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.
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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.
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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!
The word to the refugee workers
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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.