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Trekking in the Stubai Alps

Walking the Stubai Rucksack Route and the Stubai Glacier Tour

By Allan Hartley

ISBN

9781852846237

Availability

Published

25 May 2011

Reprinted

16 Oct 2018

Edition

Third

Pages

192

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.15cm

Weight

240g

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An essential guidebook for trekking in the Stubai Alps, in the Austria Tyrol. Two multi-day hut-to-hut hikes are described. The Stubai Rucksack Route links 8 huts without crossing glaciers or difficult passes, whereas the challenging Stubai Glacier Tour involves much glacier work. Either route will easily fit into a 2-week holiday.

Seasons

the summer alpine season starts when the huts open in mid-June through to the end of September; snow can linger on north facing slopes well into July; mid- July through to mid-September is warmer and more settled

Centres

Neustift, Fulpmes, Telfes

Difficulty

all tracks and trails are waymarked and frequently signposted; unless venturing onto the glaciers no special equipment is needed nor additional climbing skills required

Must See

the Stubai embraces some of the best scenery in the Eastern Alps; the snow-capped peaks of the Wilder Freiger and Zuckerhuetl chain stand proud along the Frontier Ridge in an area with over 100 peaks above 3000m

ISBN

9781852846237

Availability

Published

25 May 2011

Reprinted

16 Oct 2018

Edition

Third

Pages

192

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.15cm

Weight

240g

Overview

This guidebook describes the Stubai Rucksack Route (or Hohen Weg) and the Stubai Glacier Tour, two hut-to-hut trekking routes in the Stubai Alps in the Austrian Tyrol.

The Stubai Rucksack Route is an ideal route for the novice mountain walker, and links eight huts without crossing glaciers or difficult passes. The Stubai Glacier Route is a hut-to-hut tour through the best of the Stubai that crosses glaciers and has ample opportunities for ascents of easy peaks. Both routes can be accomplished in eight to ten days.

Both tours are given their own brief introduction with profiles of the route and other vital information to enhance your experience of each area. The routes are illustrated with colour photographs and sketch maps, and the introduction provides vital transport, language, accommodation and equipment information. Of all the many Alpine areas, few can match Austria's Stubai Alps as a venue for a first Alpine season.

The Stubai Alps are situated southwest of Innsbruck. The area has easy access and can be reached by local bus from Innsbruck in about one hour.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Overview Map

Map Key

INTRODUCTION

Villages of the Stubai and Stubaital

When to Go

Getting to Austria

Places to Stay

About Innsbruck

Tourist Offices

Post and Post Offices

Places to Leave Luggage

Taking Children

Health and Fitness

Emergencies, Mountain Rescue and Insurance

The Austrian Alpine Club

About Huts

Using this Guide

Maps and Guidebooks

Alpine Walking Skills and Equipment

Mountain Guides

THE STUBAI RUCKSACK ROUTE (RUNDE TOUR)

Introduction

Alternative Start

Stage 1A Mieders to Klostergasthof Maria Waldrast

Excursion from Klostergasthof Maria Waldrast

Stage 1B Klostergasthof Maria Waldrast to the Padasterjoch Haus

Stage 1C Padasterjoch Haus to the Innsbrucker Hut

Traditional Route

Stage 1 Neder to the Innsbrucker Hut

Excursions from the Innsbrucker Hut

Stage 2 Innsbrucker Hut to the Bremer Hut

Stage 3 Bremer Hut to the Nuernburger Hut via Simmingjochl

Excursions from the Simmingjochl

Stage 4 Nuernburger Hut to the Sulzenau Hut

Stage 4A Nuernburger Hut to the Sulzenau Hut via the Niederl

Stage 4B Nuernburger Hut to the Sulzenau Hut via the Mair Spitze

Stage 4C Nuernburger Hut to the Sulzenau Hut via the Wilder Freiger

Stage 5 Sulzenau Hut to the Dresdner Hut

Stage 5A Sulzenau Hut to the Dresdner Hut via the Peiljoch

Stage 5B Sulzenau Hut to the Dresdner Hut via the Grosser Trogler

Excursion from the Dresdner Hut

Stage 6 Dresdner Hut to the Neue Regensburger Hut via the Grawagrubennieder

Stage 7 Neue Regensburger Hut to the Franz Senn Hut via the Schrimmenneider

Excursions from the Franz Senn Hut

Stage 8 Franz Senn to the Starkenburger Hut

Excursion from the Starkenburger Hut

Stage 9 Starkenburger Hut to Neustift

Alternative Finish

Stage 9A Starkenburger Hut to Fulpmes

THE STUBAI GLACIER TOUR (HOEHEN WEG)

Introduction

Stage 1 Milders to the Franz Senn Hut

Stage 2 Franz Senn Hut to the Amberger Hut via the Wildgrat Scharte

Excursion from the Schwarzenberg Ferner glacier

Stage 3 Amberger Hut to the Hoch Stubai Hut via the Wuetenkar Sattel

Stage 4 Hoch Stubai Hut to the Hildesheimer Hut via the Bildstoeckljoch

Excursion from the Schaufeljochbahn

Stage 5 Hildesheimer Hut to the Mueller Hut via the Zuckerhuetl and Wilder Pfaff

Stage 5A Hildesheimer Hut to the Siegerland Hut

Stage 5B Siegerland Hut to the Mueller Hut via the Sonklar Spitze

Stage 6 Mueller Hut to the Nuernburger Hut via the Wilder Freiger

Escape Routes from the Mueller Hut

Stage 7 Nuernburger Hut to Ranalt, Neustift and Innsbruck

Hut Directory

Appendix A Useful Contacts

Appendix B German–English Glossary

Appendix C Further Reading

Maps

MAPS AND GUIDEBOOKS

The following maps are required for the Stubai Rucksack Route and Stubai Glacier Tour. The maps are published by the Austrian Alpine Club and available from the UK Section of the Austrian Alpine Club.

Maps (Alpenvereinskarte) Sheet 31/1 Stubai Alpen: Hoch Stubai scale 1:25,000 Sheet 31/2 Stubai Alpen: Sellrain scale 1:25,000

Also recommended, covering the complete region at a glance and available from major map retailers, are: Freytag & Berndt Wanderkarte: Sheet 24, 1:100,000 Stubaieralpen Kopmpass Wanderkarte: Sheet 83, 1:50,000 Stubai Alpen: Serleskamm Verlag W. Mayr: Sheet 18, 1:35,000 Stubaital.

Books

For guidebooks and other reading, see Appendix C.

Websites

These are currently mostly in German but will inevitably at some stage be translated into English: www.stubai.at www.stubaierhoehenweg.at

Updates

July 2023

Stubai glacier route

Thank you to Fraser Bridgeford for this update.

The warden at the Hoch Stubai hut recommended that we didn’t cross the Warenkar Ferner Glacier as it was too dangerous due to rock falls. Also, the descent on the ‘poor weather alternative route’ between Hoch Stubai and Hildesheimer Hut to the Seekar See is very steep and great care is required.

The alternative route from High Stubai to Hledesheimer that is mentioned as 'slowly taking shape' is now the normal route between the two huts and is well signposted.

August 2022

Storm damage

Due to recent storms, many parts of the Stubai Rucksack Route are affected, with trails damaged and washed out and bridges gone. This means that the route up Serles from Maria Waldrast is now impossible. Access is affected to Franz Senn Hut and Sulzenau Hut.
Check hut websites for access information.

October 2015

Route updates and corrections

The following huts have changed there phone numbers. Bremer hut: 00439(0)6642728071.

Nurnberger hut: 0043(0)6644032188

(with thanks to Tom Kenny)

August 2013

page 38 MapsOther useful maps are Alpenvereinkarte31/3 Brennerberge; Scale 1 to 50,00031/5 Innsbruck; Scale 1 to 50,000

Stubai Rucksack Route

page 61 Alternative start: Stage 1B Maria Waldrast Monastery to Padasterjoch HausThe path has been cleared from the Kalbenscharte to the summit of the Kessel Spitze. However, the route from Serlesjoch to the Lampermahd and across Uber der Mauer is still ill-frequented and not recommended.
page 73 Stage 2; Innsbrucker Hut to the Bremer HutThe path has been cleaned up and improved in several areas with new fixed-wire protection being added. The alternative high-level route via Lauterer See and Innere Wetter Spitze (page 76) is currently closed due to a rock fall. There is a large sign in place to say the route is Gesprutt and closed.
page 96 Stage 5B; Sulzenau Hut to the Dresdner Hut via the Grosser TroglerFixed-wire rope protection on both sides of the mountain has been renewed and improved.

Stubai Glacier Tour

Due to severe recession of the glaciers, the following routes are affected:
page 141 Stage 5; Hildesheimer Hut to the Mueller HutAscent of the ZuckerhutlThe mountain has lost such a severe amount of snow/ice covering that it has lost its snowy mantel from the summit. The result being that the top third of the previous snow dome is now rock. As per the guidebook, climb to the Pfaffensattel and dump your rucksacks to allow a minimal rucksack-free ascent of the mountain. Follow the well beaten snow trail to the foot of the summit rocks. Discard ice axe and crampons and adjust the rope for short roping to the summit. The routes meanders left (south), scrambling around boulders and blocks with fixed aid in place to emerge on the summit complete with ornate summit cross.
page 144 Alternative Ascent of the Zuckerhutl via the Pfaffenschneid and interconnecting ridgeDue to recession of the snow on which the route depends, this route is now only possible during early season.
page 144 Ascent of the Wilder PfaffThe route as described in the guide is still viable but an alternative is to round the base of the Wilder Pfaff (north), then turn to climb the steep snow slopes (south) towards the summit.
In descent the ridge has been fitted with new wire ropes.
page 157 Stage 6; Mueller Hut to the Nuernburger Hut; Escape Routes from the Mueller Hut and Becher HouseThe descent from the Mueller Hut to the Sulzenau Hut via the Fernerstuebe Glacier and Pfaffennieder is not possible due to a huge rock fall and recession of the glacier.
The descent from Becher Haus to the Nurnberger Hut via the Freiger Scharte is not possible due to severe recession of the glacier.
In severe weather you should sit out the weather at Becher Haus until it is safe to cross back into Austria via the normal route to the Nurnberger Hut. Should the weather continue to deteriorate, the only safe exit is to descend to the Teplitzer Hut or further down the valley into Italy and make a safe return back into Austria via Sterzing and the Brenner. There are frequent trains.

Hut Directory

page 163 Bremer HutThe hut is under new management:Georg and Anni SegarMauern 66A-6150 Steinach in TyrolAustriaTelephone: (0043) 0664 272 8071
page 172 Mueller HutNew telephone numbers:Heidi: (0043) 0669 18 678965Likas: (0039) 0329 234 6943
page 178 Sulzenau HutThe hut will be under a new manager in 2014.

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Allan Hartley

Allan Hartley has maintained his close links with Austria, which he discovered by accident in the early seventies in respite from atrocious weather conditions on the higher mountains of the western Alps. He has climbed extensively throughout the Alps, in east Africa and in the greater ranges in Nepal and Pakistan.

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