Schönbielhütte SAC

The place

Capacity: 80 The Schönbielhütte carries something of the golden-age myth in Zermatt, compared with many others that have been overrun by tourist crowds. People come here to admire, besides the Matterhorn, the ice armour of the Dent d'Hérens and all the tempting features surrounding the Zmuttgletscher cirque: Dent Blanche, Tête de Valpelline, etc. Open from late March to early May and from June to September. 80 places spread across 6 dormitories. Use of a sleeping bag liner mandatory Price by category A: CHF 23.50: SAC member B: CHF 13.50: J+S member C: CHF 34.50: non-member aged 18+ D: CHF 19.50: teenagers 7-17 E: CHF 16.00: groups of 10+ teenagers aged 7-17 CHF 8.00: children under 6 CHF 38.00: half-board (water bottle included) I'm assuming no one will use a cable car section to get out of Zermatt (to get there, see the notes on page [->2210]), its cables, funiculars, cog railways, etc... So head to the SSW end of the village and take the mule track (signposted) that climbs via the hamlet of Zmutt (1936 m) all along the left bank of the Zmuttgletscher, passing through Bodmen, Chalbermatten (2105 m), a small zig-zag to cross the outlet of the Arben Bach where you get onto the moraine, and all along the crest of it up to the terrace where the hut stands. It will take 4h30/5h. All along the way you'll walk under the gaze of the Sphinx... the Matterhorn, and it has quite a face on its N side... so if you have time, good weather and a pack that's not too heavy, it's worth taking a detour leaving Zermatt via the Rothornhütte trail (via the Trift) and, once you reach the Alterhaupt alpine pasture, taking the small trail heading left towards S/SW that climbs the Höhbalmen ridges (at Ufem Hohlicht, exactly 2675 m) and continuing in balcony fashion towards Arben to rejoin the normal route; this involves a loss of 400 m in elevation but the scenery, the little flowers, etc. are worth the detour. You may not have the energy to do it on the way back after a route, so... CAS, Monte Rosa section. Wardens: Yolanda + Fredy Biner-Perren Haus Bielti Staldenstrasse 87 3920 Zermatt Switzerland mobile: +41 (0)79 447 41 87 mobile: +41 (0)79 639 41 28 Official website: http://schoenbielhuette.ch/