Pfeishütte

The Pfeishütte (also written Pfeis-Hütte) is a mountain hut of the Austrian Alpine Club (Österreichischer Alpenverein), owned by its Innsbruck section and situated at 1,922 metres above sea level in the Karwendel range of Tyrol, Austria. It stands above the Samertal valley on the northern side of the Inntalkette, close to the city of Innsbruck, in the area known as the Nordkette. Because of its central location and the many routes that radiate from it, the hut is an important base for multi-day mountaineering tours in the Karwendel as well as for summit ascents. It is also popular with mountain bikers and day hikers. The hut was built in 1925/1926 at a cost of about 140,000 Schilling and opened on 18 September 1927. It has been continuously maintained while preserving its original wooden panelling and wall finishes in the dining rooms and dormitories. Modern sanitary facilities with warm water and showers were added, and since 2017 the building has been protected as a historic monument. In winter the hut is closed, but an unlocked winter room in an adjacent building is available for ski tourers. Supplies are brought in over a 20 km access road from Scharnitz. Drinking water originally came from a spring and a 48 m³ high-level tank above the building (water rights granted in 1950); in 1991 a second, more productive spring below the alp was tapped and its water is pumped up to the hut. From 1998 the hut was adapted to stricter environmental standards: solar arrays now provide the entire electricity supply, and a full biological sewage treatment plant (trickling filter and gravel bed) treats wastewater. For these efforts the Pfeishütte received the Austrian Alpine Club's environmental seal of approval in 1999. The hut is run by tenants Gerhard Baumgartner and Martha Stricker-Baumgartner, with Simon Kinzner as hut warden. It offers 23 beds in rooms and 37 places in mattress dormitories. Payment is cash only, the latest check-in for overnight guests is before 18:00, and dogs are not permitted. The summer season runs from mid-June to early October; in winter the hut is closed. Access routes include the easy 5-hour walk from Scharnitz through the Gleirschtal and Samertal (also rideable by mountain bike), the 3-hour route from Halltal over the Stempeljoch, the 1½-hour Goetheweg from the Hafelekar station of the Nordkettenbahn, and longer approaches from Arzl, Hungerburg or Rum. The hut is a starting point for numerous summits including the Mandlspitze, Gleirschtaler Brandjoch, Gleirschspitze, Rumer Spitze, Pfeiser Spitze, Lattenspitze, Stempeljochspitze, Hintere Bachofenspitze, Sonntagkarspitze, Kaskarspitze and Östliche Praxmarerkarspitze.

To better open up the southern Karwendel mountains, the responsible Innsbruck section of the DuOeAV decided to build a hut in the central alpine basin of the Pfeis. It was constructed in 1925/1926 at a cost of about 140,000 Schilling and opened on 18 September 1927. From the beginning it recorded pleasing visitor numbers. The original wooden panelling and wall finishes in the dining rooms and dormitories have been preserved to this day. Maintenance work has always been carried out under expert supervision and with careful preservation of the original building fabric. Modern sanitary facilities with warm water and showers guarantee a comfortable stay in the high alpine Karwendel. Since 2017 the hut has been protected as a historic monument. Supplying the hut is not entirely simple: all transport must be carried out over a 20 km access road from Scharnitz. The drinking water supply for the alp originally came from a spring and a high-level tank (48 m³) above the alp building (water rights granted in 1950). In 1991 a further spring with a much higher yield (below the alp) was tapped. This water is transported to the alp building by a pump system. In 1998 work began to adapt the hut to the increasing requirements of environmental protection. Today modern, environmentally friendly solar systems provide the entire electricity supply. In addition, a full biological sewage treatment plant (trickling filter and gravel bed) was built to treat wastewater. For these efforts toward exemplary, contemporary hut management, the Pfeishütte received the coveted environmental seal of approval for Alpine Club huts in 1999.

• 2017

  The hut is placed under historic monument protection.

• 1999

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

• 1998

  Work begins to adapt the hut to stricter environmental standards, including solar power and a biological sewage plant.

• 1991

  A second, more productive spring below the alp is tapped and pumped to the hut.

• 1950

  Water rights granted for the spring and 48 m³ high-level tank.

• 1927

  Hut opened on 18 September.

• 1926

  Construction completed at a cost of about 140,000 Schilling.

• 1925

  Construction of the Pfeishütte begins.

A traditional, environmentally certified alpine club hut serving as a central base for mountaineering, hiking and mountain biking in the Karwendel range.

• Overnight accommodation

  23 beds in rooms and 37 places in mattress dormitories.

• Winter room

  An unlocked winter room in an adjacent building for ski tourers when the hut is closed.

• Meals and drinks

  Food and beverages for day visitors and overnight guests.

1. 1Pfeis-Hüttealpenverein.at
2. 2Pfeishüttewikidata.org
3. 3Pfeishüttede.wikipedia.org