Gocce di Montagna - Mountain Drops

Those who love the mountains do not waste their water

Gocce di Montagna (Mountain drops) is a project conceived by AKU and the Alpine Guides of San Martino di Castrozza to inform all hikers about the use of water, this is a primary resource in Alpine refuges and high mountains. AKU has always been active in actions aimed at greater environmental awareness by promoting a sustainable approach to outdoor activities such as hiking, climbing, ski mountaineering, canyoning.
In particular, the mountains speak to us about two urgent current issues: climate change and overtourism.

A balance between people and the natural environment

The mountain is a special place because it is more sensitive to changes: it is a sentinel of what will happen in the plains. The effects of climate change are more evident: extreme weather events, the retreat of glaciers and the increasingly serious lack of snow with consequences on the availability of water in the valleys below.

Responsible use of water in the mountains is essential and teaches us how to use it even when we return home. If this is a precious resource in the cities and in the valley, it is even more so in the mountains, where its presence and use by Alpine refuges is tied to the presence of a source and the possibility of constant accumulation in the cisterns.

Those who frequent refuges must be aware of these issues, so as to consciously use the refuges' primary resource, water, and thus also contribute to the protection of natural environments.

What can I do to help the manager not to waste water?

1. limit the use of water to primary needs (avoid wasting it on washing clothes, boots, etc.);

2. consider the impossibility of washing yourself as if you were at home;

3. accept the limited availability of the menu, with dishes proposed by the manager also on the basis of water resources;

4. limit the use of plates and dishes (drink the second beer in the glass of the first!).

Have you ever wondered where the water in the shelter comes from?

It comes from a spring, from a glacier, from rain or from dripping water.
How much water does an average mountain refuge consume?

75 litres for the refuge staff;
40 litres for a hiker on half board;
15 litres for a hiker at lunch;
8 litres for service use only.
How much water can I use when I arrive at the refuge?

The refuge manager uses water for cooking, washing pots and pans, for showers and bathrooms, for cleaning the refuge, for personal use and that of his collaborators. He must use water rationedly based on weather and environmental conditions.
Ask the manager how much water you can use!

Pradidali Refuge, 2278 m, Tonadico TN
Velo della Madonna Refuge, 2358 m, San Martino di Castrozza TN
Rosetta Refuge, 2581 m, San Martino di Castrozza TN

Hello, I'm Mariano, manager of the Rosetta Refuge.

This year the snow that arrived in late spring allowed us to have a good availability of water, but in the future it will not always be like this. We get the water from a small snowfield, when that runs out we have to bring it by helicopter. For this reason it is important to take care of water in the mountains, the primary resource of our refuges.
This is precisely why we have joined the "Gocce di montagna" project, created by AKU and the AQUILE DI SAN MARTINO DI CASTROZZA alpine guides, which aims to inform those who arrive at the refuge about the conscious use of water resources.
Hi, we are Elisa and Piero, managers of the Rifugio Velo della Madonna.

A few weeks ago we started pumping water from below, here at altitude it is now exhausted. It is good to know that we managers must use water in a rationed way based on weather and environmental conditions.
We joined the "Gocce di Montagna" project because water is a primary resource and it is precisely in the refuge that we realize how important it is. Here we can learn good practices to bring down to the valley.
Hi, I'm Duilio, manager of the Rifugio Pradidali.

For 30 years I have been going up to the refuge every spring and in recent years I have seen the climate situation change a lot. For our supplies we depend first of all on the Fradusta Glacier which however is continuously decreasing. This year the water situation here is better than in previous years: we have gained an extra week of independence ( Duilio laughs ironically ).
We too have joined the "Gocce di Montagna" project, created by AKU and the AQUILE DI SAN MARTINO DI CASTROZZA alpine guides.

Alpine Guides Booklet

The Aquile di San Martino Alpine Guides , a historic group of Trentino Alpine Guides, deal daily with the effects of global warming and tourist pressure. To inform and sensitize mountaineers and hikers to the conscious use of water in the mountains, each guide will give their clients the Libretto di guida alpine - Alpine Guide Booklet, a handy manual containing information on good practices for the use of water in refuges.

The Alpine Guide Booklet was, at the time of the first ascents by mountain tourists in the Alps, the instrument that certified the preparation and competence of the guide. Today AKU and the Aquile have revisited the old Libretto by creating a vademecum where, in addition to good practices in the mountains, there are also historical notes on the Aquile, the current staff of guides and some blank pages on which guides and clients can write down their thoughts as a memento of the excursion .

DOWNLOAD THE BOOKLET

Mountains, with their ecosystems balanced on the void, are one of the most sensitive and fragile places on Earth.

Photo by Roberto de Pellegrin