"Winter rooms" on the hiker's Haute Route

Hello everyone,

My boyfriend and I will be hiking the hiker's Haute Route right at the end of the mountain hut season (September 20-30). Some of the huts will be closed at this time, but I have read that they keep a "winter room" open.

I haven't been able to find more detailed information on the winter rooms, however. If anyone knows what this means, it would be great to have a little more information. For example, does this mean the hut is open even though there is no one there, so we can go inside and get warm and dry and sleep inside? We will have camping stove and can cook our own food, but I want to make sure we will have a place to go inside and sleep in these huts, as they are the only shelter along the route in some sections. If we won't be able to get inside, we will bring our tent and all of our camping things.

Thank you for you assistance!

Juliann and Daniel

Hi Juliann and Daniel,

Huts are indeed always accessible, even is there is no warden. So you can sleep there and use the basic facilities as long as you clean up and obey the rules. Information about the huts and the rules can be found on www.sac-cas.ch/en/huts/hut-information.html. This page might come in handy too: https://www.myswissalps.com/campsites/wildcamping.

Have fun!

Hi Arno,

Thank you so much for this information, it was really helpful!

We have encountered another issue - I have called Cabane de Prafleuri repeatedly over the last 4 days with no answer. We would like to make a reservation there to ensure that we will be able to stay the night of the 24, but the only way to reserve is to call and no one seems to be answering the phones. Do you have any advice?

Thanks so much for all of your help,

Juliann

Hi Juliann,

Their number is +41 272811780. They close around this time for the Winter, so that might be the reason they don't answer. I assume you can't reserve a place either when they're closed. You can contact the local tourist agency (www.valdherens.ch). Perhaps they have more information. Good luck!

Hello,We are planning to sleep at Cabane de Mont Fort on 23 September, after it is closed. We understand that we may still go inside to sleep and use the kitchen.I am wondering if there will be any blankets, or if we need to bring a sleeping bag? This would be the only time in our trip we would use a sleeping bag, so we would like to know if we need to bring one.Thank you,Juliann and Daniel

Hi Juliann and Daniel,

You can best contact the tourist agency or the Swiss Alpine Club. Links are in my previous posts. They should be able to provide details like this.