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Stage 1

Mayrhofen to Plauener Hut

Standard time     2hrs
Distance              3km
Ascent                 500m

Beginning at the end of the Zillergrundl local bus route, this stage is a simple walk along the shore of the
Speicher Zillergrundl reservoir and up the Sonntaglahnerkopf to the Plauener Hut.

From Mayrhofen take the local bus service to Barenbad in the Zillergrundl valley and then the reservoir dam at Ziller Platten (1hr). Look out for avalanche damage caused by a rockfall in 2005 which completely obliterated the tiny alm at Barenbad.

From the bus terminal at the reservoir, from where the hut is clearly visible, follow a graded track on Route 502, better known as the Zentralalpenweg (Central Alpine Way), through the hydroelectric plant tunnel for 200m, continuing along the well-defined track to where it forks at an obvious junction with a signpost. Here is a war memorial to fallen comrades of the D- and OeAV.

From here the path steepens, first zigzagging through scrub and alpine rose bushes followed by a crossing of the open rocky ground of the Kuchelmooskar to a single plank bridge whose sign requests ‘single file only’ to get over the Keesbache main stream coming down from the Kuchelmoos Kees glacier.
Thereafter the path picks up pace to zigzag to and fro under the cliffs of the Sonntaglahnerkopf and on to the hut.

Excursion from Plauener Hut
Unless you are an aspirant alpinist, excursions from the hut are limited to general rambles, so in that regard the hut offers very little scope to the general mountain wanderer. However once you are armed with a rope, an ice axe and some crampons there is much to entertain and test your skills.