The Capanna Alpinisti Monzesi, called Capanna Monza, is a hut at about 1,170 metres on the south side of the Resegone, on the west side of the Val Negra gully and just below the Passo del Fò, in the territory of Lecco (Sambuco locality, Erve valley). It is recognisable by its white and red colours.
History
It was built on the initiative of the Società Alpinisti Monzesi: work began in 1909 and the hut was inaugurated on 18 June 1911, with a kitchen and dining room on the ground floor and seven small bedrooms on the first (Wikipedia). In the autumn of 1944 it was burned and after the war it was rebuilt; according to Wikipedia the rebuilding dates from 1946, and in 1960 the hut was enlarged. Today it stands at 1,173 metres on the Anello del Resegone, a circular route, and CAI Bergamo lists it as a privately owned hut, while other sources attribute it to CAI Monza: we have not verified this.
What to see
The hut is a viewpoint over the lakes below and the starting point for climbing the Resegone along the Val Negra gully (path 11) and for reaching the Magnodeno (path 24). The Region’s portal gives 42 beds, 45 seats indoors and 80 outdoors; among the services, opening on request, pets allowed, GSM coverage, 220 V power and an ATM.
Getting there
From Erve (559 m), above Calolziocorte, path 11 starts at the entrance to the village, with a roundabout, benches and signs. You cross the stone bridge over the Galaveso and climb through Pian Munik and the locality of Gnett (663 m), where there is a fork: the Prà di Ratt variant, steeper and more direct (about 1 hour 10), or the one by the San Carlo spring, longer and easier (about 1 hour 30), where the Erve pools are. A sign says whether the hut is open. In all you need about 2 hours, with 600 metres of ascent according to the portal. From Lecco you start from the Versasio cable car car park (610 m) and pass the Costa barns and the Stoppani hut: about 2 hours and 710 metres of climbing, hiking difficulty (Trekking Lecco); from Malnago the portal gives 2 hours 30 and 700 metres, and from Brumano 1 hour and 400 metres. Times, difficulty and trail conditions change with the season and should be checked before setting out (CAI, hut manager, weather forecast).
Practical information
- Height: 1,170 metres according to the portal and the Region, 1,173 according to CAI Bergamo. Opening: at weekends and, according to one site, every day from mid-June to mid-September; it is best to phone.
- Contacts according to CAI Bergamo and the portal: phone +39 334 2903354, email rifugiomonza@gmail.com, site capannamonza.it.
Sources
- CAI Bergamo, Capanna Alpinisti Monzesi
- GAM, Capanna Alpinisti Monzesi da Erve and DoveMontagna, Erve - Capanna Monza - Resegone
- Trekking Lecco, Capanna Alpinisti Monzesi: sentiero da Lecco (2022) and Patato Friendly, Capanna Monza da Erve
- Rifugi di Lombardia portal of the Region; Wikipedia, Capanna Alpinisti Monzesi entry.