I am recurrently amazed by the breadth of knowledge exhibited by TYWKIWDBI visitors, manifested typically and most pleasingly by corrections offered in the comments sections of my posts.
Last night about midnight I decided to end the blogging day with a photo from National Geographic of a small cabin on a mountain ridge; I speculated about its location and purpose. (See the blog entry below this).
Within two hours, someone posted not only the location (the Matterhorn in Switzerland), but also the name of the building, and a link to more information.
The Solvay Hut at 4003 m is the highest hut on the Matterhorn. It is a small emergency refuge for about 10 persons situated on a ledge immediately above the Moseley Slab on the Hörnligrat. It is strictly to be used in the event of an emergency. About two thirds up the mountain, 743 m above the Hörnli Hut and 475 m below the summit, many Matterhorn climbers have rested on the small ledge outside the hut admiring the spectacular view of all the Monte Rosa summits.More info at the link,with a photo gallery here.
The hut was built in August 1915. All the building material was brought up to the Hörnli Hut at 3260 m by help of animals. From there a small temporary cable car was used to transport the material up to the building site at 4000 meter. The hut was erected within only five days. In 1966 the hut was rebuilt and in 1976 an emergency telephone was installed.
Thank you, Anonymous.
Stan -
ReplyDeleteAll over the higher elevations in the Alps in Switzerland there are such huts. They ARE for climbers. A Swiss friend gave me a calendar some years ago with 12 huts like this. This one may have been one on the calendar, but I can't remember.
You must be be aware that the Swiss go up into the mountains a LOT, some at lower elevations and just hiking, but many go on much more adventurous treks.
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ReplyDeleteNo censoring above - just removing duplicates. That happens sometimes with fast mouse fingers or slow feedback from the host server to the commenter. :.)
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