Ötztal Trek Route 4

Stage 13:

First, it goes upwards from the hut over a wide ridge until the ridge transforms into a steep block edge. Fixed ropes provide help in this passage until the terrain becomes flatter again in the last section to the Tisenjoch on the South Tyrolean side. The site where the Ice Man Ötzi was found here at the Tisenjoch is the highlight of the stage. Afterwards, we climb another 100 meters in altitude to the Hauslabjoch. We enter the Hochjochferner and keep to the right edge going north downhill. At 3,000 m altitude, the glacier is left, and at 2,950 m the route merges into the trail coming down from the Seikogel. Then we continue down the steep slope before the trail zigzags down into the Rofental. At 2,500 m, you cross the Hochjochbach and again descend in zigzags on steeper terrain down to the stream from the Hintereisferner. Another 100 challenging vertical meters must be mastered to reach the Hochjoch-Hospiz.


Stage 14:

First, you hike behind the hut in zigzags up the steep grassy slope. The path becomes steeper and we can already see our target. Majestically, the Brandenburger Haus towers at 3,274 m altitude on a rock above the Kesselwandferner. Up to about 3,000 m altitude, you have followed the Deloretteweg and now enter the crevassed glacier. The route is marked with visible poles. Roping up is, however, an essential requirement. The passage through the eternal ice towards west or northwest takes about an hour. In the final section of the route, it goes through block debris the last meters up the rocks to the Brandenburger Haus. The Weißkugel, perhaps the most beautiful mountain in Tyrol, is one of the countless visual highlights.


Stage 15:

We hike down from the Brandenburger Haus about 50 meters down through block debris onto the Kesselwandferner. Then we cross the glacier in a northeast direction to the Upper Guslarjoch. Less than 150 meters separate us from the 3,497 m high Fluchtkogel at the Upper Guslarjoch, the summit ascent of the fabulous viewpoint mountain is a must. From the pass, you climb up at the right edge of the glacier slope to the summit. Then back to the Upper Guslarjoch and from there descend in relatively steep terrain to the Guslarferner. It now goes flat over the first glacier floor until you have to overcome a terrain hump (particular crevasse danger here). After another steep slope, we then descend southeast. Finally, a trail leads down through moraine terrain or directly on the moraine ridge to the Vernagthütte.


Stage 16:

You descend the slope in front of the hut and then descend on the left side into the valley of the Vernagtbach. From here, a magnificent view opens to the Great Vernagtferner with the Hochvernagtspitze in the north or northwest. We cross the Vernagtbach and go up on the opposite side to the flat floors at Platteiberg. From Platteiberg onward, the tour runs only over the Rofental. You then cross the Platteikar and shortly afterward the trail leads through the Mitterkar. Directly above the Mitterkar rises the Ötztaler Wildspitze, which presents an unusually rocky face. At the mountain hut, it’s time to enjoy the view: Opposite rises the Kreuzspitze, among others; in the southwest, the Hochjochferner and the beautifully shaped Weißkugel are visible.


Stage 17:

We descend on a trail — the route leads past the foothills of the Rofenkars. A little below, you turn left to the new high trail, which runs outward over the Ventertal to merge into the original panorama trail between Vent and the Tiefenbachferner. The trail then descends further before ascending again and continuing above the Ventertal to the Restaurant Tiefenbach at the Tiefenbach glacier. At Restaurant Tiefenbach, you hike left up the ski slope before the road tunnel to the Seiter Jöchl (follow the Seiterjöchlbahn – chairlift). From the Jöchl, descend north to the Rettenbachferner (crampons necessary)! We go left around the rock spur, keep northwest, and cross on the mountain side of the glacier break to the Rettenbachjoch with the lift stations. From the pass, it goes down and finally to the Braunschweiger Hütte.

Variant:

By bus from Restaurant Tiefenbach to the valley station at Rettenbachferner and then on foot up to the uppermost parking lot of the glacier road; from there up to the Pitztaler Jöchl (2,996 m) – the last meters over a crevasse-free glacier field (possibly crampons); then easily down to the Braunschweiger Hütte; approx. 1.75 h from the valley station Rettenbachferner. If the Pitztaler Jöchl is closed: from the uppermost parking lot to Rettenbachjoch (the last meters easily on the glacier); approx. 1.75 h from the valley station to the hut.