Cresta bivouac

The Cresta bivouac is a small, unattended SAC bivouac of the Saas section at 3025 m at the foot of the Latelhorn, around 200 meters above the Antrona Pass between Saastal and Valle Antrona. Politically, it belongs to the municipality of Saas-Almagell in the canton of Valais. It offers six simple sleeping places and has been part of the official SAC hut directory since 2018. The hut is open all year round, but is not serviced; there is no electricity or telephone, but the mobile network generally works well. Water has to be melted from the year-round snow, and there is a dry toilet below the hut. Inside, there are mattresses and blankets, a dining table and a simply equipped kitchen area with a gas stove and cooking and eating utensils; guests bring their own food. Starting points for the approach are Saas-Almagell or Furggstalden and Heidbodmen as well as the Mattmark dam. From Furggstalden, the normal route leads through Furggtäli to the bivouac in around 3.5 to 4 hours and around 1150 meters in altitude; from Heidbodmen it takes around 3 to 3.5 hours with around 850 meters in altitude, from Mattmark via Ofental and Jazzilücke around 4 to 5 hours and a good 1000 meters in altitude. The bivouac is an ideal base for crossing the Cresta di Saas as well as for ascents of the Latelhorn, Stellihorn, Sonnighorn and other peaks on the border ridge between Switzerland and Italy; in winter it is also used for ski tours to the Antrona Pass and the surrounding hollows. Before every tour, it is essential to check the current weather and avalanche situation, route closures and status reports. The Cresta bivouac was moved from the former Mischabeljoch bivouac to its current location in 1997 and rebuilt in many hours of work by the Saas section; it has been the 152nd official SAC hut since summer 2018.