Oberreintalhütte

The Oberreintalhütte, also known as Franz-Fischer-Hütte, is a self-catering mountain hut owned and operated by the Sektion Garmisch-Partenkirchen of the Deutscher Alpenverein (German Alpine Club). It sits at 1,532 metres above sea level in the Oberreintal valley within the Wetterstein Mountains of Bavaria, Germany. The hut is deliberately simple: there is no telephone connection, no internet, and no catering service. Visitors must bring their own food, which the hut warden uses to prepare a communal evening meal. Since 1994 the hut has had a solar power system and a small water turbine with battery storage; a composting toilet was added in 2000. Washing and showering take place outdoors. The hut primarily serves climbers, as the surrounding walls of the Dreitorspitze, Schlüsselkarspitze, Scharnitzspitze, Oberreintalschrofen, and Zunderkamm offer up to 300 alpine climbing routes. It is not accessible by road; the approach is on foot and takes about five hours from Garmisch-Partenkirchen via the Partnachklamm gorge and the Reintal valley. The hut is a popular base for climbers and is known for its unique greeting, "Hei, mi leckst am Arsch!" (to which one replies "und du mi aa"), a tradition dating back to a legendary encounter between Franz Fischer and Anderl Heckmair in 1928. The hut was built by the Sektion Garmisch-Partenkirchen and inaugurated on 10 September 1922. It was named after the Oberreintal valley, but in climbing circles it is often called Franz-Fischer-Hütte after the long-serving hut warden Franz Fischer, who managed it from 1934 to 1939 and again from 1948 to 1953. The official name remains Oberreintalhütte to avoid confusion with the Franz-Fischer-Hütte of the Austrian Alpine Club. Over the decades the hut has been expanded and modernised, notably in 1959, 1978, and 1985. It continues to operate as a self-catering shelter, currently managed by hut warden Anja Härtl since 2022.

The Oberreintalhütte was built by the Sektion Garmisch-Partenkirchen of the Deutscher Alpenverein. The idea for a hut in the Oberreintal valley dates back to 1898, when the Akademischer Alpenverein München submitted a proposal. In 1912 the Sektion Garmisch-Partenkirchen made a similar request to the forest office. Permission to build an unserviced hut was granted in 1915, and in 1920 it was decided that the Sektion Garmisch-Partenkirchen would construct it. Planning was completed and financing secured by 1921. The shell and roof were finished in mid-October 1921, and interior work followed in 1922. The hut was inaugurated on 10 September 1922. In its early years the hut was a pure self-catering shelter with only sporadic supervision. Visitor numbers were modest, almost exclusively climbers; in 1927 only 257 visitors were recorded. This changed after 29 May 1933, when the Nazi regime introduced the "Tausend-Mark-Sperre" (Thousand Mark Barrier), requiring German citizens to deposit 1,000 Reichsmarks to cross into Austria. Most mountaineers could not afford this, so they increasingly turned to German mountain areas, including the Oberreintal. As visitor numbers grew, a permanent hut warden became necessary. From 1934, the legendary Franz Fischer served as hut warden, also acting as mountain rescue. Fischer managed the hut with sharp wit but a sovereign heart from 1934 to 1939 and again from 1948 to 1953. In 1939 Fischer was called up for flight watch service; during the war and immediate post-war period the hut remained closed, with only limited operation for mountain troops. A legendary episode occurred in 1928: Franz Fischer, having just completed a climb on the Oberreintalturm, shouted in joy, "Hei, mi leckst am Arsch!" Anderl Heckmair (first ascensionist of the Eiger North Face), who was topping out on a nearby summit of the Zunderkopf, cheerfully replied, "Und du mi aa!" Thus, according to legend, was born the enduring greeting and battle cry of the Oberreintal: "Hei, mi leckst am Arsch!" answered with "und du mi aa". The greeting is immortalised on the bench in front of the hut. In climbing circles, among Werdenfels alpinists, and even within the owning section, the hut is usually called Franz-Fischer-Hütte after the long-serving warden. Officially, however (for example in the Alpine Club hut directory), it still bears the name Oberreintalhütte, not least to avoid confusion with the Franz-Fischer-Hütte of the Austrian Alpine Club. After Franz Fischer, a series of hut wardens followed, most staying only one summer for various reasons: 1954 Sepp Burghardt, 1955 Martl Hutter, then Werner Kübler and Karl Gottmann. From 1960 to 1964 Schorsch Vogl, from 1964 to 1967 Sepp Dengg. From 1979 to 1984 Charly Wehrle, succeeded by Siglinde Hornemann. In 2000 Hans Bader became hut warden, managing it until 2022. Since 2022 Anja Härtl has been hut warden. In 1958 the hut was supplied by helicopter for the first time; until then all food and materials had to be carried up on foot. In 1959, 1978, and 1985 the hut was expanded, converted, and modernised. In 1963 a plastic pipe was laid to the spring, ensuring a reliable water supply. Since 1994 the hut has had a solar power system and a small water turbine with battery storage; in 2000 a composting toilet was added. Teeth are brushed at an open washing spot, and showers are taken outdoors.

• 2022

  Anja Härtl becomes hut warden.

• 2000

  Composting toilet added; Hans Bader becomes hut warden (until 2022).

• 1994

  Solar power system and water turbine with battery storage installed.

• 1963

  Plastic pipe laid to spring for reliable water supply.

• 1959

  Hut expanded and modernised.

• 1958

  First helicopter supply of the hut.

• 1948

  Franz Fischer resumes as hut warden (until 1953).

• 1934

  Franz Fischer becomes hut warden (until 1939).

• 1933

  Tausend-Mark-Sperre leads to increased German visitors; permanent hut warden organised.

• 1927

  Only 257 visitors recorded.

• 1922

  Interior work completed; hut inaugurated on 10 September.

• 1921

  Shell and roof completed in mid-October.

• 1920

  Decision that Sektion Garmisch-Partenkirchen will build the hut.

• 1915

  Permission granted to build an unserviced hut.

• 1912

  Sektion Garmisch-Partenkirchen submits hut construction request to forest office.

• 1898

  First proposal for a hut in Oberreintal by Akademischer Alpenverein München.

A deliberately simple, self-catering mountain hut for climbers, preserving a traditional alpine experience.

• Self-catering accommodation

  Simple overnight stays without catering; visitors bring their own food.

• Communal evening meal

  Hut warden prepares a shared evening meal from food brought by guests.

• Climbing base

  Access to up to 300 alpine climbing routes in the surrounding mountains.

1. 1hbgap oberreintalhbgap.de
2. 2Oberreintalhütte - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Oberreintalhütte - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org