Mindener Hütte

The Mindener Hütte is a self-catering mountain hut owned and operated by the Sektion Minden (Minden section) of the Deutscher Alpenverein (German Alpine Club, DAV). It sits at 2,431 metres above sea level in the Ankogel Group of the Hohe Tauern range in Austria, directly on the Tauernhöhenweg long-distance trail. As a Selbstversorgerhütte (self-catering hut), it provides basic shelter and sleeping places rather than full hotel-style services, and is a typical example of the volunteer-run alpine infrastructure maintained by DAV sections. The hut was first conceived on 6 May 1924, when the Sektion Minden of the DuOeAV (the German and Austrian Alpine Club, predecessor of today's DAV) resolved to build a hut at the Tauernsee on the route to the Hindenburghöhe. It was inaugurated on 17 July 1925. The original structure was extremely modest, offering just two sleeping places on an area of 6 square metres, and it was first expanded only two years later. Further improvements followed over the decades: a common room was added in 1962, and by 1978 the hut had reached its present size. Access to the Mindener Hütte is on foot only. Typical approaches include the Göttinger Weg from the top station of the Ankogel cable car (about 3 hours), a route from Mallnitz (1,190 m) via the Jubiläumsweg (Stockeralm, Paßhuberalm, Woisgengraben) taking about 4½ hours, the steep Wittener Steig over Gutenbrunn and the Hindenburghöhe (2,315 m) also about 4½ hours, a route via the Seebachtal, the Hochalmblick inn (1,926 m, middle station of the Ankogelbahn), the Kleiner Tauernsee and the Göttinger Weg (about 4 hours), and an approach from Böckstein (1,127 m) over the Korntauern (2,476 m) and the Göttinger Weg (about 5½ hours). The hut serves as a stage point on the Tauernhöhenweg between Maltatal and Heiligenblut. It is also a base for transitions to neighbouring huts — the Hannoverhaus via the Göttinger Weg (3 to 4 hours) and the Hagener Hütte (3 to 4 hours) — and for summit ascents such as the Gamskarlspitze (2,832 m, about 1¾ hours). The relevant map is the Alpenvereinskarte sheet 42 Sonnblick at 1:25,000. The hut is promoted through the website of the DAV's Minden section.

The Mindener Hütte owes its existence to the Sektion Minden of the DuOeAV (Deutscher und Oesterreichischer Alpenverein), the German and Austrian Alpine Club that was the forerunner of today's Deutscher Alpenverein (DAV). On 6 May 1924 the section resolved to build a hut at the Tauernsee, on the path leading to the Hindenburghöhe in the Ankogel Group of the Hohe Tauern. The hut was inaugurated on 17 July 1925. The original hut was tiny: it offered only two sleeping places on a floor area of 6 square metres. It was first expanded just two years after opening, reflecting the growing use of the area by section members and other hikers. A further significant improvement came in 1962 with the addition of a common room (Aufenthaltsraum). In 1978 the hut reached the size it retains today. Throughout its history the hut has functioned as a Selbstversorgerhütte — a self-catering shelter where visitors prepare their own food — rather than a serviced alpine hotel. It lies directly on the Tauernhöhenweg, the long-distance high trail, and serves as a stage point on the section of that route between Maltatal and Heiligenblut. It is also a base for transitions to the Hannoverhaus and the Hagener Hütte and for ascents such as the Gamskarlspitze (2,832 m). The hut is owned and maintained by the DAV's Minden section and is publicised through that section's website.

• 1978

  The hut reaches its present size.

• 1962

  A common room (Aufenthaltsraum) is added.

• 1927

  The hut is expanded for the first time, two years after opening.

• 1925

  The hut is inaugurated on 17 July.

• 1924

  On 6 May, the Sektion Minden of the DuOeAV resolves to build a hut at the Tauernsee on the way to the Hindenburghöhe.

A volunteer-run, self-catering alpine hut of the German Alpine Club, serving hikers on the Tauernhöhenweg in the Hohe Tauern.

• Self-catering mountain hut accommodation

  Basic overnight shelter with sleeping places and a common room; visitors cater for themselves.

1. 1Mindener Hütte – Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Mindener Hütte – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
3. 3Sektion Minden im DAV – Mindener Hüttedav-minden.de