Blaueishütte

The Blaueishütte is a mountain hut (Schutzhütte) of the Deutscher Alpenverein (German Alpine Club), specifically the Sektion Berchtesgaden, located at 1,650 metres above sea level in the heart of Berchtesgaden National Park, Bavaria, Germany. It sits below the Blaueis Glacier in the Hochkalter massif, offering views of the Hochkalter peaks, the glacier, and the Hintersee lake in the valley. The hut is the only shelter directly within the Hochkalter massif and is open during the summer season; it has no winter room. It is a popular base for hikers, climbers, and alpine courses, with around 30 climbing routes and 40 sport climbing routes nearby, as well as bouldering opportunities. The history of the Blaueishütte begins in October 1922, when the Sektion Hochland of the German and Austrian Alpine Club opened a self-catering hut about 100 metres above the current site, with capacity for about 30 campers. In 1937 the hut was expanded and rebuilt. After World War II, plans to take over a larger, unused Wehrmacht house closer to the present location were thwarted in May 1946 when the building was destroyed by arson on the orders of Ramsau forest master Georg Küßwetter, who wanted to keep tourists out of his hunting grounds. The subsequent trial in 1952 attracted nationwide attention. The prevented move necessitated further extensions in 1952 and 1953. At the end of 1955, the old Alpine Club hut was destroyed by a dust avalanche, prompting the Sektion Hochland to build a provisional hut about 100 metres lower in 1956. In 1957, the section transferred its working area to the Sektion Berchtesgaden, which began construction of a new hut at the current site on 14 September 1958. The new Blaueishütte was consecrated on 28 July 1962 by Julius Cardinal Döpfner, Archbishop of Munich and Freising. The emergency hut was renovated in 1994 and now serves as additional overnight accommodation. Since 1928, the hut has been continuously managed by the Hang family from Ramsau. The first tenant was Raphael Hang, followed in 1976 by his son of the same name, and in 2010 by his grandson Raphael Hang. The hut is accessible from Hintersee (800 m) in about 2.5 hours or from Ramsau (700 m) in about 2.75 hours. It serves as a base for numerous summit ascents, including the Steinberg, Schärtenspitze, Hochkalter, and Blaueisspitze, as well as for climbing courses and tours to the Steinberghöhle and Blaueishöhle caves. The Blaueishütte is a well-known destination in the Berchtesgaden Alps, combining alpine tradition, family hospitality, and a unique natural setting.

The Blaueishütte is a mountain hut of the Sektion Berchtesgaden of the Deutscher Alpenverein (DAV), located at 1,651 m above sea level in the lower Blaueiskar in the Berchtesgaden Alps, within Berchtesgaden National Park in the municipality of Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden. It is the only shelter directly in the Hochkalter massif and is managed during the summer season; there is no winter room. The hut is frequently used by groups for climbing courses. The history of the hut begins in October 1922, when the Sektion Hochland of the German and Austrian Alpine Club (DuÖAV) opened a self-catering hut about 100 metres above the current location, with capacity for about 30 campers. In 1937 the hut was expanded and rebuilt. After World War II, the section planned to take over a larger, unused Wehrmacht house closer to the present hut site. However, in May 1946, before this could happen, the building was destroyed by arson on the orders of Ramsau forest master Georg Küßwetter, and the foundations were later blown up to prevent reconstruction. Küßwetter feared for his hunting privileges and wanted to keep tourists, whom he disparagingly called "Bergpöbel" (mountain rabble), away from the Hochkalter area and his hunting grounds. The trial against him in 1952 attracted nationwide attention. The prevented move necessitated additional extensions and structural changes to the hut, carried out in 1952 and 1953. At the end of 1955, the extreme mountaineer Hermann Buhl, who lived in Ramsau, discovered that the old Alpine Club hut had been destroyed down to its foundations by a dust avalanche. The Sektion Hochland then built a provisional hut about 100 metres lower in the cirque at a safer location in 1956. A year later, it transferred its working area on the Hochkalter to the Sektion Berchtesgaden, after the new hut could not be financed. The section began construction at the current site on 14 September 1958. On 28 July 1962, the Blaueishütte was consecrated and handed over to its purpose by Julius Cardinal Döpfner, Archbishop of Munich and Freising. The emergency hut was renovated in 1994 and is now used as additional overnight accommodation. Since the hut was first managed in 1928, it has been continuously in the hands of the Hang family from Ramsau. The first tenant was Raphael Hang, followed in 1976 by his son of the same name as hut manager. In 2010, management passed to Raphael Hang (grandson). The hut is accessible from Hintersee (800 m) in 2.5 hours or from Ramsau (700 m) in 2.75 hours walking time. Both paths merge shortly below the Schärtenalm (1,359 m), which is managed in summer, and continue into the cirque, finally on a narrow trail to the hut. Transitions to other huts include Wimbachgries (Wimbachschloss) via Eisbodenscharte (2,100 m), Hochalmscharte and Stanglahnergraben, difficult, walking time: 5 hours; further to Wimbachgrieshütte 1.5 hours. This route is significantly longer and more difficult than the ascents from Hintersee and Ramsau; sure-footedness and freedom from vertigo are absolute prerequisites. Other transitions include Ingolstädter Haus, Neue Traunsteiner Hütte, Watzmannhaus, and Kärlingerhaus. Summit ascents from the hut include Steinberg (2,065 m), Hüttengipfel, difficulty I UIAA, not secured, 1 hour; Schärtenspitze (2,153 m), secured path, difficulty I UIAA, 1.25 hours; Rotpalfen/Wasserwandkopf (2,367 m), difficulty II UIAA, not secured, 2 hours; Hochkalter (2,607 m) via normal route, difficulty II UIAA, not secured, 3.5 hours; Hochkalter via Blaueis Glacier (ice up to 50°, rock passages II, not secured), 3.5 hours; Blaueisspitze (2,480 m) via Blaueis Glacier (ice at end up to 50°, then a short ridge), 2.5 hours. Climbing tours include "Blaueisumrahmung" (difficulty IV UIAA) over Blaueistürme and Blaueisspitze (5–6 hours). There is a climbing garden near the hut. The hut itself is a base for alpine rock training courses, and from here the Steinberghöhle and, via the Blaueis, the Blaueishöhle can be reached. Near the hut there are about 30 climbing routes in grades III to IX, 40 sport climbing routes from IV to IX, and numerous limestone blocks for bouldering.

• 2010

  Raphael Hang III takes over management of the hut.

• 1994

  The emergency hut is renovated and used as additional overnight accommodation.

• 1976

  Raphael Hang II takes over as hut manager.

• 1962

  The Blaueishütte is consecrated on 28 July by Julius Cardinal Döpfner.

• 1958

  Construction of the new hut at the current site begins on 14 September.

• 1957

  The Sektion Hochland transfers its working area to the Sektion Berchtesgaden.

• 1956

  A provisional hut is built about 100 m lower in the cirque.

• 1955

  The old Alpine Club hut is destroyed by a dust avalanche.

• 1953

  Additional structural changes to the hut.

• 1952

  Nationwide attention trial against Georg Küßwetter; further extensions to the hut are carried out.

• 1946

  The planned takeover of a Wehrmacht house is thwarted when the building is destroyed by arson on the orders of forest master Georg Küßwetter.

• 1937

  The hut is expanded and rebuilt.

• 1928

  Raphael Hang I begins managing the hut.

• 1922

  Opening of a self-catering hut by the Sektion Hochland about 100 m above the current site, with about 30 campers.

A traditional, family-run Alpine Club hut offering authentic mountain experiences in a protected national park setting.

• Overnight stays

  Accommodation in a historic mountain hut with 30 campers capacity originally, now expanded.

• Food and beverages

  Traditional mountain hut meals and drinks for guests.

• Alpine courses

  Base for alpine rock training courses and climbing courses.

• Gift vouchers

  Online purchase of gift vouchers for stays at the hut.

1. 1Die Blaueishütte | 1.650 mblaueishuette.de
2. 2Geschichte | Blaueishütteblaueishuette.de
3. 3Blaueishütte - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Blaueishütte - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org