Hugo-Gerbers-Hütte

The Hugo-Gerbers-Hütte is a mountain hut (Schutzhütte) of the Österreichischer Gebirgsverein (ÖGV), a section of the Österreichischer Alpenverein (ÖAV), located at 2,347 m above sea level in the Kreuzeckgruppe of Carinthia, Austria. It sits above the Zwickenberger Ochsenalm below the Kreuzlscharte in the municipality of Oberdrauburg. The hut is also known as the Hochkreuz-Hütte and is a Category I refuge on the Kreuzeck-Höhenweg. Built in 1909–1910 and ceremonially opened on 1 August 1910, it is named after Hugo Gerbers (1845–1918), founder of the Niederösterreichischer Gebirgsverein (from 1904 the Österreichischer Gebirgsverein). The builder was Veit Bernhard Oweger of Zwickenberg; the site and timber were provided by the Ochsenalp alpine cooperative. From 1959 to 1968 the hut was unmanaged until the Englishman Philip Tallantire saved it from decay. Since 1988 it has been staffed in summer months by volunteer club members. The hut offers 25 beds in rooms, no mattress dormitory, and an unheated winter room with 5 places that is not locked; the guest room and a storage room serve as winter shelter. It is open from mid-June to early October in summer and closed in winter, with an open, heatable winter room available. Reservations are exclusively by phone. The hut is a base for climbs to Hochkreuz (2,708 m), Kreuzelhöhe (2,623 m), Scharnik (2,655 m), Roter Peil (2,505 m), and Ziehtenkopf (2,483 m), and for transitions to Feldnerhütte and Anna-Schutzhaus. It is a volunteer-run, non-commercial alpine facility, but as a named and managed refuge it functions as a brand-like destination within the Austrian Alpine Club network.

The Hugo-Gerbers-Hütte was built in 1909–1910 and ceremonially opened on 1 August 1910. It is named after Hugo Gerbers (1845–1918), the founder of the Niederösterreichischer Gebirgsverein, which from 1904 was known as the Österreichischer Gebirgsverein. The builder was Veit Bernhard Oweger from Zwickenberg, and the building site and timber were provided by the alpine cooperative 'Ochsenalp' in Zwickenberg. From 1959 to 1968 the hut was unmanaged and fell into disrepair until the Englishman Philip Tallantire saved it from decay. Since 1988, the hut has been staffed during the summer months by volunteer members of the club. The hut is also known as the Hochkreuz-Hütte and is a Category I refuge on the Kreuzeck-Höhenweg. It lies at 2,347 m above sea level above the Zwickenberger Ochsenalm below the Kreuzlscharte in the municipality of Oberdrauburg. The hut offers 25 beds in rooms, no mattress dormitory, and an unlocked, heatable winter room with 5 places; the guest room and a storage room serve as winter shelter. It is open from mid-June to early October in summer and closed in winter. Reservations are exclusively by telephone. The hut is a base for climbs to Hochkreuz (2,708 m), Kreuzelhöhe (2,623 m), Scharnik (2,655 m), Roter Peil (2,505 m), and Ziehtenkopf (2,483 m), and for transitions to Feldnerhütte and Anna-Schutzhaus. Access routes include from Leppener Alm (1,580 m, 2 hours), Oberdrauburg (629 m, 5½ hours), Weneberger Alm (1,806 m, 2 hours), Zwickenberg-Strieden (1,230 m, 3½ hours), and Rangersdorf/Lamnitz (864 m, 6½ hours).

• 1988

  The hut is staffed in summer months by volunteer club members.

• 1968

  Philip Tallantire saves the hut from decay; management resumes.

• 1959

  The hut becomes unmanaged and falls into disrepair.

• 1910

  The hut is ceremonially opened on 1 August 1910.

• 1909

  Construction of the Hugo-Gerbers-Hütte begins.

A volunteer-run, historic Category I alpine refuge in the Kreuzeckgruppe, offering simple accommodation and shelter for hikers and climbers.

• Alpine hut accommodation

  25 beds in rooms, no mattress dormitory.

• Winter room

  Unlocked, heatable winter room with 5 places; guest room and storage room also open.

1. 1Hugo-Gerbers-Hütte official websitealpenverein.at
2. 2Hugo-Gerbers-Hütte on Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Hugo-Gerbers-Hütte on German Wikipediade.wikipedia.org