Ötztal Trek Route 3

For climbers free from fear of heights, sure-footed and highly alpine experienced; excellent physical condition, extensive mountain experience, alpine climbing equipment, securing and navigation tools, good weather conditions are recommended. Please pay attention to the current weather report.

More information about hiking in the Ötztal: www.oetztal.com/wandern 

Kompass hiking map (available at the Ötztal Tourism information offices)

Stage 10:

In the center of Obergurgl, we head valleywards and follow from Zirben Alm the alpine adventure trail through the pine forest. The route leads into the access road to the Schönwieshütte, which takes a left bend and ascends above the Gurgler Valley to the Langtalereckhütte. Then we follow the signs towards Piccard suspension bridge. At about 2,600 m, you descend over glacier-polished slabs down to the suspension bridge, which leads over the remains of the glacier tongue of the Gurgler Ferner. Next, you follow the path up to the Ramolhaus at Köpfle. In the last section, the path leads steeply uphill.

Stage 11:

We hike from the Ramolhaus over the dead ice of the Ramolferner. This is followed by a steep terrain passage to the Ramoljoch. Fixed ropes and steel rungs facilitate the ascent over blockwork, slabs, and scree. Beyond that, switchbacks descend, and then – initially alongside the Spiegelferner – mostly relatively flat downwards. On the lateral moraine of the Spiegelferner, at about 2,800 m, a left turn leads to the Martin-Busch-Hütte, where the Diemweg begins. There follows a slight ascent as we enter the alpine pasture area. Then, without significant altitude changes, the slopes above the Niedertal are crossed. We cross the Diembach, then the path often leads in switchbacks down to the valley floor towards the Martin-Busch-Hütte.

Stage 12:

The Similaunhütte stands at an altitude of 3,017 m on the South Tyrolean side at Niederjoch, a passage between the North Tyrolean Ötztal and the South Tyrolean Schnalstal. Inseparably connected with the mountain hut is the famous Similaun and the discovery site of the Iceman Ötzi at the nearby Tisenjoch, about 1.25 hours away. Our route to the Similaunhütte runs through the Niedertal valley inwards. You follow the Niederjochbach. We then leisurely walk up along moraine slopes. From the Seibach, we travel directly on the moraine ridge up to the so-called “Bild.” Afterwards, the trail runs flat. Until summer 2008, the Niederjochferner glacier had to be crossed; since 2008, the glacier can be bypassed. West and above the Niederjochferner, a marked route leads to the Similaunhütte.