This weekend we decided to answer to the call for helpers at Albert-Heim-Huette. In the last minute we have managed to gather along two more volunteers for the trip. Hardly did they knew what they were getting themselves into, but you will find out more on this you later in the story.

For us the day started early we woke up as 5.00 as we needed to be up at AHH till 10 when the action was planned to start. But no so early as it did for our friends from Germany who had to wake up one hour and a half earlier to get in time for Zurich.

We were all ready to go at 5.45, all wondering what will we be doing and how will it be up there. Just the day before the Furkapass was closed till mid day due to heavy snow and the webcam was showing a winter scenery.

The plan was to leave our car in the parking just near to Hotel Tiefenbach and from there on there was just a 1.5 .. 2h hike. When we parked we have met Robert and a couple of other helpers that knew a more direct way to the hut which avoided most of the snow.

View from the track start

With Robert leading the pack we managed to reach the hut in just an hour and a bit. The hike is not very demanding and has just 400 meters gain in altitude. Of course if you want to make it in a real day hike you can come with the train and start the hike from Riedalp, in which case it will take you close to 3-4 hours and will have a bit more to hike. Since we had to be up at 10 for the action start, we decided to take the shorter way to be able to contribute more and return at a later time for the entire hike.

While at the start the scenery looked more like spring was settling in, with each extra meter winter was gaining ground. The view is great for panoramic photos and impressive views to the mountain peaks.

The helpers crew

If at the beginning all was spring and green, half way through our ascent winter was strongly present and in some points were were falling knee deep in the snow. We were still good on time so we were not hurrying and I managed to snap some photos with the phone while the rest of the team was pulling ahead.

Mid way through our ascent

After an hour and a bit we could already see the Albert-Heim Hütte from a distance. The hut is built up on a special rock type that Albert Heim picked up himself. We were greeted by Roman the Hüttenwart who gave us some warm tea and coffee before stating the work.
Armed with shovels and full of joy we have started digging snow to carve out a path for the next hikers, but also to allow Ronald to bring the food to the hut easier. It took a while at the start to figure out the best strategy but once we got the grips we were effective in building up the trenches.

Carving a path through the snow

It was amazing how fast the time flied and lunch time was there, Roman had to pull us out of the work to take a break and get something to eat. It was also starting to drizzle and getting colder by the minute, which made our decision easier. Roman is a great cook and we found out that at AHH you can register for a gourmet dinner (just check their website).

Over the two days we have spent there we managed to get to know a bit each other. This is how we learned that our football player Moldovan is well known in Switzerland as famous painter you can find more details here.

Little wonders down the path

By the end of the two days we managed to almost finish the entire path, it just needed to be a bit more enlarged, but Roman mentioned that with the sun shining it should happen by itself in the next weeks. We also got a group of hikers to test run the new path as well as ourselves on the way back to the car.
The road down was very interesting and full of great landscapes and waterfalls. We definetly need to come back there at a later time on a day with blue skies just to do justice to this place.
All in all I definitely recommend making a hike to AHH, it is a great place with wonderful people and great scenery on the way. It only takes an hour and a half to hike from Tiefenbach and three to four from Riedalp. You can also try to combine it with other hikes in the area and make it a multi day hike if you want.