Konkordia Hut

The Konkordiahütte (also majority Konkordia huts) is a mountain hut in the Bernese Alps. It is located on 2,850 m above sea level. M., about 150 meters (as of 2007) on the Konkordiaplatz, the origin of the Aletsch Glacier, in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Jungfrau-Aletsch- Bietschhorn.

Geographical location

The Konkordiahütte is situated in the Bernese Alps and is surrounded by many famous mountains and large glaciers flow. Immediately to the west is the Konkordiaplatz on which unite the Grüneggfirn, the Jungfraufirn and Aletschfirn the Great Aletsch Glacier. Southeast of the Fiescher Gabelhorn is the Gross When Horn, east ( 3'876 m above sea level. M. ), is located northeast of the Finstaarhorn the highest peak of the Bernese Alps. To the north, the four-thousand- green horn, rear and large Fiescherhorn close to. Northwest follow the monk and the Virgin. To the west lie above the Konkordiaplatz the almost four-thousand Gletscherhorn ( 3'983 m above sea level. M. ) and Äbeni Flue ( 3,962 m above sea level. M. ). To the southwest lies the glaciated Aletschhorn. To the south, flows with the Aletsch Glacier, the largest glacier in the Alps, the Rhône Valley.

Access

The Konkordiahütte is difficult to achieve. All Access paths cross the glacier and are accordingly classified as full speed (difficulty L).

The shortest ascent is done from the northwestern Jungfraujoch, which can be reached from Kleine Scheidegg with the Jungfrau Railway. From the Jungfraujoch the way across the Jungfraufirn to Konkordiaplatz and on this rock leads to the hut. The last meter lead from the glacier over long metal stairs to the cabin.

From the southern Valais side the cabin at the best of Fiesch is achievable. Take the cable car to reach the fiescheralp ( 2,212 m above sea level. M. ), from the past, a path leads to the Märjelesee on the Aletsch Glacier. About this north you reach a 1996 newly created south access to the cabin ( partially secured with ropes).

Other very long climbs through the Loetschental or the Fiescherdal are possible.

Climbing opportunities

From the Konkordiahütte are many prominent mountains, including several four-thousand, climbable. In the summer, these are classic high gear variety of difficulty, less about climbing. For example, the large green horn on the southwest ( WS ), Aletschhorn about the Hasler rib ( ZS ), Monk ( ZS ), Virgin ( ZS ), Äbeni Flue (L ), Triangle Horn through the eastern flank ( WS ), Grünegg ( climbing to III ).

In winter and spring most of the summits on skis are climbable.

Transitions

The following transitions to other huts are possible:

• Over the Great Aletschfirn to solder Hollandia hut ( 3,173 m above sea level. M. SAC)
• By Grünhornlücke to Finsteraarhornhütte ( 3'048 m above sea level. M. SAC)
• On the Aletsch Glacier to Oberaletschhütte ( 2,640 m above sea level. M. SAC)
• Over the Jungfraufirn to Mönchsjochhütte ( 3'657 m above sea level. M. )

History

1877 was built by the Central Committee of the Swiss Alpine Club hut first. Construction took just five weeks and the " old cabin " provided space for 20 people. She was well frequented, so was the construction of another hut in 1898. The pavilion Cathrein, built by the Fiescher hotelier Emil Cathrein, who has also supported the construction of the first hut, had twelve beds and mattresses. The price for one night in a double room was six SFr.

Only ten years later, the newly formed SAC Section Grindelwald built a third hut. She was supported by Gustav Hasler, a Swiss industrialist. Hasler was President of the newly formed section and avid climbers. According to him, the Hasler rib is named on Aletschhorn. The material was hergeschafft in just five weeks on the Jungfrau Railway, the actual construction was done in a week. This third hut was nicknamed " Hasler hut ".

Shortly competed all three cabins each other. 1946 bought the SAC Grindelwald the pavilion Cathrein for 45'000 SFr. 1951, 1967 and 1976, various alterations, enlargements and adjustments to the current standards. In 1996, the hut was the last time, for a total of two million Swiss francs, rebuilt and modernized.

Boarding and glacier melt

In 1877 the cottage on a rock, built some 50 meters above the glacier. These rocks could be relatively easily overcome by a path on rock bands. Due to the melting of glaciers and the resulting associated decline of the Aletsch Glacier had a ladder that was placed several times and extended are installed. The rocks that were held together by the pressure of the glacier, lost more and more strength and stability. Due to a further glacier retreat and a resulting increased risk of rock falls occurred in 1945 first rock blasting and a relocation of the hut path. Since the 1950s, the annual decline in glacier surface is at Konkordiaplatz about 0.6 meters per year. In 1975 the installation of a steel stair. 1999 had 370 steps to be overcome, currently (2007) is the hut about 150 meters above the glacier and over 433 stair steps achieved. In the last major renovation of the cottage has been considered to change the location, as the rock on which the hut is currently, more and more lost by the glaciers decline in strength and the climb is always dangerous. The cabin could remain at their current location only due to increased security and attachment measures.

Current situation

The Konkordiahütte is today still owned by the SAC section Grindelwald, it is managed by the hut Wait Sarah Benz and Christoph Saget. The cottage is a warden from March to May and from July to the end of September, and by appointment. It provides 155 beds of which 120 are in the main house at 10 and 12 bed rooms and 35 in the next house, each in a 8, 10 and 17 bed rooms. The guest house also serves as a winter room outside the Bewartungszeiten. The toilets are located in a separate house next door. The drinking water supply is secured by three water reservoirs with a total of 70,000 liters.

With 8600 nights in 2007, the Concordia hut was after the second most visited Britannia Hut Mountain Hut of the Swiss Alpine Club.

When Konkordiahütte there is a weather station here (225 km / h) and Emma were (224 km / h) depending on the highest speed measured across Europe for the hurricane Kyrill. When Hurricane Andrea in January 2012 even a gust of 270 km / h was recorded.

Guides and maps

• Karl Hausmann: Club leaders Bernese Alps 4 - Tschingelhorn to Finstaarhorn. SAC -Verlag 1997.
• Ralph Maritschnegg / Daniel Anker: Ski Touring Bernese Alps East - Hohgant to Aletschhorn. SAC -Verlag, 2004.
• Map of Switzerland 1:25000: Leaf 1249 Finstaarhorn.
• Map of Switzerland 1:50,000: Leaf Virgin 264S - ski touring.