Description
The mountain hut has
- a kitchen, reserved for the manager and staff of the hut, where food and drinks are prepared in compliance with hygiene regulations;
- a dining room for the consumption of food and drink, equipped with tables, benches and/or chairs;
- a sleeping area, equipped with beds or bunks;
- communal sanitary facilities.
The mountain hut also has the following services
- a communication system with the Single Emergency Centre(112) for managing any emergencies;
- first aid equipment for emergencies;
- a source of electricity, which is functional for the running of the hut: it is therefore at the discretion of the manager to connect guests' electrical equipment;
- guaranteeddrinking water at least in the kitchen, so it is possible that the water in the rest of the hut is not drinkable, as indicated by any signs posted. In the mountains, water is a limited and precious resource, so it is possible that the shower service is not available for guests, because it is not provided or is suspended due to the shortage of water, or that it is charged and/or timed.
Near the mountain hut there is always a landing area for helicopters, used for emergency helicopter rescue activities and for refuelling the hut.
The accommodation activities of a mountain hut include
- overnight accommodation,
- refreshment, i.e. the provision of food and drink of all kinds,
- the sale of tourist articles.
The hut manager must guarantee
- minimum seasonalopening from 20 June to 20 September, guaranteeing during this period the presence and accessibility of the hut for the entire 24-hour period, with no closing days;
- reception of any hiker, mountaineer or tourist requiring accommodation or shelter, regardless of the hut's accommodation capacity, especially in the event of bad weather or emergencies
- possibility for guests to consume their own food and drink in the common areas, both indoors and outdoors. For this service, the manager may charge a small fee, to be clearly indicated in the price list, displayed prominently inside and outside the hut.
As far as the accommodation service is concerned, the rooms in an Alpine hut do not have a reserved bathroom, but there are only communal toilets, with a minimum of 1 toilet with wash basin for every 25 beds. The rooms are small in size because of the rather high bed density standards (from 3.5 to 10 cubic metres per bed when in hotels the minimum standard is just over 14 cubic metres per bed). In addition, half of the accommodation in an alpine hut is in dormitories with more than 4 beds: it is therefore possible that sleeping space may have to be shared with other guests. Sleeping places may consist of beds, cots or bunks (a small bed, also made from a common plank), even on overlapping levels.
In the event of an emergency, when hikers or mountaineers must be accommodated in the hut in addition to the accommodation capacity of the hut, emergency places on the ground or on a bench or planking can also be offered for overnight stays.
When the hut is closed, hikers and mountaineers can use the so-called winter bivouac, a special room located in and around the hut, equipped with everything necessary to ensure survival in case of emergency and need. Normally in the hut's winter bivouac it is possible to find cots or bunks for sleeping, a table and chairs or benches.