Höchster Hütte

Höchster Hütte (Italian: Rifugio Canziani), also known as Grünseehütte, is a mountain hut in the Ortler Alps of South Tyrol, northern Italy. It sits at 2,560 metres above sea level at the upper end of the Ultental (Val d'Ultimo), directly beside the Grünsee (Lago Verde). The nearest village is St. Gertraud in the municipality of Ulten. The hut serves as a base for mountaineering and hiking tours in the Zufrittkamm and Ilmenkamm ranges, including the Hintere Eggenspitze, Zufrittspitze, and routes toward the Martelltal and Trentino. The hut was originally built in 1909 by the Höchst section of the DuOeAV (German and Austrian Alpine Club) at the site of today's reservoir dam. When construction of the reservoir began, the hut was demolished in 1957 and rebuilt about 50 metres higher, where it served as accommodation for construction workers. In 1977 the Milan section of the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI) took over the hut and renamed it after its founding member Umberto Canziani, a ski mountaineer who fell at the Vršič Pass in 1915 during World War I. Today the Höchster Hütte operates as a staffed mountain refuge offering food, drink, and overnight accommodation to hikers and climbers. It is a traditional Alpine hospitality brand within the CAI network, welcoming guests in German and Italian, and promoting the natural and cultural heritage of the Ultental valley. The official website features seasonal greetings and stories, reflecting its role as a meeting point for mountain enthusiasts.

The Höchster Hütte was established in 1909 by the Höchst section of the DuOeAV (German and Austrian Alpine Club) at the location of the present-day reservoir dam at the upper end of the Ultental. It served as a refuge for mountaineers exploring the surrounding Ortler Alps. In 1957, with the beginning of construction of the reservoir (Stausee), the hut was demolished and rebuilt approximately 50 metres higher up the slope. During this period it provided accommodation for the construction workers building the dam. In 1977, the Milan section of the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI) took over the hut and renamed it Rifugio Canziani in honour of Umberto Canziani, a founding member of the section and a ski mountaineer who died in 1915 at the Vršič Pass during World War I. Since then, the hut has continued to operate as a staffed mountain refuge, offering shelter and sustenance to hikers and climbers. It remains an important base for tours in the Zufrittkamm and Ilmenkamm, with routes to the Hintere Eggenspitze, Zufrittspitze, and over the Schwärzer Joch into Trentino. The hut is also known as Grünseehütte due to its location next to the Grünsee (Lago Verde).

• 1977

  Milan section of the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI) takes over the hut and renames it Rifugio Canziani.

• 1957

  Hut demolished due to reservoir construction and rebuilt about 50 metres higher; used as accommodation for construction workers.

• 1909

  Hut built by the Höchst section of the DuOeAV at the site of today's reservoir dam.

Traditional, historic Alpine refuge in the Ortler Alps, operated by CAI Milan as a non-profit mountain hospitality and mountaineering base.

• Overnight accommodation

• Alpine meals and beverages

• Base for mountaineering tours

1. 1Höchsterhütte am Grünsee, Ultental - Rifugio Canziani al lago verde val ultimorifugiocanziani.it
2. 2Höchster Hütte – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3Höchster Hütte – Wikidatawikidata.org