Neue Reutlinger Hütte

The Neue Reutlinger Hütte (also known as the Walter-Schöllkopf-Hütte) is an Alpine Club hut owned and operated by the Reutlingen section of the German Alpine Club (Deutscher Alpenverein, DAV). It stands in the Verwall group in Vorarlberg, Austria, south of and above Klösterle in the Klostertal, at the upper southern end of the Wildebene on the saddle between the Östliche Eisentaler Spitze and the Pflunspitzen. This saddle forms the transition between the Nenzigasttal and the Gaflunatal, and several small lakes lie near the hut. The hut is situated within the Verwall European protected area. The Neue Reutlinger Hütte is a self-catering (Selbstversorger) hut, meaning it does not offer full board or a staffed kitchen service; visitors bring and prepare their own food. It is the successor building to the (Old) Reutlinger Hütte, which was inaugurated on 3 August 1909 and burned down to its foundations in 1953. After the fire, the section used its Kaltenberghütte, originally built for winter operations, in summer as well, but this was regarded as an unsatisfactory long-term solution. On the initiative of the section's first chairman, Walter Schöllkopf, the Neue Reutlinger Hütte was built as a self-catering hut. Its shell was erected in log-house style on the foundation of the burned building in only two days, after 11 tonnes of material had been flown up by helicopter, and it was inaugurated on 26/27 September 1970. In spring 1977 a dust avalanche pushed the hut 2 metres off its foundation, but it was built so solidly that it remained largely intact as a whole and was pulled back to its original position with winches the following summer. In 1987 the separate toilet hut was replaced by an annex. Heating and cooking were done with liquid gas until 1995, and with a wood stove since then. In 2002 the section added an annex on the east side for storing firewood, and in 2018 another annex with a composting toilet was built at the north-east corner. In 2020 the hut became the first self-catering hut in the Alpine region to be awarded the German Alpine Club's environmental seal of approval for Alpine Club huts by the DAV's federal association. The hut is a base for hiking and climbing in the Verwall. Access routes include from Klösterle or Langen via the Nenzigastalm (4½ hours), from Klösterle via the Satteinser Alm (4½–5 hours), from Stuben via the Stubener Weg (5 hours), from Silbertal in the Montafon via the Gaflunatal (5 hours, or 3 hours from the Untere Gaflunaalpe at 1,360 m, to which a hiking bus transport is offered in summer), and from the Konstanzer Hütte through the Pfluntal and over the Gafluna-Winterjöchli (3 hours). Neighbouring huts and crossings include the Kaltenberghütte via the Stubener Weg and Bludenzer Alpe (4 hours), the Konstanzer Hütte via the Gafluna Winterjöchli and Pfluntal (2 hours), and the Wormser Hütte via the Gaflunatal, Silbertal, Grasjoch and Kreuzjoch. Nearby summits include the Reutlinger Turm (2,606 m) via the south ridge (UIAA grade III, 3 hours), the Östliche Eisentalerspitze (2,753 m, unmarked, stone figures, 1½ hours), the Pflunspitzen (2,912 m, 3 hours, easiest ascent UIAA grade I–II), and the Kaltenberg (2,896 m, 3½ hours). Relevant maps are the Alpine Club maps AV 3/2, 1:25,000, Lechtaler Alpen – Arlberggebiet, and AV 28/2, 1:25,000, Verwallgruppe – Mitte.

The history of the Neue Reutlinger Hütte is closely tied to the Reutlingen section of the German and Austrian Alpine Club (DuOeAV, later DAV), which was founded in 1905. The section initially considered building a hut at the Kreuzjoch above Schruns, but the Worms section of the DuOeAV was already working intensively there on its Wormser Hütte. A member of the Reutlingen section then suggested the site on the Wildebene in 1907. On 3 August 1909 the section inaugurated the Alte Reutlinger Hütte there. That hut burned down to its foundations in 1953. As a replacement, the Reutlingen section of the DAV used its Kaltenberghütte, which had been built for winter operations, in summer as well, but this was considered an unsatisfactory long-term solution. On the initiative of the section's first chairman, Walter Schöllkopf, the Neue Reutlinger Hütte was created as a self-catering hut. After 11 tonnes of material had been brought up by helicopter, its shell was erected in log-house style on the foundation of the burned building in only two days. It was inaugurated on 26/27 September 1970. In spring 1977 a dust avalanche pushed the hut 2 metres off its foundation. It was built so solidly that it remained largely intact as a whole, and in the following summer it was pulled back to its original position with winches. In 1987 the separate toilet hut was replaced by an annex. Heating and cooking were done with liquid gas until 1995, and with a wood stove since then. In 2002 the section built an annex on the east side for storing firewood, and in 2018 another annex with a composting toilet was added at the north-east corner. In 2020 the hut became the first self-catering hut in the Alpine region to be awarded the German Alpine Club's environmental seal of approval for Alpine Club huts by the DAV's federal association.

• 2020

  First self-catering hut in the Alpine region awarded the DAV environmental seal for Alpine Club huts.

• 2018

  Annex with composting toilet built at the north-east corner.

• 2002

  Annex for firewood storage built on the east side.

• 1995

  Heating and cooking switched from liquid gas to a wood stove.

• 1987

  Separate toilet hut replaced by an annex.

• 1977

  Dust avalanche pushes hut 2 m off its foundation; pulled back the following summer.

• 1970

  Neue Reutlinger Hütte inaugurated on 26/27 September after shell erected in two days.

• 1953

  Alte Reutlinger Hütte burns down to its foundations.

• 1909

  Alte Reutlinger Hütte inaugurated on 3 August.

• 1907

  A member of the Reutlingen section proposes the site on the Wildebene.

• 1905

  Reutlingen section of the DuOeAV founded.

A self-catering Alpine Club hut of the Reutlingen DAV section in the Verwall, serving hikers, climbers and mountaineers; the first self-catering hut in the Alpine region to receive the DAV environmental seal.

• Self-catering hut accommodation

• Hiking and mountaineering base

• Climbing access

1. 1Neue Reutlinger Hütte – DAV Sektion Reutlingendav-reutlingen.de
2. 2Über uns – DAV Sektion Reutlingendav-reutlingen.de
3. 3Sektionsgeschichte – DAV Sektion Reutlingendav-reutlingen.de
4. 4new Reutlinger hut – Wikidatawikidata.org
5. 5Neue Reutlinger Hütte – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org