Hi!
This is my entry for the Expand the Winter Village contest.
Mountain shelter, usually located near the summit, is a place, where hikers and mountaineers can rest after the hike, have something to eat and drink or even sleep. General rule is that no shelter will refuse a guest to stay overnight, but if the beds are already taken he or she has to sleep on the floor.
Many European shelters are quite old wooden buildings, often with stone foundation. They provide few comforts, but they usually have a toilet and a shower (although hot water supply is very limited).
Shelters serve hot tea or coffee and basic foods like scrambled eggs or pork chop. While waiting for the meal, guests can dry their gloves or socks at the fire. Every shelter has a map of the area to help hikers plan their route.
Next time you'll be hiking in the mountains, make sure to visit a shelter to see if it's similar to my model. Have fun!