Grimminghütte

Grimminghütte is an alpine shelter (Schutzhütte) owned and operated by Naturfreunde Österreich (NFÖ), the Austrian Friends of Nature organisation. It stands at 966 metres above sea level on the south-western slope of the Tressenstein, the easternmost summit of the Grimming massif in the Dachstein Mountains, in the Austrian federal state of Styria. The hut sits roughly 300 metres above the Ennstal valley near Niederstuttern and is the only mountain shelter on the Grimming, making it a key staging point for walkers and climbers heading for the 2,351-metre Grimming summit. The hut was conceived after the Stainach local group of Naturfreunde Österreich decided in March 1949 to build a base on the Grimming in response to growing demand. After fundraising among the local population, the first sod was cut on 12 April 1950, and the Grimminghütte was ceremonially opened on 14 July 1951 in front of almost 1,000 visitors. It was extensively modernised in 1968, when gas lighting replaced candles and petroleum lamps, modern sanitary facilities were installed with a new spring capture, water tank and pump, and the forest road from Niederstuttern was extended to give the innkeeper vehicle access. Today the Grimminghütte offers simple overnight accommodation in a mattress dormitory and four-bed rooms, with member and non-member rates, and is open on selected days from May onwards. It is reachable on foot in about one hour from Niederstuttern, Trautenfels and Untergrimming, and is also served by public transport. The hut is family-friendly, has a playground, shower and mobile phone reception, and hosts annual mountain festivals. It remains a popular destination for a comfortable hike as well as a serious base for the demanding ascent of the Grimming.

The Grimminghütte owes its existence to the growing popularity of the Grimming as a hiking and climbing destination in the years after the Second World War. In March 1949 the annual general meeting of the Stainach local group of Naturfreunde Österreich resolved to build a shelter on the mountain, which until then had no base for visitors. Funds were raised among the local population by means of a flyer bearing the hut stamp, and the first sod was cut on 12 April 1950. The TVN section Stainach led the construction, joined by the local groups of Admont, Lassing, Liezen, Rottenmann and Trieben. Timber could be felled on site thanks to the local forest cooperative, but sand and other building materials had to be carried up by hand. More than 5,000 voluntary working hours were contributed. On 14 July 1951 the Grimminghütte was ceremonially opened in the presence of almost 1,000 visitors, among them two members of the Nationalrat. The hut was extensively modernised for the first time in 1968. A gas lighting system replaced candlelight and petroleum lamps, and modern sanitary facilities required a new spring capture with a water tank and pump. The forest road from Niederstuttern was also extended, giving the hut manager vehicle access for the first time. Since then the Grimminghütte has remained the only shelter on the Grimming and has continued to serve walkers and climbers. Because of its relatively low altitude, summit attempts even with an overnight stay at the hut demand considerable time and effort and should not be underestimated. The hut is also the venue for annual mountain festivals, and it remains a popular family-friendly destination for easier walks to the Tressenstein and the surrounding area.

• 1968

  First major modernisation: gas lighting, modern sanitary facilities, new spring capture, and extension of the forest road from Niederstuttern.

• 1951

  Grimminghütte ceremonially opened on 14 July in the presence of almost 1,000 visitors.

• 1950

  First sod cut on 12 April after fundraising among the local population.

• 1949

  Annual general meeting of the Naturfreunde Österreich Stainach local group resolves to build a hut on the Grimming.

The only alpine shelter on the Grimming massif, run by Naturfreunde Österreich as a family-friendly, affordable base for hikers and climbers.

• Mattress dormitory

• Four-bed rooms

1. 1Grimminghütte – Naturfreunde Hüttennaturfreunde-huetten.at
2. 2Grimminghütte – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3Grimminghütte – Wikidatawikidata.org