Ötztal Trek Stage 17

OVER THE VENTERTAL AND IN THE ETERNAL ICE

At the beginning, you descend via a path – the route leads past the foothills of the Rofenkars. A little further down, turn left onto the new high-altitude trail, which runs outward above the Ventertal and merges into the original panoramic path Vent-Tiefenbachferner. The path then descends a bit more and ascends again above the Ventertal towards the Tiefenbach Restaurant (Tiefenbach Glacier). There, before the road tunnel, walk left up the ski slope to the Seiter Jöchl (follow the Seiter Jöchl cable car). From the Jöchl, descend northwards onto the Rettenbachferner glacier (crampons necessary)!
The hike continues left around the rock spur. Heading northwest, you cross the glacier crevasse on the mountain side and hike to the Rettenbachjoch with the lift stations. From there, descend over the footbridge to the Braunschweiger Hut.

Alternatively by bus from the Tiefenbach Glacier to the Rettenbach Glacier:

By bus from the Tiefenbach Restaurant to the valley station at the Rettenbachferner and then walk up to the uppermost parking lot of the glacier road; from there, ascend to the Pitztal Jöchl (2,996 m) – the last few meters across a crevasse-free glacier field (possibly with crampons); beyond, an easy descent to the Braunschweiger Hut;
approx. 1.75 hours from the Rettenbachferner valley station.
If the Pitztal Jöchl is closed: from the uppermost parking lot to the Rettenbachjoch (last meters easy on the glacier);
approx. 1.75 hours from the valley station to the hut.