn, and to the southeast the Fründenhorn, after which the hut is named. The hut offers 58 sleeping places and is a starting point for mountaineering routes to the Fründenhorn, Doldenhorn and Oeschihorn, as well as the Blümlisalp massif. The hut was first proposed in 1921 but rejected twice by the SAC before being approved on the third attempt. It was inaugurated in 1936 under the first hut warden, Fritz Ogi. Over the decades it was expanded: in 1963 the number of sleeping places was doubled through interior renovation; in 1969 an annex was built and inaugurated; and in summer 1992 the hut was extended and ceremonially reopened in autumn. The retreat of the Fründengletscher, which still surrounded the hut in 1990, has caused water-supply problems, now addressed by drawing water from a naturally formed glacial lake and enlarged water tanks. Access to the hut is from Oeschinensee, reachable on foot from Kandersteg (1h45, 425 m ascent) or by gondola. Since the former standard hut path was closed, the ascent from Oeschinensee follows a T4 alpine route (4h30, 1,200 m ascent) passing the Fründenschnur, a narrow grass band secured with steel cables but very exposed. The older path south of Oeschinensee, classified T3, has been closed since November 2019 due to rockfall danger. From the hut there are no further hiking routes, only high-alpine tours such as the Fründenhorn or the Galletgrat (Eisgrat) to the Doldenhorn. The melting of firn fields and glaciers has made these routes increasingly difficult. The Fründenhütte is a commercial offering of the SAC Altels section, providing accommodation, meals and information for mountaineers. It is listed on Wikidata as a mountain hut and has its own website at fruendenhuette.com, with contact details including a hut telephone and email. The section's website also publishes updates on access conditions, particularly regarding the 'Spitzer Stein' situation.

The Fründenhütte was first proposed in 1921, when an attempt was made to build a hut on the Mittelknubel. The project was rejected by the SAC delegates' assembly in Baden. The driving force behind the project, Hans Biehly, a doctor from Kandersteg and founder and president of the Sektion Altels, died in an accident. A second application was also rejected by the section. On the third attempt, approval was finally granted, and in 1936 the first Fründenhütte was inaugurated under the first hut warden, Fritz Ogi. The hut served not only as a starting point for mountain tours towards the Fründenhorn, Doldenhorn and Blümlisalp massif, but also as a destination in its own right. In 1963, interior renovation doubled the number of sleeping places; later the kitchen was expanded and the dormitory was separated from the common room. As overnight stays steadily increased, an annex was built in 1969 and inaugurated the same year. Over the years, guest expectations rose; in summer 1992 the hut was extended and ceremonially inaugurated in autumn. The Fründengletscher, which still surrounded the hut in 1990, has retreated considerably in recent years, causing water-supply problems. Today water is supplied from a naturally formed glacial lake and from enlarged water tanks. Access to the hut has also changed. The former standard hut path south of Oeschinensee, classified T3 (white-red-white marked mountain trail), has been closed since November 2019 and for the foreseeable future due to rockfall danger. Since the closure, the ascent from Oeschinensee follows a T4 alpine route (4h30, 1,200 m ascent) that initially runs north and east of the lake. A long section is the so-called Fründenschnur, a path over a narrow grass band in the eastern rock face behind Oeschinensee. The Fründenschnur is well secured with steel cables but very exposed, requiring sure-footedness and a head for heights. The section regularly informs about the access situation, particularly in connection with the 'Spitzer Stein' situation, through its website, the hut's website and club newsletters. From the Fründenhütte there are no further mountain hikes, only high-alpine tours such as the Fründenhorn or an alternative to the normal ascent via the Doldenhornhütte to the Doldenhorn over the Galletgrat, known among alpinists as the Eisgrat. The melting of firn fields and glaciers is making the routes increasingly difficult. The transition towards the Oeschinenhorn has become an abseil point; many sections are described as tricky. Even the transition over the Fründenjoch, which sounds the most harmless, is demanding.

• 2019

  Former standard hut path south of Oeschinensee closed due to rockfall danger (November).

• 1992

  Hut extended in summer and ceremonially inaugurated in autumn.

• 1969

  An annex is built and inaugurated.

• 1963

  Interior renovation doubles the number of sleeping places.

• 1936

  First Fründenhütte inaugurated under hut warden Fritz Ogi.

• 1921

  First attempt to build a hut on the Mittelknubel; rejected by the SAC delegates' assembly in Baden.

A traditional Swiss Alpine Club mountain hut providing essential shelter and services for high-alpine mountaineering in the Bernese Alps.

• Mountain hut accommodation (58 sleeping places)

• Meals and refreshments for mountaineers

• Information on alpine routes and access conditions

1. 1SAC Altels - Hüttensac-altels.ch
2. 2Fründenhütte - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Fründenhütte - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org