AKU and Rifugi d’Italia are joining forces to raise awareness of the value of water in the mountains and the connection between mountain huts and local communities.
Anyone who runs a mountain hut knows what it means to depend on water. They know where it comes from, monitor its availability and learn how to preserve it. It is knowledge rooted in direct experience and built over time.
This shared awareness is at the heart of the collaboration between AKU and Rifugi d’Italia: shining a light on a vital resource in the mountains – and beyond – through the stories of those who manage it every day. At the same time, the project highlights mountain huts as places deeply connected to their surroundings and local communities: true hubs for gathering, stewardship and human connection.
About Rifugi d’Italia
Rifugi d’Italia is an organisation dedicated to mountain huts and Italy’s high-altitude regions. Its aim is to promote a mountain culture based on a slower, more respectful and responsible way of experiencing the outdoors, placing mountain huts at the heart of this approach as places where people can meet and discover the surrounding area.
This philosophy closely reflects AKU’s long-standing commitment to acting responsibly towards the environment and the places we explore – a commitment built on concrete actions and collaborations with those who share the same vision.
In the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park
This shared vision led to the creation of a video featuring two of the many mountain huts in the Rifugi d’Italia network. Two examples of how managing water is an everyday challenge.
Rifugio Dal Piaz is located in the Vette Feltrine, near Busa delle Vette. Established thanks to the efforts of the Feltre section of the Italian Alpine Club (CAI) and situated along Alta Via 2 of the Dolomites, it has been a landmark for decades for those exploring and crossing this area. Here, the karst terrain causes water to drain deep underground, making it difficult to retain on the surface. Over time, available water sources have become increasingly scarce. The hut managers allocate water according to its intended use and monitor supplies day by day, helping guests understand the importance of a resource that is far from unlimited.
Rifugio Settimo Alpini stands at the foot of the Schiara, between two branches of the Ardo stream. Opened in 1951, it is one of the main mountaineering bases in the Schiara group and a key reference point for those exploring the trails, via ferratas and climbing routes of this part of the Dolomiti Bellunesi.
The trail leading to the hut follows the course of the water: here, water is clearly visible and an integral part of the landscape. But even when water is all around, it remains a resource that must be used carefully. This is why hot showers are available “as long as there’s enough water”. The hut managers welcome hikers and mountaineers heading for the via ferratas and climbing routes, assess the experience and preparation of those who arrive, offer advice and stay in contact with other huts in the area. Their role goes far beyond hospitality, making the hut part of a wider network built on the land, relationships and shared responsibility.
AKU’s commitment
For AKU, collaborating with Rifugi d’Italia means bringing the issue of water and its importance directly to the places where outdoor experiences begin, while also highlighting the role of mountain huts as guardians of mountain culture and points of connection between people, places and communities.
This initiative complements Gocce di Montagna, the project developed in the Dolomites together with the Aquile di San Martino di Castrozza Alpine Guides.
Two initiatives with a shared direction: to show the mountains as they really are – an environment where every resource matters. A lesson learned at altitude that can stay with us even when we return to the valley.
Watch the full video on our YouTube channel.
