Cabane des Aiguilles Rouges in January 2021

            The Cabane des Aiguilles Rouges, built in 1948, is located in Val d'Hérens, Switzerland, above Arolla and offers 70 beds in non-Covid mode. It belongs to the Aiguilles-Rouges hut association. The grey building is quite recent and is at odds with the original stone and wood constructions. 
Altitude: 2'821 metres.

In 1947, Hans Ueli von Waldkirch, a medical student and member of the Academic Alpine Club of Geneva (CAAG), had a fatal accident during the ascent of the Arête Bertol. His parents then decided to devote the money earmarked for what should have been the installation of his medical practice to the construction of a high mountain refuge in his memory.

The site was chosen at an altitude of 2'821 m., at the foot of the Aiguilles-Rouges d'Arolla, in Val d'Hérens, on the territory of the commune of Evolène. The refuge is located in a place where the view is vast and magnificent, allowing climbers who want to cross the Aiguilles-Rouges to rest before setting off on this long and difficult alpine route. Its location at the foot of the  gigantic Aiguilles-Rouges gave the name to this mountain hut.

The refuge was built in 1948 and inaugurated in June 1949. Maurice Maître, a carpenter who took part in the construction, became the first guardian. At that time, he had no direct link with his family and the the valley. For important announcements, a messenger would run to the hut to bring him information. If there was an accident at the Aiguilles-Rouges, the caretaker or another person had to go down to give the alarm.

During the first years a mule was used to transport supplies first from Les Haudères to La Gouille (a small hamlet in the valley), then via the Lac Bleu up to the hut. The supplies were mainly wood for the fire, drinks and food for the guards and guests.  If there was still snow on the way, the mule had to be unloaded and the load would be carried on a man's back. Later, the plane would transport the wood and drop it in the vicinity of the hut or, if it was fragile material, drop it upstream on the glacier, from where it was brought down to the hut. Since 1967, supplies have mainly been delivered by Air-Glaciers' helicopters.

Taken in: Switzerland / Valais / Evolène / La Gouille (show map)

Taken on: January 2, 2021

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Camera:	Hasselblad L1D-20c
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	Hugin 2019.2.0.b690aa0334b5 built by Thomas
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