Trekking in the Zillertal Alps - The Zillertal Rucksack Route
Trekking in the Zillertal Alps
Price
£10.00
Stage 5 - Berliner Hut to the Furtschagl Haus
Standard time: 8 hours
Distance: 8km
Ascent: 1041m
This is a fine excursion and, whilst not unduly difficult, it marks the ascent of the highest pass on the Rucksack Route, and the only one to cross the magical 3000m contour without having to climb a mountain.
From the hut continue to follow the familiar signs for Route 502 and the Berliner Hohen Weg. Cross the footbridge a little way below the hut to get across the raging torrents of the Zammbach and head southwest, up gradually steepening slopes of grass and rocky outcrops. The path follows a well-defined trail heading for a subsidiary ridge coming down from the Garbenkar and a junction with the path heading north to the Alpenrose Hut. There is also a signpost here.
From here on the track pitches up; the ground starts to rise more steeply to follow glacial debris through an open couloir that forms the Garbenkar. Follow this to 2600m and the junction with the track that heads south onto the Waxegg Kees Glacier. There are excellent views hereabouts of the Waxegg Kees Glacier and the north flank of the Grosser Möseler. Sharp eyes will be able to pick out the track leading across the glacier to the Möseler Scharte.
Continue southwest, hugging the ridge track in a series of steep zigzags over mixed difficult ground of rock, scree and patches of snow. The path rises more steeply at the top, where you are aided by fixed wire ropes, to emerge on the rocky Schönbichler Scharte Pass at 3081m. There are superb views of the Hochfeiler.
From the col it is possible to make a short 10 minute excursion and scramble up the final slopes of the Schönbichler Horn (3134m) to obtain excellent views of the Grosser Möseler, Hochfeiler and, across the void, the Olperer, and looking back toward the Grosser Löffler there is opportunity to make a retrospective review of the journey so far.
In descent, the upper section of the Schönbichler Scharte is frequently covered for the first 50m with hard snow. Take care!
From the col descend steeply, zigzagging to and fro to get round the steep rocks, patches of snow and fixed wire ropes on the steeper sections until the ground gradually eases on the 2700m contours.
Continue southwest, down the ridge of an old glacial moraine, zigzagging on easier ground through the Furtschaglkar. Observe the excellent views of the Hochfeiler and Grosser Möseler and on to the hut.
Commentary
The route has excellent scenic interest throughout, particularly around the 2500m contour where the panorama back to the Berliner Hut and Mörchen Scharte is particularly fine. Thereafter, the scene is dominated in ascent by the Grosser Möseler then in descent by the Zillertal’s highest peak, the Hochfeiler. This is an excellent alpine journey, which navigates the highest pass on the Rucksack Route and ascends the only one over 3000m.
Cautionary Notes
This is quite a long day with over 1000m of uphill to negotiate and a high pass to cross, which means you should be on your way early and no later than 0700hrs.The main difficulties are in negotiating the steep sections on both sides of the Schönbichler Scharte, the upper sections of which usually retain
a fair amount of hard-packed snow. Both sides of the pass have fixed ropes to aid stability; the ground is very steep and the ropes essential when carrying a big rucksack.
This is not a route to do in poor weather when route finding becomes increasingly problematic and, moreover, the upper reaches are definitely not a place to be caught in a thunderstorm.
In bad weather participants on a tight schedule are advised to cut their losses and descend to Breitlahner and get the bus to Schlegeis and take the short walk to the congenial Olperer Hut.
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