Hess-Hütte

Hess-Hütte (also spelled Hesshütte or Heßhütte) is a mountain hut (Schutzhütte) in the Ennstaler Alps of Austria, owned and operated by the Sektion Austria of the Österreichischer Alpenverein (ÖAV). It sits at the Ennsecksattel between the Hochtor and Hochzinödl peaks in the Gesäuse mountains, a rugged limestone range in Styria. The hut was built in 1892/1893 by the Alpine Society "Ennstaler" and opened on 11 June 1893. It is named after Heinrich Heß, the chairman of that society and a key figure in opening up the Gesäuse region for tourism and mountaineering. The hut was expanded around 1902, 1910 and 1922. In 1931 the Alpine Society "Ennstaler" became a group of the Sektion Austria of the German and Austrian Alpine Club (DuÖAV), the predecessor of today's ÖAV. A separate dormitory building was added in 1979, and the hut underwent a full renovation in 1996. Today it is a popular base for tours in the Hochtor group, including the Planspitze (2,114 m), Hochtor (2,365 m) and Hochzinödl (2,191 m). It is also an important stop for long-distance hikers on the Nordalpenweg (Northern Alps Way). Access is typically from Johnsbach (about 3 hours' walk) or from Gstatterboden via the "Wasserfallweg" (about 3.5 hours). The hut offers a small climbing garden nearby and serves as a starting point for numerous climbing routes in the Hochtor group. It is linked to other huts such as the Mödlinger Hütte (5 hours), Haindlkarhütte (4.5 hours via the Peternpfad, climbing difficulty I–II) and Ennstaler Hütte (5.5 hours). The hut is a classic example of the Alpine Club hut system that provides shelter, food and accommodation in remote mountain areas.

The Hess-Hütte was built in 1892/1893 by the Alpine Society "Ennstaler" and opened on 11 June 1893. It was named after Heinrich Heß, the chairman of the society and a pioneer in opening up the Gesäuse region. The hut was expanded around 1902, 1910 and 1922. In 1931, the Alpine Society "Ennstaler" became a group of the Sektion Austria of the German and Austrian Alpine Club (DuÖAV), which later became the Austrian Alpine Club (ÖAV). A separate dormitory building (Schlafhaus) was constructed in 1979, and the hut was fully renovated in 1996. The hut has served as a base for mountaineering in the Hochtor group and as a stop on the Nordalpenweg long-distance trail.

• 1996

  The hut was fully renovated.

• 1979

  A separate dormitory building was constructed.

• 1931

  Alpine Society "Ennstaler" became a group of the Sektion Austria of the DuÖAV.

• 1922

  Hut expanded around 1922.

• 1910

  Hut expanded around 1910.

• 1902

  Hut expanded around 1902.

• 1893

  Hess-Hütte opened on 11 June 1893.

A traditional Alpine Club mountain hut offering simple accommodation and food in a remote high-mountain setting, primarily serving mountaineers and long-distance hikers.

• Overnight accommodation

• Food and drinks

• Climbing garden

1. 1Alpenverein Austriahesshuette.at
2. 2Hess-Hütte - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Hesshütte - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org