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Hut 1
This hut, opened in 1883, gets a little cramped and more than a little busy but the truth of the matter is simple: when you stay here, you are sleeping in the shadow of Tre Cime.

Town: Rifugio Locatelli / Drei Zinnen Hütte (7,998 feet [2,438 meters]) 
Number of Beds: 104 
Contact: dreizinnenhuette@rolmail.net; +011 39 0474 972002
Web Site: www.enrosadira.it/rifugi/locatelli.htm


Hut 2
This combo hut and B&B has been welcoming hikers since 1972 and is, in many ways, what we envisioned as the kind of place we'd stay along the Via Alpina: nice and homey and at the same time retaining a hut quality. The owner, Maria, is friendly as can be and a great cook.

Town: Rifugio Vallandro /Dürrensteinhütte (6,692 feet [2,040 meters])
Price: Ranging from $25/dorm to $40/private
Number of Beds: 31
Contact: +011 39 0474 972505
Web Site: www.enrosadira.it/rifugi/vallandro.htm


Hotel Waldruhe
A little isolated but has a sauna and whirlpool and the staff will go to great lengths to make your stay pleasant—though no English is spoken.

Town: St. Martino Val Casies, I-39030
Price: $80 for half board 
Contact: hotel@waldruhe.com +011 39 0474 978 403
Web Site: www.waldruhe.com


Santeshotel Wegerhof
This is possibly the best place to take the day off. A center for winter sports—as well as great place to headquarter yourself for day hikes—the food is magnificent and there's a spa where you can get a massage and a manicure and a pedicure to fix any little pesky nail issues you have as you march across the continent. (Hannibal would approve.) But a Haybath is the way to go here—imagine: luxuriating in a bed of hay and herbs as steaming water below brings the essence of the countryside to your tired bones.

Town: Antholz/Mittertal, I-39030
Price: Starting at about $70 for half board
Contact: info@santeshotel.com; +011 39 0474 492 130
Web Site: www.santeshotel.com  


Hut 3
This is one of the highest huts along the hike and most certainly the highest in the eastern half. Rieserferner Hütte, run by Gottlieb Leitgeb (who's a historian, philosopher, trekker, and all-around great guy) is comfortable, the food is solid—pasta and the like—and the experience is well worth the steep hike up.

Town: Rieserferner Hütte (9,160 feet [2,792 meters])
Price: Around $25 for bed and breakfast
Number of Beds: 52 beds,
Contact: +011 39 0474 492125
Web Site: www.alpenvereinshuetten.at/huette.php?huetteNr=1013  


Hut 4
Built in 1895, it is perfectly Südtirolean in that the hut currently belongs to the Italian Alpine Club but the hut's manager makes a point of telling you that it will be returned to the province of South Tyrol in 2010. This place is a family affair and gets hopping with traditional music and waltzing when the wine starts pouring.

Town: Rieserferner Hütte (9,160 feet [2,792 meters])
Price: Starting at $36 for half board
Number of Beds: 55
Contact: +011 39 0474 653 244
Web Site: www.chemnitzerhutte.com


Duner Heuschupfe
In the tiny village of Dun, you'll feel utterly alone here, which is good because you'll need the sleep after a big hike. The owner is incredibly nice and the food is even better … half board a la carte cannot be beat!

Town: Dunerstrasse 12, I-39030 Vandoies/Fundres 
Price: Starting at about $43 for half board 
Number of Beds: 10
Contact: info@duner-heuschupfe.com; +011 39 0472 549 246 
Web Site: www.duner-heuschupfe.com


Hut 5
One of the most atmospheric places we've stayed thus far along the Via Alpina, the owner says D.H. Lawrence shacked up here when writing "Women in Love". It's the last hut in South Tyrol before heading back into Austria and it sits on precipice between the two. Owned by the same family for five generations, expect excellent wine and extra good viddles at this hütte.

Town: Pfitscherjoch hütte
Price: $26/room without a bath; $30 with bath
Number of Beds: 30
Contact: +011 39 0472 630 119

Italy: Trail Dispatch  |  Mountain Club Tips  |  Where to Stay  |  Photo Slide Show

Via Alpina: Plan a trip >>

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