Ötztal Alps - Ötztaler Alpen

The Ötztal Alps are part of the Central Alps and are located in both Austrian federal state Tyrol as well as in the Italian province South-Tirol. The highest peak of the mountain is the Wildspitze with 3772 m, it is also the second highest mountain in Austria.

Ötztal Alps from the east, the Ötztal below the center of the picture, Wildspitze a little to the left of the center of the picture

Regions

Mountain valleys

The main populated Valleys in the interior of the mountains of the Ötztal Alps are (starting clockwise from the west):

  • The good 12 km long Langtauferertal with east-west orientation and confluence in Graun in the upper Vinschgau / Reschensee. It is considered to be one of the most pristine valleys in the Alps and the most westerly of the valley communities in the Ötztal Alps.
  • Kaunertal in the north-west, with Kaunertal Glacier, Gepatsch reservoir, south-north orientation with a length of around 30 km and confluence with Prutz in the Upper Inn Valley.
  • Pitztal with Pitztal Glacier in the northern part of the mountain, south-north orientation, 40 km in length and mouth at Imst in the Upper Inn Valley.
Venter valley basin: at the back left Venter valley
  • The Vent valley in the south-east, with an orientation from south to north-east and confluence with the upper Ötztal;
  • The Gurgltal in the southeast with orientation from south to northeast and confluence with the upper Ötztal.
  • The populated valleys in South Tyrol and oriented from north to south are that Schnalstal, Pfossental (a side valley of Schnalstal) and the Pfeldertal.

Subgroups

The deeply cut mountain valleys result in a comparatively clear subdivision of the mountains; according to the Alpine Club division, the Ötztal Alps can be divided into nine subgroups:

The Subgroups in the middle of the mountains are:

  • The White comb is the part between White ball (3.739 m) and the Wildspitze With the three highest peaks, most huts, the largest glacier and three summer ski areas, the Weißkamm is the center of the flow of visitors.
  • Main ridge (Similaun and Hochwilde), is divided into the Schnalskamm from the Weißkugel to the Hohe Wilde and into the Gurglerkamm further to the Timmelsjoch in the east, overall the central area south of the Weißkamm.

The Subgroups on the edge of the mountain starting from the west and moving clockwise.

  • Nauderer Mountains (Mittlerer Seekarkopf 3,063 m): the rather small region in the very west of the Ötztal Alps and between Langtauferer Tal, Nauders and Radurschtal is also rather inconspicuous, the mountain formations are overall rather gentle and sometimes even classified as "grass mountains".

From the center of the Ötztal Alps, three distinctive mountain ridges stretch north:

  • Bell tower crest (Bell tower 3,353 m): the approx. 20 km long section is between the Oberinn and the Kaunertal on the northwestern edge of the Ötztal Alps, one of the lonelier regions in the Ötztal Alps due to the lack of huts and paths.
  • The Kaunergrat (Watzespitze 3,532 m) is the striking mountain ridge between the Kaunertal and Pitztal, characteristics of the mountain part located in the northern part of the Ötztal mountains are the extremely rugged rock peaks with deeply cut gullies and sharp ridge edges.
  • Violin comb (Hohe Geige, 3,393 m): the 27 km long mountain range from the Inn from the north is the north-eastern edge of the mountains between the Pitztal and Ötztal.

The subgroups in the South Tyrolean region:

  • Texel group (Texelspitze 3,318 m), only connected to the rest of the mountains via the Eisjöchl (2,895 m) and therefore variously classified as an independent mountain range with twelve three-thousand-meter peaks. The mountains above Merano and Tirolo in the southeast of the Ötztal Alps are bordered by the Etschtal, Schnalstal and Pfelderer valleys, the Texel Group Nature Park with 33,430 hectares is the largest in South Tyrol.
  • Salurnerkamm (Salurnspitze 3,433 m) and Planeiler mountains are the region in the southwest of the Ötztal Alps above the Vinschgau and consist of four individual ridges.

places

In the interior of the mountains

Vent
  • Vent (1890 m), mountain village at the end of the Vent Valley.
  • Obergurgl (1,930 m), winter sports and summer freshness at the upper end of the Ötztal valley.
  • Pfelders the only place in the Pfelder Valley, a side valley of the "Hinteren Passeiertal".

In the peripheral valleys

in the Upper Inn Valley (North Tyrol):

  • Serfaus (1429 m), winter sports above the Upper Inn Valley.
  • Landeck (Tyrol) (816 m), the district capital of the district of the same name;
  • Prutz, Hamlet at the mouth of the Kaunertal
Imst
  • Imst, (827 m) district capital of the district of the same name and end point of the Fernpass route;
  • Silz (Tyrol), with the municipality and winter sports resort Kühtai, the highest in Austria;

in the Ötztal (North Tyrol):

  • Oetz (812 m), eponymous municipality for the whole mountain range and in the valley entrance of the Ötztal.
  • Längenfeld (1,179 m), largest municipality in terms of inhabitants in the Ötztal, tourism in summer and winter.
  • Soelden (1,368 m), international winter sports center.

in the Vinschgau (South-Tirol):

Reschensee
  • Reschen am See (Resia), (1500 m) - tourist community on the Reschenpass and Reschensee;
Tschars
  • Naturno (Naturno) - 315 days of sunshine a year, nowhere in the Eastern Alps does it rain so seldom

in the Passeier (South-Tirol):

  • Glurns (Glorenza), smallest town in the southern Alps
Meran

in the Merano basin (South-Tirol):

Other goals

in North Tyrol:

  • Ötztal Nature Park: it includes all protected areas in the Ötztal and extends from the valley floor of the Ötztal to the high alpine and glaciated areas, the highest point is the Ötztaler Wildspitze at 3,774 m. With an area of ​​510 km² it is the second largest nature park in Tyrol.
  • Kaunergrat Nature Park: The nature park was founded in 1998 and has a size of 58,920 hectares. It extends over all altitudes and climates in the Alps and includes unique and diverse natural and cultural landscapes. The nature park wants to be one of the leading model regions for a sustainable coexistence of nature (protection) and tourism. The nature park house at Gachenblick is located on the Piller Sattel in Fließ in the upper Inn Valley.
  • Gurgler Kamm Biosphere Reserve: the protected area designated in 1977 covers 1500 hectares in an area from 1900 to 3400 meters. It includes the most important valleys and peaks on the main ridge of the Ötztal Alps and extends from the Königstal in the north to the Rotmoostal in the south.

In South-Tirol:

  • Texel Group Nature Park: It was opened in September 1976 and, with an area of ​​33,430 hectares, is the largest of the seven nature parks in South Tyrol. The area ranges from Schnalstal and Passeier Valley to the main Alpine ridge, it includes the Texel group as a subgroup of the Ötztal Alps and also parts of the Stubai Alps.

background

The Ötztal Alps are one of the largest mountain groups in the Eastern Alps, because of their height they are strong glaciated.

Circumscribed will they through the Upper Inn Valley of the Lechtal Alps and the Mieming chain in the north, through that Ötztal of the Stubai Alps in the east, through that Passeier Valley to the Sarntal Alps and through that Schnalstal to the Ortler Alps in the south and in the west by the Sesvenna group and through that Paznaun to the Samnaun group.

getting there

The journey from the north The easiest way is via the Inntal motorway (toll) and that Upper Inn Valley, with a branch into the Ötztal on the east side of the mountains, into the Pitztal near Imst, into the Kaunertal near Prutz, or via Reschen to the western edge of the region.

  • Access via the is also toll-free from Germany Fernpass route to Imst and along the "Tiroler Straße" in the Oberinntal (B171, Landstraße !!) possible.

The journey from the south is done via the Etschtal and Meran.

Only railway line in North Tyrol is the im Upper Inn Valley, in South-Tirol perverts the Vinschger train (Vinschgau).

mobility

Timmelsjoch
Turns on the Timmelsjoch

A direct crossing of the mountains on roads is not possible.

There are no railway lines through the mountains.

Subject to toll are Timmesljoch (car: 13.- €) and the Kaunertaler Gletscherstraße (car: 22.- €)

Mountain passes

The Timmelsjoch is the highest passable alpine pass in Austria and lies at the end of the Ötztal. The border between Austria and Italy runs at the Timmelsjoch. Like all alpine passes that cross the border, the Timmelsjoch is also subject to a toll, but it is certainly the most beautiful way to get from Austria to Italy.

The road winds up through mountains up to 2500 m. On the Italian side, it nestles close to the rock and offers numerous tunnel passages and spectacular views. Due to the extreme altitude, it is only open during the summer months and can only be used during the day between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. The road is closed to trucks and buses over 8t and is closed in winter anyway.

Tourist Attractions

Summit goals

The entire mountain range of the Ötztal Alps has around 250 three-thousand-meter peaks, 60 of them are over 3,400 meters high, including the Wildspitze, the second highest mountain in Austria.

A selection of peaks, sorted by height:

Wildspitze

The new summit cross from 2010

At 3,772 m, the Wildspitze is the highest peak in the Ötztal Alps, the highest mountain North Tyrol and behind the Grossglockner (3,798 m) second highest mountain in Austria.

Wildspitze, summit structure seen from the west

The Wildspitze (46 ° 53 ′ 7 ″ N.10 ° 52 ′ 2 ″ E) has a double peak, which is easily recognizable from a distance, consisting of a south and north summit. In the past, the north summit with its firn cap and at four meters surcharge was the higher of the two, today the rocky south summit with the summit cross is the summit.

The First ascent succeeded in 1848 Venter Leander Klotz, a guide with a local companion, to the north summit, which was still higher at the time. In 1861, Klotz climbed the northern summit alone, Klotz was an ancestor of the current residents of the Rofenhöfe. In 1902 the first ascent took place on skis.

Today's Summit cross was set up in August 2010 by the Venter mountain guides: it is four meters high, was made by the blacksmith Peter Praxamer from Umhausen, weighs 420 kilograms and was flown to the summit by helicopter. The old cross, still in individual parts dragged up the mountain in 1933, was dismantled after 77 years of service and set up in Vent and on the hiking trail to Rofen.

Wildspitze
South summit with south ridge

Climbs: The Wildspitze can be climbed very easily from the Ötztal and from the Pitztal (Taschachhaus). All routes lead over glaciers, appropriate equipment is required. Surefootedness and a head for heights are required on the summit ridge, short climbing section (II) over blocks.

  • The fastest ascent takes place in winter as a ski tour from the Pitztal glacier ski area and from the Mitterbergjoch drag lift (3,182m): the ascent of almost 800 meters leads over the Taschachferner with a good four kilometers and in about 2-2.5 hours to the summit without great physical requirements. The day tour is extremely popular, it attracts with the descent over the grandiose Taschachferner to the valley station Pitzexpress, St. Leonhard at 1,730m.
  • The increase over that is longer Vernagthütte (2,755 m) in the southwest as an "honest" ascent from the valley and in four to five hours from the hut over the Vernagtferner and the upper part of the Taschachferner to the summit as a two-day tour.
  • Analogous to the ascent from the valley over the Wroclaw Hut (2,840 m) in the southeast of the Wildspitze and in 3.5 hours to the summit, that is also the usual normal route in summer.

White ball

Weißkugel on the right, seen from the summit of the Hochvernagtspitze

At 3,739 meters, it is the second highest peak in the Ötztal Alps.

The first ascent is somewhat unclear, the first attempts were made by unknown Austrian surveying officers around 1850. However, the first ascent was not made until September 30, 1861 by J.A. Specht with J. Raffeiner and one of the Klotz brothers, probably Leander.

Back blackness

(3,628 m)

Similaun

Summit cross

The Similaun (3,606 m, 46 ° 45 '49 "N.10 ° 52 ′ 51 ″ E) is listed as the fifth highest independent summit in the Ötztal Alps, the exact height is still "disputed": the Austrian land surveying office states 3,599 m, the map services and the Alpine Association map 3,606 m.

The border between North and South Tyrol runs over the summit, one of the names is derived from “sam alu ana”, which means something like the mountain of the white goddess Ana. The first ascent took place in 1834 by Theodor Kaserer and Josef Raffeiner.

classic view of the Similaun from the west

The mountain shows itself as a high rock and ice head, its 400 meter high and elegantly steep north face is striking. This north face has long been a parade destination for ambitious ice climbers, but in recent years it has become a victim of global warming: the white of the ice has given way to the gray of the rocks as global warming progresses; it can no longer be climbed because of the risk of falling rocks.

The Similaun became world-famous for the nearby site of the glacier mummy Ötzi on September 19, 1991 and on Tissenjoch. For the region around the mountain, there have also been initial concepts and ideas for a possible cross-border biosphere reserve in the Ötztal Alps (UNESCO Biosphere Similaun) since 2011.

Because of its absolute height and because of its not too heavy Approaches the Similaun is a popular destination for mountaineers in summer and winter. The ascent is possible in two route variants, both of which lead in the upper part over the Niederjochferner, which has been pretty bored in summer, and in the final part together over the west ridge to the summit.

View from the north: on the right the Marzellkamm, half-left the Similaunipfel in clouds, underneath the Marzellferner
  • Of the Similaunhütte (3,019 m, on the Niederjoch high mountain pass) the fastest and easier ascent is visible from the west in parts to the summit: the route leads from the hut first over loose rock along the edge of a moraine ridge (unstable, rockfall possible) and then alternately on the Niedertalferner to the saddle in front of the summit ridge. The short summit ridge as a rock ridge is not too long and a bit exposed, it leads to the summit with great views in about 15 minutes. Approx. 580 mH in about 2 hours of walking.
  • The approach from the north and from the is a little more demanding and significantly longer Martin-Busch Hut (2,501 m), it leads as a mountain path over the entire length of the Marzellkamm (3,149 m, 46 ° 46 '52 "N.10 ° 52 ′ 19 ″ E) to the eastern arm of the Niedertalferner, then over the glacier to the saddle in front of the summit ridge and from there on to the summit as before. Difference in altitude approx. 1100 mH, total walking time four hours and more.
  • In late winter, the Similaun is also a popular destination on skis, the ascent and descent then takes place via the Niederjochferner.

The Niederjochferner is not too steep, but it has crevices: glacier equipment and rope are required.

Hochvernagtspitze

Summit ridge of the Hochvernagtspitze, behind the double summit of the Wildspitze

The Hochvernagtspitze (46 ° 52 '53 "N.10 ° 47 '38 "E.) is number nine in the Ötztal Alps with 3,539 m in the sequence of the highest independent peaks.

The First ascent took place on September 9, 1865 by the Glacier pastor Franz Senn, E. Neurauter and C. Granbichler.

Hochvernagtspitze
Steep slope in front of the upper glacier floor

From the south side, the summit appears as a long ridge over an almost level plateau in front of it as the upper glacier floor of the Vernagtferner.

The Ascent The easiest way is from the Vernagthütte (2,755 m) over the Vernagt glacier and leads over 780 m in about 2.5 - 3 hours to the summit. In the part in front of the almost flat glacier plateau on the south side in front of the summit ridge, the tour is somewhat steep (30-35 degrees), but not excessively difficult and is also a popular ski tour in winter. The summit ascent takes place from the west first to the west summit (3530m / Steinmann) as the "winter summit", the summit ridge then leads, depending on the monitoring, mostly easy with a few short climbing points to the 9 meter higher east summit.

Venetberg

The Venetberg (47 ° 8 '53 "N.10 ° 39 ′ 41 ″ E) is a mountain ridge and the northwest corner pillar of the entire mountain group of the Ötztal Alps high above the Upper Inn Valley and at the confluence of the Paznaun. The main peak of the Venetberg is the Glanderspitze (2,512 m), other peaks are the Wannejöchl (2,497 m), the Kreuzjoch (2,464 m) and the Krahberg (2,225 m). As a classic panoramic mountain with a wide all-round view, the Venetberg is an extremely popular excursion destination, and it is also with the Venet cable car out Zams In the Upper Inn Valley with the mountain station on the Krahberg (2,208 m, panorama restaurant), it is easy to reach both in summer and in winter, even for less sporty people. The Venetberg is a popular hiking region in summer and the family-friendly one in winter Venet ski area.

glacier

The Ötztal Alps are heavily glaciated, the entire glacier area covers around 300 square kilometers.

  • The Gepatschferner is the largest glacier in the Ötztal Alps and behind the Pasterze am Grossglockner the second largest glacier in the Eastern Alps.
  • The Vernagtferner With an area of ​​currently around eight square kilometers, it is one of the largest glaciers in the Eastern Alps. The glacier retreat can also be felt here: in August 2000, a new ice cave that melted into the glacier was discovered on Vernagtferner. It is approx. 10 m high at the entrance and can be walked over 50 m deep.
  • Hintereisferner

A themed trail Gepatschferner nature trail and there is an easy, family-friendly hike at the foot of the Kauner Glacier.

Lakes and bodies of water

Panorama view of Ötztal with Stuibenfall

At Umhausen, Tyrol's largest waterfall plunges in 2 steps about 150 m into the depth. The Stuibenfall offers an impressive spectacle. Depending on the season, it naturally has more or less water. A hiking trail leads along the Stuibenfall and offers numerous different perspectives of the waterfall and the surrounding landscape.

The Ötztal Alps are rich in lakes, There are numerous mountain lakes, most of which are located at altitudes over 2000 meters and were created as the erosion of glacier currents. They can usually only be reached on foot after more or less difficult and long mountain hikes.

  • The largest lake in the Ötztal Alps is the Gepatsch reservoir:
The reservoir is located in the rear of the Kaunertal and has a length of around six kilometers, an area of ​​2.6 km² and a storage volume of 140 million cubic meters when fully blocked. With a length of 600 m and a height of 153 m, the dam is the largest rock rubble dam in Austria and was also the tenth largest in the world when it was completed. Construction began in 1961, operations started in 1965, and electricity generation amounts to around 660 million kilowatt hours per year.
The lake is on the road across that Glacier panorama road (subject to a toll) in Kaunertal, guided tours free of charge, Tel .: 43 (0) 5475/2920

Tisenjoch

The Ötzi - place of discovery (46 ° 46 ′ 44 ″ N.10 ° 50 ′ 24 ″ E, approx. 3,210 m): Until 1991, the Tisenjoch is the most insignificant transition from the Similaunhütte to the Finailspitze, used mainly by mountaineers in modern times. On September 19, 1991 the ice mummy from the Neolithic Age (approx. 3300 BC) was discovered about 80 meters below the crossing: Initially, the find near the border was still disputed among the responsible authorities: the exact border between Austria and Italy was unclear, and because of the expected war of formalities, no one wanted the glacier corpse, the age of which was initially unclear. With the equipment found, such as a bow and arrow, the importance of the mummy was quickly recognized, the borderline was clarified and the site of discovery was assigned to South Tyrol (wikipedia: Ötzi).

The usual one Access to the Tisenjoch leads from the east and from the Similaunhütte (3,019 m) in about an hour on a mountain path to the northwest and over some rocks with easy climbing points to the site near the transition (monument). Surefootedness required, in spring and autumn steep snowfields may be necessary. The access from the west leads over cracked glaciers. The Hauslabjoch is a saddle on the same route and a few hundred meters further north.

activities

Hiking and mountaineering

The item Rockclimbing contains general information also on the topic Mountain hiking;

Summit ascents / normal routes in the Ötztal Mountains are listed with the respective Culminate described.

The Ötztal Alps have a network of marked hiking trails of around 1,300 kilometers in length.

High trails

  • Meraner Höhenweg: One of the most famous circular hiking trails in the region runs on the edge of the Texel Group Nature Park with a length of around 100 km and at an almost constant height of around 1,400 m, the existing height differences are limited to a few 100 m per day. The total walking time is between 3 and 8 days, depending on your fitness level.
  • Pfelderer Höhenweg Two-day tour and three rather easy stages

n in the rear Passeier Valley in South Tyrol: From Pfelders (1,622m) - Stettiner Hütte (2,875m approx. 3.5 hours) - Zwickauer Hütte (2,989 m approx. 4 hours) - Pfelders approx. 2.5 hours; Surefootedness and a head for heights are required.

  • Mainzer Höhenweg, originally only intended as a transition from the Chemnitzer Hütte (today Rüsselsheimer Hütte) to the Braunschweiger Hütte. The high alpine climb runs on the Geigenkamm between the Pitztal and the Ötztal in North Tyrol and is only suitable for experienced tourers, the three-day tour may only be undertaken in absolutely safe weather.
  • Fulda High Trail, Connection path in the rear Pitztal between the Riffelseehütte (2,289 m) and the Taschachhaus (2,434 m). Path length approx. 11 km, only slight differences in altitude and approx. Three hours of walking time, a somewhat more exposed climbing area can be bypassed.
  • Offenbacher Höhenweg: Well-developed path from the Rifflseehütte via the Wurmtalerkogel (3,225m) to the Taschachhaus. Walking time approx. 7 hours, short, easy passage over the Riffelferner glacier.

Themed trails

In the Kaunergrat Nature Park:

  • Gepatschferner nature trail in the Kaunertal: The way to the glacier gate on the glacier tongue takes just under an hour, the way back 1 - 2 hours, the round is also suitable for families with children with an altitude difference of around 300 m. 11 stations with picture boards provide information on geology and glaciers. The start is at the climbing garden behind the Gepatschhaus (DAV hut in the rear Kaunertal 46 ° 54 ′ 5 ″ N.10 ° 44 ′ 15 ″ E).

Long-distance hiking trails

  • Ötztal Trek: A lap of 22 continuous stages in 15 variants with around 30,000 meters of ascent and 400 kilometers of route is shown. The round begins and ends at the Ötztal train station and leads to after Obergurgl and Vent.
  • Ötztaler Urweg: the overall rather simple and family-friendly route is a themed trail leading to the historical connection between South and North Tyrol, mostly along the valley floor of the Ötztal. The transitions over the main Alpine ridge are a little more difficult to assess.
  • The Eagle Walk leads in 31 daily stages and 280 km in length through the whole of Tyrol and also through the Ötztal Alps, regional stages lead through the Kaunertal, the Pitztal, and the Ötztal.
  • Via Alpina: The "Yellow way" the alpine route leads in a total of 40 hiking stages and through three countries from the Adriatic coast in Trieste to the alpine pastures of the Allgäu in Oberstdorf also through the region of the Ötztal Alps. At the Niederjoch and at an altitude of 3,017 m in the immediate vicinity of the Ötzi site, the long-distance hiking trail reaches its highest point overall.
  • European long-distance hiking trail E5: The 3200 km long hiking trail from the Atlantic coast of France over the Alps to Verona leads through the middle of the Ötztal Alps.

Via ferratas

Mountain biking

Winter sports

Alpine skiing

In and around the Ötztal Alps there are plenty of opportunities to ski down the slopes and also the glaciers:

Nordic skiing

White water rides

kitchen

accommodation

For accommodation in the valley, see the Localities.

list of Mountain huts of German Alpine Club (DAV) and des Austrian Alpine Club (OeAV) as well as private huts for hikers, mountaineers and mountain bikers.

  • 1  Hochjochhospiz (2,413 m), Hotel Post A-6458 Vent (hut host) (at the end of the Rofental). Tel.: 43 (0)6 76 6 30 59 98 (Hut). Open: Winter: beginning of March to beginning of May; Summer from the weekend of Pentecost to the end of September.
The Hochjochhospiz has history: A first hut was built in 1865 in the rearmost Rofental to make it easier to cross the pass over the Hochjoch in bad weather. The hut was one of the very first huts in the Ötztal, it was built on the initiative of Franz Senn. Today's hut was rebuilt at its current location in 1926 - 1927, remnants of the walls of the old hut still exist on the slope opposite. The hut was renovated in 2002-2004 under the leadership of the DAV and equipped with new energy technology.
Furnishing: 20 room dormitories, 50 mattress dormitories, 16 emergency dormitories, open self-catering and winter room with 8 mattress dormitories;
Easiest approach out Vent (1,896 m) in two and a half hours;
Walking times to neighboring huts (approx.): Vernagthütte (2,766 m): 2.0 hours; Beautiful view (Bella Vista, 2,842 m) 2.5 hours; Brandenburg House (3,272 m): 3.5 hours; Martin Busch Hut (2,501 m): 6.0 hours;
Vernagthütte, view from the southeast
  • 2  Vernagthütte (Wurzburg house, 2,755 m, DAV section Würzburg). Tel.: 43 (0)664 1412119 (Hut). Open: in summer from early July to mid-September, in winter from early March to mid-May.
Hut sign
VernagtHuette Schild01.jpg
Furnishing: 62 dormitories / beds, 110 mattress dormitories, 22 emergency dormitories, winter room, washroom, shower;
Cell phone reception in the hut is not possible, there is an Italian network on the terrace in front of the hut (as of 2012/03);
Easiest approach out Vent (1,896 m) in three to four hours, luggage can be transported from the material cable car valley station after consultation with the hut owner;
Walking times to neighboring huts (approx.): Brandenburgerhaus (3,277 m): 2.5; Breslauer Hütte (2,844 m): 1.0 hours; Hochjoch Hospice (2,413 m): 2.0 hours; Taschachhaus (2,432 m): 5 hours
Summit opportunities (approx.): Fluchtkogel (3,500 m) hours; Guslarspitze (3,151 m): hours; Wildspitze (3,772 m): 4.5 hours;
  • 3  Wroclaw Hut (2,844 m, DAV section Wroclaw) (above Vent and below the Wildspitze). Tel.: 43 (0)664 5300 898. Open: late June to late September
Furnishing: 64 beds, 107 storage spaces, modern sanitary rooms with showers; Winter room with 22 storage spaces in a separate building;
Easiest approach out Vent (1,896 m) in three hours, luggage can be transported from the Venter Kaufhäusl via the material cable car after consultation with the hut owner;
Summit opportunities (approx.): Wildspitze (3,772 m): 3.5 - 4.0 hours;
Martin Busch Hut, view from the south
  • 4  Martin-Busch Hut (former samoar hut, 2,501 m, DAV section Berlin) (in the Niedertal southwest of Vent). Tel.: 43 (0)52 54 81 30 (Hut). Open: Summer: late June to late September; Winter: beginning of March to beginning of May (Pentecost).
Hut sign
The innkeeper Josef Grüner from Sölden built the first hut in 1877 "on Samoar" (meaning: at the Säumer). Today's hut was built as the "Hermann-Göring-Haus" from 1938 onwards and, after a construction stop in the Second World War and looting after the end of the war, it was initially completed in 1952 as accommodation for the customs officers. From 1952 the hut was under the provisional administration of the OeAV under Hofrat Martin Busch and was returned to the DAV Berlin in 1958.
Furnishing: 49 room dormitories, 72 mattress dormitories, 40 emergency dormitories, open self-catering and winter room with 15 mattress dormitories, coin-operated shower;
Cell phone reception is possible in front of the hut;
Easiest approach out Vent (1,896 m) one way in three hours, luggage can only be transported in summer by jeep and after consultation with the hut owner;
Summit opportunities: Kreuzspitze (3457 m, hiking mountain), Mutmalspitze (3528 m) and Hintere Schwärze (3628 m, difficult);
Similaunhütte
  • 5  Similaunhütte (3,019 m, private hut Hotel Post, Vent). Tel.: 39 (0)473 669711 (Hut). Open: Winter: early March to mid-May, Summer: mid-June to early October.
signpost
Furnishing: 40 dormitories, 30 mattress dormitories, coin-operated shower;
Cell phone reception is possible in front of the hut;
The hut is located on the high mountain pass Niederjoch, the transition from North Tyrol to Sütirol is the highest point on the long-distance hiking route Via Alpina, Gelber Weg.
Easiest approaches: from Vernagt through the Tisental in 3.5 hours Vent (via the Martin-Busch hut) in 5 hours. The approaches are free of glaciers.
Walking times to neighboring huts: Hochjoch-Hospiz 2413 m, 4.0 hours, Martin-Busch-Hütte 2501 m, 1.5 hours
The Red Wine Route the Ötztal Alps is the very easy descent from the Similaunhütte to the Martin-Busch Hütte over the flat glacier of the Niederjochferner or its side moraine: The Similaunhütte is on Italian soil, before Italy joined the EU, the price difference between the red wine and the virtually neighboring Martin- The Busch Hut in Austria is clearly pronounced and therefore the reason for the often humid and happy mood among mountaineers from the afternoon onwards.
Summit opportunities: Similaun (3,597 m, 2 hours); Finailspitze (3,514 m, 2.5 hours);
This is located near the hut Tisenjoch (Hauslabjoch) with the site of the ice mummy "Ötzi" (3,208 m, approx. 1 hour);
  • Brandenburger Haus - only accessible via glacier
  • Braunschweiger Hut

nightlife

security

climate

The Ötztal Alps are part of the inner-alpine dry area with low annual rainfall, the humid air masses of the low-pressure areas from the west and the Atlantic already rain down on the northern slopes of the Alps. Examples of annual precipitation are Obergurgl with an average annual total of just over 800 mm and in Vent of even less than 700 mm. For comparison: in the northern dam on the Bavarian Alps, peak values ​​of up to 2000 mm per year are possible, which corresponds to 2000 liters per square meter.

The season with the most rainfall is summer. The monthly statistics show only around 40 mm of precipitation in the winter months from December to March, less than half of the values ​​for the summer months with the maximum in July of up to 120 mm. In Folge ergibt sich trotz der absoluten Höhe der Berge eine recht geringe Schneedeckenhöhen im Winter, allerdings bleibt der Schnee wegen der Höhenlage und je nach der Ausrichtung zur Sonne dann recht lange bis in das Frühjahr liegen.

Die Südseite der Ötztaler Alpen ist durch die Berge vor den Atlantiktiefs noch zusätzlich geschützt: Das Klima im Vinschgau und um Meran ist mild und gilt als fast mediterran.

  • Lawinenwarndienst für Tirol

literature

  • Bernd Ritschel, Barbara Burtscher, Matthias Burtscher, Peter Freiberger: Ötztaler Alpen. Bergverlag Rother, 2004, edition Berge, ISBN 978-3763375141 ; 159 Seiten. Im Antiquariat.
  • Dieter Seibert: Ötztaler Alpen. rosenheimer, 1993, ISBN 3-475-52746-4 , S. 128. Im Antiquariat.

Gebietsführer

  • Walter Klier ; Deutscher Alpenverein (Ed.): Ötztaler Alpen. Alpenvereinsführer: Ein Führer für Täler, Hütten und Berge. Verfaßt nach den Richtlinien der UIAA. Für Wanderer, Bergsteiger und Kletterer. Bergverlag Rother, 2006 (14. Auflage), ISBN 979-3763311230 ; 480 Seiten. 22,90
  • Henriette Klier, Walter Klier: Rother Wanderführer Ötztal - Ötztaler Alpen - Stubaier Alpen.. 2010 (5. Auflage), ISBN 978-3763340941 ; 128 Seiten. 12,90

cards

  • freytag&berndt (1:50.000) Blatt WK251, Wk252, Wk253 (Wanderer, Rad und Schitourenkarte);
  • Alpenvereins Karten (1:25.000) Blatt 30/1, 30/2, 30/3, 30/4, 30/5, 31/1; (für Bergsteiger);

Web links

Full articleThis is a complete article as the community envisions it. But there is always something to improve and, above all, to update. When you have new information be brave and add and update them.