Stage 2

Dortmunder Hütte (1949 m) - Schweinfurter Hütte (2028 m)

Information:
Route:	steep path, footpath
Requirements:	surefootedness, good head for heights; red mountain trail
Difficulties:	none
Equipment:	standard hiking equipment
Walking time:	approx. 4 hrs.
Changes in elevation:	approx. 850 meters climbing, approx. 800 meters descending
Highest point:	2777 m
Distance:	approx. 10 km
Lodging, refreshment stops:	Dortmunder Hütte, Schweinfurter-Hütte
Access/Exit points:	public bus from Ötz to Kühtai; from Niederthai (Umhausen) to Schweinfurter Hütte (approx. 2 hrs. up, approx. 1 ½ hrs. down)

Like a Sea in the Alps

From Dortmunder Hütte at the entrance to Kühtai you follow the signs to “Finstertaler Scharte” and/or “Schweinfurter Hütte”. At first the route travels almost flat through beautiful pasturelands, later it climbs through the meadows east of the access road to Finstertaler Reservoir of which you can see the mighty, 149 meter tall dam. After a short but steep stretch you continue along the access road to the crest of the dam. Follow the footpath along the eastern shore of the reservoir which has a capacity of 60 million cubic meters. At the southern end of the reservoir the trail climbs steeply towards Finstertaler Scharte. The 2777-meter high mountain pass affords spectacular views of the surrounding peaks including Ötztaler Wildspitze, Tirol’s highest mountain, and Mieminger Chain. From the top of the pass the trail weaves down through meadows and pasturelands and then switchbacks down to Schweinfurter Hütte. The large refuge is beautifully nestled in the meeting point of Horlachtal and Zwieselbachtal valleys.