Hintergrathütte

The Hintergrathütte is a mountain refuge (Schutzhütte) situated at 2,661 metres above sea level in the Ortler Alps of South Tyrol, Italy. It lies in a rocky hollow on the Hintergrat ridge, northeast of the Suldenferner glacier and beneath the triumvirate of the Ortler, Monte Zebrù, and Königsspitze. The lodge is a key base for ascents of the Ortler, particularly via the Hintergrat route, as well as for routes on Monte Zebrù and the north face of the Königsspitze. It is located within the Stelvio National Park and is typically open from early June to early October, offering 65 sleeping berths across seven rooms and a dormitory. The rustic buildings date from the 1920s and provide simple accommodation and alpine sustenance. Since the mid-1970s the hut has been owned and operated by the Gutgsell family, originally from Stilfs and later based in Sulden. The family acquired the shares gradually, and today the Hintergrathütte is a fully family-run business. The hut is accessible from Sulden in about 2 to 2.5 hours on a marked trail, and it serves as a waypoint for transitions to other refuges such as the K2-Hütte, Tabarettahütte, Payerhütte, Schaubachhütte, and the Hochjochbiwak. The Hintergrathütte is not just a commercial lodging but a piece of mountaineering history: it was the first mountain refuge in Tyrol, originally built in the early 19th century as the Gebhard'sche Hütte, later replaced by the Bäckmannhütte, and finally rebuilt in its current form between 1920 and 1922 by the Sulden mountain guides. The lodge continues to be a popular destination for alpinists and hikers exploring the Ortler region.

The history of the Hintergrathütte begins in the early 19th century with the first ascent of the Ortler via the Hintergrat in 1805. A small shelter, known as the Gebhard'sche Hütte, was built higher than the current hut by Josef Pichler on behalf of Johannes Gebhard, an official sent by Archduke Johann. This was the first mountain refuge in Tyrol. It fell into disrepair as the route fell out of use. In 1806, Gebhard planned a larger refuge, the Schönleitenhütte, but the plans were never realized due to the temporary loss of Tyrol to Bavaria. When the Ortler became more popular at the end of the 19th century, Carl Baeckmann, a Russian state councillor from Warsaw, financed a new hut. The Bäckmannhütte opened on 27 August 1892 near the current site at the Unterer Gratsee (2,611 m). It was not serviced but well equipped with 16 sleeping places, eight each for guides and tourists, and quickly became popular. It was expanded in 1895, and Baeckmann donated it to the Sulden Mountain Guides Association, which erected a monument to him in Sulden. During the mountain war, the Bäckmannhütte was used by Austrian troops and was destroyed by Italian shells in 1915. From 1920 to 1922, the Sulden mountain guides built the current Hintergrathütte slightly higher at the Obere Gratsee. The three-storey hut offered 70 sleeping places. It is usually open from early July to early October. In 1958 and 1972, the sale or lease of the hut to the Alpine Club South Tyrol was discussed, but the deals failed due to financial issues. In 1973, Fritz Gutgsell, originally from Stilfs and already resident in Sulden, took over the management of the hut. After a few seasons, he began buying shares in the Hintergrathütte. In the mid-1980s, he handed over management to his son, Ulf Gutgsell, who over the following years bought the remaining shares. Thus the Hintergrathütte became fully owned by the Gutgsell family, who continue to operate it today. The hut remains a key base for climbers and hikers in the Ortler region.

• 1980

  Ulf Gutgsell takes over management; family acquires full ownership.

• 1973

  Fritz Gutgsell takes over management of the hut.

• 1922

  Current Hintergrathütte built by Sulden mountain guides (1920–1922).

• 1915

  Bäckmannhütte destroyed by Italian shells during mountain war.

• 1895

  Bäckmannhütte expanded and donated to Sulden Mountain Guides Association.

• 1892

  Bäckmannhütte opened on 27 August near current site.

• 1805

  First ascent of Ortler via Hintergrat; Gebhard'sche Hütte built as first refuge in Tyrol.

Historic, family-run alpine refuge at high altitude, offering simple accommodation and a base for mountaineering in the Ortler group.

• Accommodation: 65 sleeping berths (7 rooms, 1 dormitory)

• Alpine food and drinks

• Base for Ortler climbs via Hintergrat

1. 1hintergrathütte ◊ Refuge in Sulden under Ortler, Königsspitze, and Zebruhintergrathuette.com
2. 2hintergrathütte in Sulden ◊ Historyhintergrathuette.com
3. 3Hintergrathütte - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Hintergrathütte - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org