Karl-von-Edel-Hütte

The Karl-von-Edel-Hütte, commonly known simply as the Edelhütte, is a Category I mountain refuge of the German Alpine Club (Deutscher Alpenverein, DAV), operated by its Würzburg section. It sits at 2,238 metres above sea level in the Zillertal Alps in the Austrian state of Tyrol, above the town of Mayrhofen. The hut is a starting point for numerous mountain hikes and is open from mid-June to the end of October, aligned with the operating season of the Ahornbahn cable car. The refuge was conceived in late 1887, when the Würzburg section of the German and Austrian Alpine Club decided to build a shelter in the Fellenbergkar to open up the Ahornspitze for tourism. It was named after Carl von Edel, a liberal politician and the section's founding chairman. Construction began on 2 July 1888 and the hut opened on 14 July 1889, initially offering overnight accommodation for 14 men and 7 women and operated in summer from the start. The following year the path from the Edelhütte to the Ahornspitze was completed, allowing the peak to be climbed without a mountain guide from 1890. In 1893 the section built a path from the hut over the Filzenalpe into the Stilluptal. The opening of the Zillertalbahn railway to Mayrhofen in 1902 made the Ahornspitze and Edelhütte more attractive, and in 1905 the hut was significantly expanded, offering 24 beds in twelve rooms plus a mattress dormitory with seven places; the extension was ceremonially opened on 8 August 1905. On 4 August 1914 another hiking trail to the hut was opened, starting in Häusling in the Zillergrund and intended to connect to the Plauener Hütte. In the so-called avalanche winter of 1950/51 the 1905 extension was completely destroyed and the old building was shifted so that it could no longer be used. Only in the summer season of 1958 was the Edelhütte sufficiently restored to offer service again. The opening of the Ahornbahn cable car in winter 1968 brought major changes from the 1969 summer season: the hut became reachable by an easy path with only about 300 metres of ascent, multiplying day visitors, while the Ahornspitze could now be reached without an overnight stay at the hut. This loss of overnight guests was offset in 1978 with the opening of the Aschaffenburger Höhenweg to the Kasseler Hütte, a section of the Berliner Höhenweg with a walking time of 6 to 9 hours, which generally prompts an overnight stay at the Edelhütte before the descent or stage. In 1975 the hut was again destroyed by an avalanche; three years later it was rebuilt, giving it its present appearance. In 2004 the hut received the environmental seal of approval for Alpine Club huts and since 2005 has met the quality criteria for family-friendly huts. The shortest ascent, about one hour, is from the mountain station of the Ahornbahn at the Filzenalm (1,955 m). Alternatively, hikers can ascend from Mayrhofen via the Gasthaus Alpenrose in four hours. Tour options from the hut include the Ahornspitze (2,976 m, 3 hours), Toreckenkopf (2,470 m, ½ hour), Popbergspitze (2,889 m, 3 hours), Wilhelmer Höhe (2,938 m, 4 hours), Mugler Höhe (2,955 m, 4½ hours), Grundschartner Höhe (3,064 m, 5½ hours), and the Siebenschneidenweg as part of the Berliner Höhenweg to the Kasseler Hütte (2,177 m, 9 hours). The relevant map is the Alpine Club map 1:25,000, sheet 35/2, Zillertal Alps, Middle.

The Karl-von-Edel-Hütte, usually called the Edelhütte, is a Category I refuge of the German Alpine Club (Deutscher Alpenverein, DAV), Würzburg section, at 2,238 m above sea level in the Zillertal Alps in Tyrol, Austria. It is a starting point for numerous mountain hikes and is open from mid-June to the end of October, during the operating period of the Ahornbahn. In late 1887 the Würzburg section of the German and Austrian Alpine Club decided to build a refuge in the Fellenbergkar to open up the Ahornspitze to its west for tourism. It was to be named after Carl von Edel, the liberal politician and founding chairman of the Würzburg section. After the necessary formalities, construction began on 2 July 1888. The hut opened on 14 July 1889. At that time it offered overnight accommodation for 14 men and 7 women and was operated in summer from the beginning. The following year the path from the Edelhütte to the Ahornspitze was completed, so that from 1890 the peak could be climbed without a mountain guide. For further development, in 1893 the Würzburg section had a path built from the Edelhütte over the Filzenalpe into the Stilluptal. The opening of the Zillertalbahn railway to Mayrhofen in 1902 made the Ahornspitze and Edelhütte even more attractive as mountain destinations. As early as 1905 the hut was therefore significantly expanded, now offering 24 beds in twelve rooms and a mattress dormitory with seven places. The ceremonial opening of the extension took place on 8 August 1905. On 4 August 1914 another hiking trail to the Edelhütte was opened; it begins in Häusling in the Zillergrund and was intended to create a connection to the Plauener Hütte. In the so-called avalanche winter of 1950/51, the 1905 extension of the Edelhütte was completely destroyed and the old building was shifted so that use was no longer possible. Only in the summer season of 1958 was the Edelhütte restored enough to offer service again. With the opening of the Ahornbahn in winter 1968, far-reaching changes began for the Edelhütte from the 1969 summer season. It is now reachable by an easy path with only about 300 metres of ascent, for anyone, which led to a multiplication of day visitors. However, the Ahornspitze could now also be reached without an overnight stay in the Edelhütte. This loss of overnight guests was offset in 1978 with the opening of the Aschaffenburger Höhenweg to the Kasseler Hütte. The walking time of this trail, which is part of the Berliner Höhenweg, is given as 6 to 9 hours, so that as a rule an overnight stay in the Edelhütte occurs before the descent or the stage. In 1975 the Edelhütte was again destroyed by an avalanche. Three years later the rebuilding took place, in which the Edelhütte received its present appearance. In 2004 the hut received the environmental seal of approval for Alpine Club huts and since 2005 it has met the quality criteria for family-friendly huts. The shortest ascent, with one hour of walking time, is from the mountain station of the Ahornbahn, the Filzenalm (1,955 m). Alternatively, one can ascend from Mayrhofen via the Gasthaus Alpenrose in four hours to the hut. Tour options include the Ahornspitze (2,976 m, 3 hours), Toreckenkopf (2,470 m, ½ hour), Popbergspitze (2,889 m, 3 hours), Wilhelmer Höhe (2,938 m, 4 hours), Mugler Höhe (2,955 m, 4½ hours), Grundschartner Höhe (3,064 m, 5½ hours), and the Siebenschneidenweg as part of the Berliner Höhenweg to the Kasseler Hütte (2,177 m, 9 hours). The relevant map is the Alpine Club map 1:25,000, sheet 35/2, Zillertal Alps, Middle.

• 2005

  Hut meets quality criteria for family-friendly huts.

• 2004

  Hut receives the environmental seal of approval for Alpine Club huts.

• 1978

  Rebuilding completed, giving the hut its present appearance; Aschaffenburger Höhenweg to Kasseler Hütte opens.

• 1975

  Hut again destroyed by an avalanche.

• 1968

  Ahornbahn cable car opens in winter, changing access from 1969 summer season.

• 1958

  Hut restored enough to offer service again in the summer season.

• 1950

  Avalanche winter 1950/51 destroys the 1905 extension and shifts the old building.

• 1914

  Another hiking trail from Häusling in the Zillergrund opened on 4 August.

• 1905

  Hut significantly expanded; extension ceremonially opened on 8 August.

• 1902

  Zillertalbahn railway opens to Mayrhofen, increasing attractiveness.

• 1893

  Path from the Edelhütte over the Filzenalpe into the Stilluptal built.

• 1890

  Path to the Ahornspitze completed, allowing ascent without a guide.

• 1889

  Hut opens on 14 July with accommodation for 14 men and 7 women.

• 1888

  Construction begins on 2 July.

• 1887

  Würzburg section decides to build a refuge in the Fellenbergkar.

A traditional, family-friendly Category I Alpine Club refuge serving hikers in the Zillertal Alps, accessible via the Ahornbahn cable car.

• Overnight accommodation (24 beds in 12 rooms and mattress dormitory)

• Food and beverage service for hikers

• Base for tours to Ahornspitze, Toreckenkopf, Popbergspitze, Wilhelmer Höhe, Mugler Höhe, Grundschartner Höhe, and Siebenschneidenweg

1. 1Karl-von-Edel-Hütte - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
2. 2Karl-von-Edel-Hütte - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Edelhütte official websiteedelhuette.at