AUSTRIACKIE ALPY ZILLERTALSKIE

Trekking in Austria's Zillertal Alps: The Zillertal Rucksack Route, South Tyrol Tour

przewodnik

CICERONE 2023

Guide to four hut-to-hut treks in the Austrian Tirol: the 9-day Zillertal Rucksack Route/Berliner Hohenweg, the Zillertal South Tirol Tour and the Peter Habeler Tour (both 7 days) and the Olperer Runde Tour (6 days). With optional excursions to climb neighbouring peaks, some of which call for mountaineering skills and glacier crossings.

Guide detailing four short Alpine hut-to-hut treks in the stunning Zillertal region of the Austrian Tirol. Included are the 9-day Zillertal Rucksack Route (also known as the Berliner Hohenweg), the 7-day Zillertal South Tirol Tour, the 7-day Peter Habeler Tour and the 6-day Olperer Runde Tour, as well as optional ascents of neighbouring peaks, including the region's highest, the 3510m Hochfeiler. Good fitness and experience of mountain walking is necessary, and some of the treks include long days, steep and uneven terrain and aided sections. The optional excursions may call for specialist equipment, mountaineering skills and experience of glacier crossing. The routes are presented in day stages, each with notes on the particular highlights and challenges/hazards of the day's route. In addition to clear route description illustrated with 1:50,000 mapping and elevation profiles, the guide also includes a wealth of practical information on transport, mountain huts, recommended kit and safety. Since the welcoming huts of the Austrian Alpine Club are a particular highlight of the area, there is also a comprehensive hut directory listing all of the huts, with information on facilities, access and their fascinating history. Appendices contain useful contacts, a German-English glossary and further reading.

CONTENTS

Overview map

Map key

Route summary tables

Introduction

The Zillertal valley

Mayrhofen

When to go

Getting there and back

Places to stay

Local transport

Local services

Peter Habeler’s Office (mountain guides)

Children

The Austrian Alpine Club OeAV

Huts

Hut meals and menus

Kit list

Route finding

Maps

Alpine walking skills

Glaciers and glacier travel

Health and safety

Electronic devices

Using this guide

Zillertal Rucksack Route

Trek 1 Zillertal Rucksack Route

Stage 1 Mayrhofen to Karl von Edel Hut

Excursion Ascent of Ahornspitze (2973m)

Stage 2 Karl von Edel Hut to Kasseler Hut

Excursion Ascent of Wollbachspitze (3210m) south-west ridge

Excursion Ascent of Gruene Wand Spitze (2946m)

Stage 3 Kasseler Hut to Greizer Hut

Excursion Ascent of Grosser Loeffler (3379m)

Stage 4 Greizer Hut to Berliner Hut

Stage 4A Greizer Hut to Berliner Hut via Floitenkees glacier or Schwarzenstein Hut

Excursion Ascent of the Berliner Spitze (Hornspitze III) (3254m)

Stage 5 Berliner Hut to Furtschaglhaus

Excursion Ascent of Grosser Moeseler (3480m) via the west spur

Stage 6 Furtschaglhaus to Olperer Hut

Stage 6A Furtschaglhaus to Olperer Hut via Pfitscherjochhaus

Excursion Ascent of Olperer (3476m) via Schneegupf south-east ridge

Stage 7 Olperer Hut to Friesenberghaus

Excursion Ascent of Hoher Riffler (3168m)

Excursion Ascent of Peterskoepfl (2679m)

Stage 8 Friesenberghaus to Gams Hut

Excursion Ascent of Vordere Grinbergspitze (2765m)

Stage 9 Gams Hut to Ginzling and Mayrhofen

Stage 9A Gams Hut to Finkenberg and Mayrhofen

Peter Habeler and Olperer Runde Tours

Trek 2 Peter Habeler Runde

Stage 1 Touristenrast Gasthof to Landshuter Europa Hut

Stage 2 Landshuter Europa Hut to Pfitscherjochhaus

Stage 3 Pfitscherjochhaus to Olperer Hut

Stage 4 Olperer Hut to Friesenberghaus

Stage 5 Friesenberghaus to Tuxerjochhaus via Friesenbergscharte

Stage 6 Tuxerjochhaus to Geraer Hut

Stage 7 Geraer Hut to Touristenrast Gasthof

Trek 3 Olperer Runde Tour

Zillertal South Tirol Tour

Trek 4 Zillertal South Tirol Tour

Stage 1 Touristenrast Gasthof to Geraer Hut

Stage 2 Geraer Hut to Pfitscherjochhaus

Stage 3 Pfitscherjochhaus to Hochfeiler Hut

Excursion Ascent of Hochfeiler (3510m)

Stage 4 Hochfeiler Hut to Edelraut Hut

Stage 5 Edelraut Hut to Nevesjoch Hut

Excursion Ascent of Grosser Moeseler (3480m)

Stage 6 Nevesjoch Hut to Schwarzenstein Hut

Stage 7 Schwarzenstein Hut to Berliner Hut or Greizer Hut

Hut directory

Berliner Hut (2042m)

Dominikus Hut Alpengasthof (1805m)

Edelraut Hut (2545m)

Friesenberghaus (2498m)

Furtschaglhaus (2295m)

Gams Hut (1916m)

Gasthof Stein (1555m)

Geraer Hut (2326m)

Greizer Hut (2226m)

Hochfeiler Hut (2710m)

Kasseler Hut (2177m)

Karl von Edel Hut (2238m)

Landshuter Europa Hut (2693m)

Nevesjoch Hut (2420m)

Olperer Hut (2389m)

Pfitscherjochhaus (2275m)

Schwarzenstein Hut (3027m)

Tuxerjochhaus (2316m)

Appendix A Useful contacts

Appendix B German–English glossary

Appendix C Further reading

Maps

The following maps are required for the Zillertal Rucksack Route. The maps are published by the Austrian Alpine Club and are available from the UK Section of the Austrian Alpine Club (UK).

Alpenvereinskarte Zillertaler Alpen

Sheet 35/1 Westliches (West), Scale 1:25,000 Sheet 35/2 Mitte (Central), Scale 1:25,000

Also recommended, since the maps cover the complete region at a glance and are available from major map retailers:

Freytag & Berndt Wanderkarte: Sheet 152 Mayrhofen, Zillertal Alpen, Gerlos-Krimml, Scale 1:50,000 Kompass Wanderkarte: Sheet 037 Mayrhofen, Tuxer Tal, Zillergrund, Scale 1:25,000 + smart app

Books

For guidebooks, websites and other reading, see Appendix C.

Alpenvereinaktiv App

The Alpenverein has also developed mapping software, Alpenvereinaktiv, for use on mobile phones and digital tablets, which can be accessed via Alpenvereinaktiv.com. The Alpenverein is keen to promote the use of Alpenvereinaktiv, first as a tour-planning tool and as a physical tool while undertaking a tour.

The Alpenvereinaktiv application offers three levels of access: the basic application is free and includes tour planning, height profiles, commentary and photos; this is followed by the Pro and Pro+ versions, which can be purchased as a monthly or annual subscription and include GPS tracking, 3D video and satellite photos.

Mountain terminology

See Appendix B for a glossary of German–English words that may be useful when route finding and navigating in the Zillertal Alps.