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Long Distance Hiking recommended route

Ötztal Trek Route 5

Long Distance Hiking · Ötztal
Logo Ötztal
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Ötztal Verified partner  Explorers Choice 
  • Braunschweiger Hütte
    Braunschweiger Hütte
    Photo: Roland Grüner, Ötztal

ETAPPE 18 – 20

Braunschweiger Hütte (2.758 m) – Mainzer Höhenweg – Rüsselsheimer Hütte (2.328 m) – Luibisscharte (2.914 m) – Hauerseehütte (2.383 m) – Felderjöchl (2.797 m) – Frischmannhütte (2.192 m)

difficult
Distance 29.1 km
13:00 h
2,637 m
3,205 m
2,912 m
1,603 m

ACROSS GEIGENKAMM – MAINZER HÖHENWEG

STAGE 18 – 20

Braunschweiger Hütte (2758 m) – Mainzer Höhenweg – Rüsselsheimer Hütte (2328 m) – Luibisscharte (2914 m) – Hauerseehütte (2383 m) - Felderjöchl (2797 m) – Frischmannhütte (2192 m)

Changes in elevation: ascent 2600 meters / descent 3200 meters

Distance in kilometers: 27 km

Mainzer Höhenweg high-altitude trail ranks among the undisputed attractions when it comes to Alpine hiking. Geigenkamm Ridge promises quiet and authentic mountaineering. This route is quite demanding but offers very beautiful stages.

 

STAGE 18:

BRAUNSCHWEIGER HÜTTE (2758 m) –> MAINZER HÖHENWEG –> RÜSSELSHEIMER HÜTTE (2328 m)

Route: steep path, footpath

Requirements: surefootedness, good head for heights, good physical condition, stamina, high Alpine experience; black mountain trail, partly high Alpine route

Difficulties: extremely long tour, several glacier crossings (crevasses!), some sections are equipped with fixed ropes; stable weather conditions essential; guide recommended

Equipment: standard hiking equipment; rope, crampons and icepick depending on snow conditions

Walking time: approx. 10 hrs

Changes in elevation: ascent approx. 800 meters / descent 1200 meters

Highest point: 3252 m

Distance in kilometers: approx. 9 km

Lodging, refreshment stops: Braunschweiger Hütte, Rüsselsheimer Hütte

Access/exit points: from Rettenbach Glacier base terminal via Rettenbachjoch to Braunschweiger Hütte (ascent approx. 1.75 hrs / descent 1.5 hrs); from Plangeross (St. Leonhard im Pitztal) to Rüsselsheimer Hütte (ascent approx. 2 hrs / descent 1.5 hrs)

Ibex Goulash after a Strenuous Alpine Hike

The hike along Geigenkamm takes you across 3 three-thousand meter high peaks, all of which command magnificent views of the Alpine scenery. The hike starts with a short uphill section from Braunschweiger Hütte towards Pitztaler Jöchl. Follow the trail to your left down to Silbergrube. Now you climb up to a wide ridge along which the route travels for a while, climbing and descending frequently. The first splendid peaks along the way are Wurmsitzkogel (3079 m), Gschrappkogel (3197 m) and scenic Wassertalkogel (3252 m). On top of Wassertalkogel mountaineers find an orange bivouac which accommodates up to 12 people (accessible without key). From Wassertalkogel the trail descends through a glacier field. Soon after the first glacier field the trail crosses another one and a third one. After some easy scrambling the path continues to Weißmaurachjoch Ridge – once there you have mastered all the difficult parts of this tour. From here it’s an easy walk down to Rüsselsheimer Hütte after ten incredible hours.

 

STAGE 19:

RÜSSELSHEIMER HÜTTE (2328 m) –> KAPUZINERJÖCHL (2710 m) –> BREITLEHNJÖCHL (2637 m) –> SANDJÖCHL (2826 m) –> LUIBISSCHARTE (2914 m)–> HAUERSEEHÜTTE (2383 m)

Route: steep path, footpath

Requirements: surefootedness, good head for heights, good physical condition and stamina; black mountain trail, partly high Alpine route

Difficulties: strenuous ascent to Luibisscharte, Hauerferner glacier crossing (no crevasses); stable weather conditions essential

Equipment: standard hiking equipment, icepick and crampons depending on snow conditions

Walking time: approx. 7 hrs

Changes in elevation: ascent approx. 1200 meters / descent 1200 meters

Highest point: 2914 m

Distance in kilometers: approx. 10.5 km

Lodging, refreshment stops: Rüsselsheimer Hütte, Hauerseehütte

Access/exit points: from Plangeross (St. Leonhard im Pitztal) to Rüsselsheimer Hütte (ascent approx. 2 hrs / descent 1.5 hrs); from Unterried or Oberried (Längenfeld) to Hauerseehütte (ascent approx. 3.5 hrs / descent 2.5 hrs)

Saddles and Small Glaciers

Behind the refuge walk down in an eastern direction, make a left turn towards Gahwinden vista point. From Gahwinden the trail descends through scree fields to Rötkarle and then ascends to Kapuzinerjöchl. Beyond Kapuzinerjöchl the trail drops down through steep and rocky terrain - there are fixed cables to hold on to for safety - before leveling out and climbing leisurely towards Breitlehnjöchl. Then the trail first climbs, then descends, then climbs again towards Sandjöchl Col. The path falls steeply and flattens out a bit before climbing through a very steep scree and boulder field to Luibisscharte. Here the path descends to crevasse-free Hauerferner Glacier and crosses it in an eastern direction. The trail between the glacier and Hauerseehütte has been closed off due to a rockslide – a bypass trail follows the glacier in a north-eastern direction and descends to the right of a rocky knoll to Hauerseehütte. Please note: Hauerseehütte is a self-catering hut nestling in the north eastern foothill of Luibiskogel; during peak season a temporary hut tenant takes care of the refuge.

 

STAGE 20:

HAUERSEEHÜTTE (2383 m) –> FELDERJÖCHL (2797 m) –> FRISCHMANNHÜTTE (2192 m)

Route: steep path

Requirements: surefootedness, good head for heights; black mountain trail

Difficulties: none

Equipment: standard hiking equipment; enough food and drink (Hauerseehütte is not serviced)

Walking time: approx. 4 hrs

Changes in elevation: ascent approx. 600 meters / descent 800 meters

Highest point: 2797 m

Distance in kilometers: approx. 7.5 km

Lodging, refreshment stops: Hauerseehütte, Frischmannhütte

Access/exit points: from Unterried or Oberried (Längenfeld) to Hauerseehütte (ascent approx. 3.5 hrs / descent 2.5 hrs); from Umhausen to Frischmannhütte (ascent approx. 3.5 hrs / descent 2.5 hrs; alternatively by taxi from Umhausen to Hintere Fundusalm from where it’s a 30-minutes hike to Frischmannhütte); from Köfels (Umhausen) to Frischmannhütte (ascent approx. 2.5 hrs / descent 2 hrs)

Lake Hike on Mittlerer Geigenkamm

The first awe-inspiring mountain lake can be found right next to Hauerseehütte and also gave its name to the hut. Here the trail descends moderately past Lake Unterer Spitzigsee, then climbs gently in a north-western direction through picture-book Innerbergtal Valley and crosses the slopes above Felderkar. Then follows a more strenuous section: the trail switchbacks steeply up to Lake Weißer See below Felderjöchl (2800 m), the saddle you have to cross to get to Frischmannhütte. The footpath travels to the right of the lake and climbs in switchbacks through very steep and rocky terrain to Felderjöchl (fixed cables). From the saddle the trail drops steeply at the beginning and then levels out and continues through Fernerkar below Ploderferner Glacier. Later on the route descends quickly east of Griesköpfe Peaks and through high Alpine meadows and pasturelands in full bloom to Frischmannhütte.

Profile picture of Roland Grüner
Author
Roland Grüner 
Update: March 19, 2024
Difficulty
difficult
Stamina
Highest point
2,912 m
Lowest point
1,603 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Track types

Asphalt 11.57%Dirt road 6.17%Path 19.91%Road 2.10%Unknown 60.23%
Asphalt
3.4 km
Dirt road
1.8 km
Path
5.8 km
Road
0.6 km
Unknown
17.5 km
Show elevation profile

Safety information

Bei dieser Route ist Gletschererfahrung notwendig (ev. nur mit Bergführer)

Tips and hints

More details about hiking In Ötztal: https://www.oetztal.com/wandern 

Start

Braunschweiger Hut
Coordinates:
DD
46.935153, 10.909561
DMS
46°56'06.6"N 10°54'34.4"E
UTM
32T 645349 5199727
w3w 
///mildest.samosa.bailer

Destination

Frischmann Hut

Turn-by-turn directions

Etappe 18:

Drei Dreitausender werden hier auf dem Geigenkamm überschritten, die Tour gewährleistet Fernsicht in alle Himmelsrichtungen. Wir wandern von der Braunschweiger Hütte kurz aufwärts und folgen unterhalb des Pitztaler Jöchls links der Routenführung in die Silbergrube hinab. Die Route zieht zum Grat und läuft an- bzw. absteigend auf bzw. neben dem breiten Gratrücken. Der Wurmsitzkogel (3.079 m) und der Gschrappkogel (3.197 m) sind die ersten Dreitausender, die man während der Tour besteigt, es folgt der Wassertalkogel (3.252 m). Dort steht das orangefarbene, 12 Personen Platz bietende Rheinland-Pfalz-Biwak (ohne Schlüssel zugänglich). Vom Wassertalkogel geht es über ein Gletscherfeld hinab, dann wird ein weiteres Gletscherfeld gequert und nach einer letzten Gletscherfeldüberquerung wartet eine Kraxelei. Der Pfad führt zum Weißmaurachjoch und nachdem wir das Weißmaurachkar hinunter wandern erreichen wir nach rund 10 h die Rüsselsheimer Hütte.


Etappe 19:

Wir folgen zunächst hinter der Hütte dem Steig ein Stück nach Osten, zweigen nach links ab zum Aussichtspunkt Gahwinden. Von Gahwinden wandern wir durch Geröll hinab in das Rötkarle, durch das der Steig dann ansteigend verläuft – weiter zum Kapuzinerjöchl. Dort steigt man seilversichert in steilem Gelände hinunter. Wir wandern hinauf zum Breitlehnjöchl. Von dort leitet der Steig etwas empor – dann abwärts. Schließlich führt die Route hinauf zum Sandjöchl. Bei einer Steiggabelung beginnt eine äußerst mühsame Passage – es geht steil zur Luibisscharte. Bald betritt man den spaltenfreien Hauerferner. Es führt auch ein Steg rechter Hand vom Gletscherfeld hinunter! Er wird in seinem flachen oberen Teil Richtung Osten gequert. Wegen Felssturz ist der weitere Weg zwischen Gletscher und Hauerseehütte offiziell gesperrt, eine Ausweichroute führt im Verlauf des Gletschers nach Nordosten und im Anschluss an die Gletscherpassage rechts eines Felskopfs hinunter zur Hauerseehütte.


Etappe 20:

Das erste Berggewässer befindet sich bereits direkt am Ausgangspunkt und hat der kleinen Hauerseehütte den Namen gegeben. Wir gehen zunächst leicht abwärts und am Unteren Spitzigsee vorbei. Dann wird das hintere Innerbergtal absteigend in nordwestlicher Richtung durchwandert. Der Steig verläuft in den Hängen über dem Felderkar. Anschließend müssen wir uns etwas anstrengen: In Serpentinen zieht die Route nach oben zum Weißen See unterhalb des knapp 2.800 m hohen Felderjöchls, das die Barriere hinüber zur Frischmannhütte darstellt. Man geht rechts am See vorüber, dann windet sich der versicherte Steig bald in felsigen, sehr steilem Gelände und erneut in Serpentinen hinauf zum Felderjöchl. Jenseits steigt man zunächst recht steil hinunter, um in der Folge gemütlich das Fernerkar unterhalb des Ploderferners zu durchwandern. Später leitet die Route östlich unter den Griesköpfen meist zügig hinab. Die letzten Meter führen schließlich über Almböden hinaus zur Frischmannhütte.

Public transport

Enjoy a both comfortable and relaxing train ride to the train station in Ötztal Bahnhof. You get off the train in ÖTZTAL Bahnhof where you change to a public bus or local taxi. The current bus schedule can be found at: http://fahrplan.vvt.at

 

Directions

Sölden is located in the western part of Austria in the state TYROL, in a southern side valley of the Inn valley - the ÖTZTAL. For your arrival by car, you can plan the best route from your home town with the route planner online at https://www.google.at/maps

 

Parking

The following parking facilities are available in Sölden:
  • Parking lot
  • parking lot Stiegele
  • stair parking
  • Giggijochbahn + underground garage
  • Gaislachkoglbahn + underground garage
  • Parking Hochsölden
  • parking garage Hochsölden 1. parking lot
  • parking Zwieselstein
  • parking Zwieselstein / sports ground

All parking is free during the day.

 

Parking for several days (eg hike tour):

  • Postplatz, Parkticket available at the information Sölden Parkgarage Gaislachkoglbahn
  • Parkticket either online or directly at the cash desk of the Gaislachkoglbahn

Coordinates

DD
46.935153, 10.909561
DMS
46°56'06.6"N 10°54'34.4"E
UTM
32T 645349 5199727
w3w 
///mildest.samosa.bailer
Get there by train, car, bike, or on foot!

Equipment

It is recommended to wear hiking equipment such as breathable and weather-adapted outdoor clothing, ankle-high mountain boots, wind, rain and sun protection, cap and possibly gloves. It is also important to have enough food, as well as a first-aid package, a cell phone and a hiking map.

Similar routes nearby

  • Ötztal Trek Stage 18
  • European E5 long-distance hiking trail – King's Segment – Braunschweiger Hut to Vent (alternative route)
  • European E5 long-distance hiking trail – King’s Segment – Braunschweiger Hut to Zwieselstein (original route)
  • Ötztal Trek Stage 19
  • Ötztaler Urweg E8 Gaislach - Granstein
 These suggestions were generated by our system
Difficulty
difficult
Distance
29.1 km
Duration
13:00 h
Ascent
2,637 m
Descent
3,205 m
Highest point
2,912 m
Lowest point
1,603 m

Statistics

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