A Ramblers' Holiday in the Stubai Alps, leaving from and returning to Innsbruck.
The Stubai Alps have a wildness and remoteness to them. They are generally
unencumbered by ski development, and provide a thrilling high-mountain
experience. The first part of the route to the north of the valley offers
dramatic views of the snow-clad peaks on the Italian border including the
Zuckerhütl, Wilder Pfaff and Wilder Freiger, all around the 3,500m mark. Later,
between the Dresdner and Bremer Huts, we pass along the flank of these great
mountains. Our route is along well-trodden paths, challenging, rough and steep
at times with occasional fixed ropes and ladders, regularly crossing passes
around the 2,700m level. One of the great things about the Stubai is that after
relatively short hikes between huts, on arrival at many of the huts we have the
option to climb extra peaks, which merit the B grade.
We spend three nights at the Franz Senn Hut, having the option to climb the
Rinnenspitze (3,000m) and the Aperer Turm (2,966m) for views of hanging
glaciers. We should also be able to climb the Roter Kogel (2,832m) from the
Potsdamer Hut, the Innere Wetterspitze (3,053m) from the Bremer Hut, culminating
in an ascent of the Habicht (3,277m) from the Innsbrucker Hut if conditions
allow.
Looking towards the mountains from the balcony of the Gasthof Hotel in Fulpmes
The group - why don't I look like a real walker? (Can you spot the 2 who are hiding?)
View from the first peak, Niederer Burgstall
The Oberbergtal from Hoher Burgstall. Wow - what a view!
The Kalkkögel
Our first hut - Adolf Pichler Hütte
Climbing the Gamskögel - note the scree path we just used
A patriotic cow
Mist!
Descending to Hut 2 - the Potsdomer
An afternoon stroll . . .
on the Kastengrat
Luxury bunkhouse!
Perfect Alpine morning
Wildkopf - first peak of the day
Afternoon refreshments
Balcony path to the Franz-Senn hut (just visible)
Further up the valley
Nice tarn, the Rinnensee. I spent 4 hours there while most of the others climbed a peak. More fool them.
But I did climb this one - Rinnennieder
Glacier view from the top!
Nice gentians being photographed
Glaciers
Perfect arch at glacier snout
Glacier
Not Niagara - glacial meltwater
Apple Strudel - well I am on holiday
Up we go!
Heading over scree to the col
View from Schrammnieder Pass
Our leader on the scary Basslerjoch Ridge
Signposts. The times are all lies!
Bad step - again!
Early lunch
Contouring
The big mountain in the middle is Zuckerhütl - Stubai's biggest
Swim? Not me!!
The hut, Dresdner, at last
Climbing the Trögler
Me on top of Trögler - best mountain so far
Coming down . . .
then along a ridge
What - only lunch?
Afternoon climb
A perfect photo!
Rest day and we climb this bugger
Over snow
That's the Wilder Freiger, too technical so we stop here on the Gamspitze
6am from the hut. Yawn, but hey, what a view!
Narrow bridge
Looking back to the Nürnberger Hütte - small white building
Swampy bit
More dodgy bits
Leaving the Bremer Hut - note cable car
Geschnitztal in cloud
Cloud inversion . . .
a spectacular sight
Stubai's 3 peaks. The famous Tribulaum.
No, I hadn't heard of them either!
Descent to the final hut - the Innsbrucker
The big one! Habicht (10,500 feet) The rocky slabs were much trickier than they looked
First view of the summit
Made it!
Amazing view
Others got up, too. After me of course. Ha! Ha!
Early morning descent back to the valley and civilisation
Gets more wooded
The villages. Now where's that beer?