The Britannia Hut Centenary 2012
by Mike Pinney, Hon. President ABMSAC
The Britannia Hut, due to celebrate its 100th anniversary next year, is well known to British mountaineers. Many of us have stayed there before making an ascent of one of the nearby 4000m peaks, or at the end of the High Level Route on skis. Situated at 3030m above Saas Fee, it is in a prime position, and has become the most frequented hut in Switzerland.
The hut has always had a close link with Britain, for it was built with funds raised by British alpinists and skiers. The Association of British Members of the Swiss Alpine Club (ABMSAC) was founded in 1909 by members of the Alpine Club (AC). Its main objectives were to encourage British alpinists to support the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) by becoming members, and to collect funds to present a hut to the SAC as a token of gratitude for the hospitality that British climbers had received in Switzerland. Within three years CHF20,000 had been raised, enough to complete the building, and at its inauguration it was named the Britannia Hut in recognition of the gift. It was presented to the Geneva Section which has managed it since then. Although the ABMSAC arranged collection it was recognised that contributions had also come from members of the AC and the Ski Club of Great Britain who were not also members of the Association.
When first opened it had sleeping accommodation for only the warden, 10 guides, 16 men and 8 women, but its popularity was such that in1927 it was extended to accommodate 80, and in 1951 further extended to accommodate 104; on both occasions British alpinists donated funds to assist with the costs. In 1997 it was totally renovated and enlarged to its present size to accommodate 134. On this occasion Peter Ledeboer, past President of the ABMSAC, past secretary of the AC Library, and past honorary secretary of the BMC, organised the raising of CHF20,000 from British alpinists, which was used for the renovation and furnishing of one of the two dining rooms.
The hut has a major problem with both its access path and its water supply. It is not near a stream or a well, so water, together with other supplies, has to be brought to the hut by snowmobile from the Felskinn cable car station on a track across the glacier via the Egginerjoch, and then stored in a large tank over the summer months. However, due to lack of snow in recent winters and the recession of the glacier, the track has become increasingly difficult to negotiate. Now a local guide is to help create a new track from the Egginerjoch which will lead down towards Plattjen and then ascend to the hut, a route which could prove impossible for a snowmobile. The only alternative would be the use of helicopters to bring in supplies of water which would be costly and not always possible in adverse weather conditions.
The hut has a large water storage tank and at the end of each summer season to avoid frost damage the tank was mostly drained. Thus expensively acquired water was allowed to flow away. A form of heating close to the tank would prevent the water from freezing and bursting the plumbing. It should be possible to leave the tank full at the end of each summer season. Solar panels have now been installed as the hut is situated in a sunny position and they are very efficient at providing heat not only for the room where the water containers sit, but also for the hut (heating shoe room and the dining rooms) - I am sure much appreciated by we ski mountaineers. Although the installation was carried out in March 2011 to take the opportunity of using the same transportation for material as for other work then being carried out, the cost was more than estimated at CHF35,000. A donation from ABMSAC funds of CHF25,000 has been made. It is hoped to raise the remaining CHF10, 000 from donations from members and kindred clubs. If you wish to make a donation, either from club funds or from an appeal to your members, please send cheques, made payable to ABMSAC, to our Hon. Treasurer: Mr J Baldwin, Beer Hill Cottage, Beer Hill, Seaton, Devon EX12 2QD. Would you please indicate your club membership, so that donations are correctly acknowledged?
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Last updated 08 November 2011