Mischabeljochbiwak SAC
0.8
3,847m
Valle d'Aosta, Italy
About
Mischabeljochbiwak SAC sits at 3,847m on the Mischaeljoch pass, between Monte Rosa and the Liskamm group in Valle d'Aosta. Reach it from Staffal in the Gressoney valley: walk 4–5 hours via the Margherita Hut trail and the Passo del Lys to gain the pass. This is high, exposed terrain with sections of scrambling and fixed rope. Most climbers use the biwak as a staging point for traverses and ascents of 4,000m peaks in the Monte Rosa massif, particularly Castor and Pollux.
The biwak is a small emergency shelter with basic capacity—expect tight conditions. There's no water supply at the hut; melt snow or carry what you need. No meals are served. Toilet facilities are minimal. The shelter opens summer only, typically late June through September, weather dependent. Altitude sickness is real at this elevation; most climbers arrive acclimatized after days at lower huts.
Book through the SAC (Swiss Alpine Club) well ahead if you plan to sleep here in July or August. Contact details and reservations are available through the SAC website. Bring your own sleeping bag and insulate from the metal floor. This is mountaineering terrain, not a hiking hut—expect extreme cold, exposed weather, and serious scrambling. Go with experience and proper gear.
The biwak is a small emergency shelter with basic capacity—expect tight conditions. There's no water supply at the hut; melt snow or carry what you need. No meals are served. Toilet facilities are minimal. The shelter opens summer only, typically late June through September, weather dependent. Altitude sickness is real at this elevation; most climbers arrive acclimatized after days at lower huts.
Book through the SAC (Swiss Alpine Club) well ahead if you plan to sleep here in July or August. Contact details and reservations are available through the SAC website. Bring your own sleeping bag and insulate from the metal floor. This is mountaineering terrain, not a hiking hut—expect extreme cold, exposed weather, and serious scrambling. Go with experience and proper gear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Book at least 2–3 weeks ahead during summer season through the SAC (Swiss Alpine Club) website or rifugi.net, as this is a small alpine biwak with limited capacity and high demand from climbers doing Monte Rosa traverses.
Open June through September, typically unstaffed (self-service biwak), so check current status with SAC before your trip as conditions at 3,847m can force closure or limited access.
Start from Staffal in the Gressoney valley and allow 4–5 hours to reach the biwak via the Margherita Hut trail and Passo del Lys; expect exposed scrambling and fixed-rope sections—this is serious alpine terrain, not a casual hike.
Being a small, high-altitude biwak, expect basic shelter only—likely a metal hut with sleeping platforms and minimal amenities; bring your own sleeping bag, food, and water, and assume no meals or showers available.
No—this is strictly for experienced mountaineers comfortable with exposed scrambling, fixed ropes, and high altitude; use it as a staging point for 4,000m peaks like Castor and Pollux, not as an introductory alpine experience.
Quick Facts
- Managing club
- SAC
- Season
- –
- Total
- Dormitory
- Emergency
- Private rooms
Facilities
Contact & Booking
- Phone
- Website
- http://www.sac-saas.ch/hutten.html