Heftihütte

Heftihütte is a mountain hut owned and operated by the Emmental section (Sektion Emmental) of the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC). It sits at 1,904 metres above sea level in the north-eastern part of the Schrattenfluh massif, in the Emmental Alps, on the territory of the municipality of Flühli in the canton of Lucerne, Switzerland. The hut lies south-east of the Heftizähne (also called Hächlezänd), from which it takes its name. The building was originally constructed during the Swiss active service of 1939–1945 as accommodation for troops stationed at the Flühli blocking position. In 1950 the Festungswacht-Kompanie 15 sold it to two private individuals from Langnau im Emmental, and in 1951 the SAC Emmental section acquired it and entrusted it to its youth organisation (JO) for management. The hut was officially inaugurated in October 1953. As a club hut, Heftihütte is modest in scale and infrastructure. It offers 12 sleeping places, a wood-fired stove and a gas cooker, and a water tank behind the building. Heating is provided by the wood stove, and there is a latrine WC below the hut. The hut is equipped with woollen blankets and has no telephone. In the winter months it is generally accessible only to section members, with the key held by the hut warden; in summer it is reserved for section members on the first weekend of each month, and if no reservation has been made by the preceding Wednesday evening it is opened to the general public. The hut warden is Fränzi Bachmann. Access is on foot only. The easiest approach runs from the Hirsegg postbus stop (Sörenberg, Hirsegg, point 1071) via Neuhüttli, Cheiserschwand, Bodenhütten and Heftiboden to the hut, graded T2 and taking about 2 hours 30 minutes. A longer route from Flühli via Wilegg, Toregg, point 1466 and point 1701 is graded T3 and takes about 3 hours 30 minutes. A third approach from the Hilfernstrasse (point 830) near Escholzmatt via the Hilferntal, Bächli and Hohmädli to point 1701 takes about 3 hours 30 minutes. The surrounding Schrattenfluh area offers numerous hikes and climbing routes in the Hächlezänd. Because of its small capacity and dependence on rainwater collected in a tank, the hut is sensitive to dry conditions. The official website has warned that during water shortages no new reservations can be accepted until sufficient rain falls, although already confirmed reservations may still be honoured, and that further cancellations may follow if the dry spell continues.

Heftihütte was built during the Swiss active service (Aktivdienst) of 1939–1945 as accommodation for troops stationed at the Flühli blocking position (Sperrstelle Flühli). After the Second World War, in 1950, the Festungswacht-Kompanie 15 sold the hut to two private individuals from Langnau im Emmental. In 1951 the Emmental section of the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC Sektion Emmental) purchased the hut and transferred it to its youth organisation (JO) for care and management. The hut was officially inaugurated in October 1953. Since then it has served as a ski and club house for the section. It offers 12 sleeping places, a cooking stove and a gas cooker, and a water tank stands behind the hut. The hut is equipped with woollen blankets, has a latrine WC below the building, and no telephone. Heating is provided by the wood-fired stove. In the winter months the hut is generally accessible only to section members, with the key held by the hut warden; in summer it is reserved for section members on the first weekend of each month, and if no reservation has been made by the preceding Wednesday evening it is opened to all. The hut warden is Fränzi Bachmann. Access is on foot only. The easiest approach runs from the Hirsegg postbus stop (Sörenberg, Hirsegg, point 1071) via Neuhüttli, Cheiserschwand, Bodenhütten and Heftiboden to the hut, graded T2 and taking about 2 hours 30 minutes. A longer route from Flühli via Wilegg, Toregg, point 1466 and point 1701 is graded T3 and takes about 3 hours 30 minutes. A third approach from the Hilfernstrasse (point 830) near Escholzmatt via the Hilferntal, Bächli and Hohmädli to point 1701 takes about 3 hours 30 minutes. The surrounding Schrattenfluh area offers numerous hikes and climbing routes in the Hächlezänd. In recent times the hut has faced water-supply constraints. The official website has warned that because of water shortage no new reservations can be accepted until the next substantial rainfall; already confirmed reservations may still be honoured, and further cancellations may follow if the dry weather continues.

• 1953

  Official inauguration of the hut in October.

• 1951

  SAC Sektion Emmental purchases the hut and transfers it to its youth organisation (JO) for care.

• 1950

  Festungswacht-Kompanie 15 sells the hut to two private individuals from Langnau im Emmental.

• 1939

  Construction of the hut during the Swiss active service (1939–1945) as accommodation for troops at the Flühli blocking position.

A small, rustic club hut of the Swiss Alpine Club, aimed primarily at SAC Emmental section members and hikers in the Schrattenfluh area.

• Mountain hut accommodation

  12 sleeping places, wood-fired stove, gas cooker, water tank, woollen blankets, latrine WC, no telephone.

1. 1Heftihütte - SAC Emmentalsac-emmental.ch
2. 2Heftihütte - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
3. 3Heftihütte - Wikidatawikidata.org