2023-04-30 03:12:20
After skiing is before mountain hiking. The 231 alpine huts of the Austrian Alpine Association (ÖAV) are already preparing for the upcoming summer season – and the demand is obviously considerable. The Alpine Club told the APA that there are already signs of a “gratifying booking situation” among the hut hosts. On the other hand, the water supply or water shortage in some shelters is a bit of a headache.
The Alpine Association therefore advised both innkeepers and guests, who visit the Alpine Association’s huts in the millions every year, to “carefully use all resources”. This is “more than ever the top priority.” “The water shortage in particular is a real problem at higher altitudes and we are impressed by what is achieved here every day,” explained Alpine Club President Andreas Ermacora. At the latest since the very dry summer of 2022, the problems with the water supply in some Alpine Club huts would increase.
As a guest at the hut, you should always be aware that it is essential to use water sparingly. “Just a short shower of three minutes already consumes at least 30 to 40 liters of drinking water, which the hut keepers would urgently need for other purposes,” said ÖAV Vice President Doris Hallama to hikers and mountaineers to proceed in a resource-saving manner.
There are also ways for the hosts to adapt to the situation. Of course, this results in rising investment costs, “e.g. when toilets have to be converted to water-poor or waterless systems or the wastewater treatment plants have to be adapted.”
According to those responsible, what makes the water situation sometimes tricky for the gastronomy in the Alpine Club huts: the interaction between the lack of snow, glacier retreat or the decrease in meltwater and the general drought. Although no hut had to be closed due to water shortages last summer, there were restrictions on having enough water available for the most necessary activities. In addition, there are sometimes bottlenecks in the energy supply, since the small hydroelectric power plants of the Alpine Club huts produce too little electricity when there is a water shortage.
The Alpine Club is less concerned regarding a second, virulent social problem: the lack of staff. There is only occasionally a shortage of staff in the huts. For this summer, the search for employees was unproblematic. “Four sections are currently looking for new hut leaseholders. There is no serious shortage of staff in this area,” said Georg Unterberger, head of the huts and trails department at the Alpine Club. Nevertheless, many would imagine the work in the hut to be a little different than it actually is. In addition to gastronomy, the entire hut management is part of everyday life, and the restaurateur quickly becomes an “all-rounder”.
Over 10,000 beds are available in the huts. A rush is imminent, space is tight. That’s why the Alpine Club also advised you to think regarding reserving a place to sleep in good time. Especially on the weekends, when the accommodation facilities are often fully booked. This works particularly conveniently via the online reservation system of the Alpine Club huts, and this option was warmly recommended to those with an affinity for the mountains.
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