Torino Hut
Description
The original hut was built by the Turin section of the Italian Alpine Club in 1898, near the cable car station. Over time, the refuge was enlarged several times, and today accommodates 38 guests. It is situated on the southeast spur of Pointe Helbronner, at the terminus of the second section of the Mont Blanc cable car at 3,329 m (10,922 ft).
The new hut, located 55 m (180 ft) higher than the original refuge at 3,375 m (11,073 ft), was completed in 1952 and accommodates 160 guests. The new refuge is accessible by an internal staircase equipped with a service lift for skis and mountaineering equipment. A panoramic trail, accessible during the summer, also leads to the new refuge.
From the refuge, climbers can descend to the Toula Glacier or the Vallée Blanche, or do one of the numerous ascents on ice in the Combe Maudite and Mont Blanc du Tacul basins. Other mountaineering excursions in the area are the Dent du Géant (Giant's Tooth), the Rochefort ridge, the Tour Ronde, the Aiguille d'Entrèves, Aiguilles Marbrées, Grand Capucin, and the Tacul satellites.
In the summer, the hut operates a bar and restaurant with a terrace that offers panoramic views of all the surrounding peaks of the Aosta Valley, the Savoy, and the Valais. Sunbathing in the high mountains is also popular on the terraces.
Nearby summits
The following nearby summits are part of the Mont Blanc massif.
- Mont Maudit – 4,465 m (14,649 ft)
- Mont Blanc du Tacul – 4,248 m (13,937 ft)
- Dent du Géant – 4,013 m (13,166 ft)
References
- ^ "The Refuges". Rifugio Torino. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
External links
- Official website (in Italian, English, and French)
- Torino Hut and Pointe Helbronner on French IGN mapping portal