The hut was at about 20% capacity when we stayed there (it can hold up to 170). Maybe twenty people there were either planning an ascent or just finishing their descent of the Matterhorn. They ring a loud bell at 3:30 am to wake up the climbers and before we ate breakfast around 8, we could see with binoculars some of the climbers near the summit (the round trip can take up to 12 hours). The hut is one of the most basic as all supplies have to be flown in via helicoptor and there was no running water.