The Spitzmeilenhütte stands at 2087 meters above sea level in St. Gallen, Switzerland, about 70 km from Zurich as the crow flies. It’s a bit better equipped than many other mountain huts but still offers the experience of staying in ascetic setting surrounded by mountains.

We booked our stay there already in the spring for our family (me, my husband, and our two sons). It took us about four hours to get there from home: first 1.5 hours by train (Zurich – Unterterzen) and two gondolas, and then another 2 hours walking 7 km with a stop to eat some lunch.

The route through the mountains was gorgeous, with expansive views, green hills, rocks, and water streams. We also saw and heard some marmots while walking.

There would have been restaurants at the beginning of the trek, but these places often serve overpriced food so we had our homemade food instead. That way, we saved time and could freely choose the lunch scenery.

When we arrived to the lodge, we were given a room that we shared with two other people (who were fortunately polite and quiet). In this type of mountain hut, you can reserve a bed but not a specific room. You’ll get whatever is available upon arrival. We had our own beds but in many other mountain huts, there’s one large sleeping platform to share.

You need and want to bring your own travel sleeping sheet and use it with the provided pillow and blanket. Due to the lack of electricity and hot water, the bed linen can be washed only 2-3 times a year.

This place even had running water and electricity, provided by their own spring. You could take a cold shower for free and a warm one for 5 francs for two minutes.

Food and waste are transported via a small cable car (see the photos above). I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to travel in it!

We enjoyed drinks and carrot cake on the outdoor terrace. There were cute rabbits and chickens in the yard. Some people went for a quick swim in the nearby stream.

Later, crouton soup, spaghetti, and caramel pudding were served in the lodge room, where people stayed playing cards and word games until 10 pm, when quiet hours began. We tried to go outside to see the beautiful starry sky, but the wind was too strong, so we had to return indoors.

Did I have a good night’s sleep in the travel cocoon sheet, with restless feet, at a higher altitude, with the wind howling outside and strangers sleeping in the same room?

Well, that’s another story, but at least I had a new overnight experience and stunning scenery to wake up the next morning, eat some breakfast and continue the journey…

*The Spitzmeilenhütte is run by the Swiss Alpine Club. The first wooden mountain hut was built on the site in 1903, the current structure was made in 2007. Overnight stay with dinner and breakfast for our whole family of two adults and two kids was 289 Swiss francs (about 307 euros) .

Photos and Text: Helena J. / Abroadland