Totalphütte

The Totalphütte is a high-alpine mountain hut (Schutzhütte) operated by the Sektion Vorarlberg of the Österreichischer Alpenverein (ÖAV), the Austrian Alpine Club. It sits at 2,385 metres above sea level in the Rätikon range in Vorarlberg, Austria, on the ascent route from the Lünersee to the Schesaplana. The hut is recognised with the environmental seal of approval (Umweltgütesiegel) for Alpine Club huts awarded by the German and Austrian Alpine Clubs. The hut's origins lie in a former construction barracks of the Vorarlberger Illwerke AG, used during the drilling of a water diversion tunnel from the Brandner Glacier to the Totalpsee for the Lünerseewerk power station, which entered service in 1958. After the barracks became surplus and was slated for demolition, the ÖAV took it over, converted it, and began trial operation in 1964. In 1973/74 a two-storey disassembled Illwerke residential barracks was flown by helicopter from the Seebord to the Totalp and attached as a sleeping house on the north side. In 1988/89 the original construction barracks was demolished and replaced by the southern building section containing the kitchen and dining room. A sewage treatment plant and a material cable car followed. In January 2019, a powder avalanche that started at the Zirmenkopf severely damaged the hut, which had previously been considered avalanche-safe. The northern sleeping house from 1973/74 was almost completely destroyed except for its concrete cellar, and the southern section from 1988/89 was shifted 5 to 10 cm off its foundation and riddled with large cracks. The damaged southern wing was initially stabilised for the summer 2019 season, then demolished and replaced by a new building. The hut reopened in July 2020. The ÖAV Sektion Vorarlberg initially estimated damage at about 2.5 million euros; the reconstruction ultimately cost 3.1 million euros. The Totalphütte is typically open each summer from mid-June to early October. It has two dining rooms seating about 85 guests and a terrace with space for a further 160. A winter room with 10 mattress places remains available outside the summer season. The hut is supplied by helicopter at the start of the season and twice weekly by material cable car during the season, since no vehicle road reaches it. It is powered by grid electricity, photovoltaic systems and a small turbine. The hut is a popular base for tours in the Rätikon, including the classic route through the Zalimtal to the Mannheimer Hütte and over the Brandner Glacier to the Schesaplana.

The Totalphütte began as a construction barracks of the Vorarlberger Illwerke AG during the building of the Lünerseewerk power station, which entered service in 1958. The Illwerke drilled a water diversion tunnel from the Brandner Glacier to the Totalpsee through the ridge north of the present hut, between the Zirmenkopf (2,805 m) and the Seekopf (2,698 m). When the barracks was no longer needed and was slated for demolition, the Österreichischer Alpenverein (ÖAV) took it over, converted it, and began trial operation in 1964. In 1973/74, a two-storey disassembled Illwerke residential barracks was transported by helicopter from the Seebord, the natural northern boundary of the Lünersee, to the Totalp. It was rebuilt as a sleeping house attached to the north side of the construction barracks. This sleeping house was later destroyed by the 2019 avalanche. In 1988/89 the original construction barracks was demolished and replaced on the same spot by the southern building section containing the kitchen and the dining room. A sewage treatment plant and a material cable car were added later. After a grid cable was laid to the Totalp, the winter room was moved out of the 1988/89 building into a diesel generator house about 50 m to the south. The 1988/89 building received a western annex in place of the external staircase that had led to the earlier winter room, enlarging the dining room among other things. In the snow-rich January of 2019, a powder avalanche that started at the Zirmenkopf crossed the hollow west of the Totalpsee and ran about 50 metres up the opposite slope on which the hut stands. The northern side of the building, the sleeping house from 1973/74 with sleeping and sanitary rooms that had been renovated shortly before the avalanche, was completely shattered except for the concrete cellar, so only recovery and demolition of the remains were possible. The southern, larger building section from 1988/89 was crossed by large cracks and shifted 5 to 10 cm from its foundation. From mid-February 2019, rescue work was underway after tools were flown in by helicopter and a repair crew was quartered in the southern part of the main building and in the winter room. The heavily damaged southern wing was first stabilised for the summer 2019 season at a cost in the upper five-figure range, but contrary to initial assessments that assumed it would be preserved, it was then demolished and replaced by a new building. Only the western annex built about ten years earlier on the west gable of the 1988/89 building was lightly damaged and remains; it stands somewhat away from the main avalanche path and, not being anchored on a concrete foundation, reacted relatively elastically to the avalanche pressure. The top support of the material cable car was also bent. From the end of June 2019, a summer operation with greatly reduced overnight capacity took place, with only 34 instead of 95 sleeping places. Twelve sleeping containers and two sanitary containers were set up by helicopter, and the largely usable kitchen and the part of the dining room in the lightly damaged annex were used. The 30-year-old material cable car was provisionally repaired so that it could be used again in the 2019 summer season, and after the season it was replaced by a new one. The new cable car, unlike the old one, is also approved for transporting staff. The reopening took place in July 2020. The ÖAV Sektion Vorarlberg initially assumed damage of about 2.5 million euros; the reconstruction ultimately cost 3.1 million euros. Access to the hut is from the Brandnertal: after the ascent from Schattenlagant (valley station of the Lünerseebahn, 1,565 m) to the Lünersee, or using the cable car (mountain station at 1,979 m), the Totalphütte is reachable on a hiking trail from the mountain station in 1¼ hours. A very popular tour in the Rätikon leads through the Zalimtal to the Mannheimer Hütte and, after crossing the Brandner Glacier (walkable in summer with mountain boots and poles), to the summit of the Schesaplana (or around the summit via the Südwandsteig), with a descent to the Totalphütte and the Lünersee. The hut is managed every summer from about mid-June to early October. Two dining rooms seat about 85, and the terrace seats a further 160 guests. In 2009 the service system in the hut was renewed and modernised, allowing very fast service even at full capacity. Supply and disposal are a particular challenge because no vehicle road leads to the hut. A basic stock is brought by helicopter before the season begins. During the season, fresh supplies are delivered twice weekly by the material cable car. Food must be transported up with the Lünerseebahn and then reloaded onto a small truck that brings the goods along the northwest section of the well-built Lünersee circular path to the material cable car, which leads directly into the hut's cellar. The winter room with 10 mattress places was spared by the 2019 avalanche. It is equipped with a 1-euro coin machine that releases grid power for light, hotplates, sockets and heating for 30 minutes per coin. The hut is currently supplied with grid electricity and by photovoltaic systems and a small turbine; depending on demand, the hut can choose between energy sources, or at high consumption all are used.

• 2020

  The hut reopens in July after reconstruction costing 3.1 million euros.

• 2019

  A powder avalanche in January severely damages the hut; summer operation takes place with only 34 sleeping places using containers.

• 2009

  The service system in the hut is renewed and modernised.

• 1988

  The original construction barracks is demolished and replaced by the southern building section with kitchen and dining room.

• 1973

  A two-storey disassembled Illwerke residential barracks is flown by helicopter from the Seebord to the Totalp and attached as a sleeping house.

• 1964

  The ÖAV takes over the former Illwerke barracks, converts it and begins trial operation as the Totalphütte.

• 1958

  The Lünerseewerk power station enters service; the Illwerke construction barracks that later becomes the hut is built.

A traditional high-alpine Alpine Club hut offering simple, cash-only accommodation and food in a remote Rätikon setting, with an environmental quality seal.

• Summer hut accommodation

  Overnight stays in the hut during the summer season, typically mid-June to early October.

• Dining rooms and terrace

  Two dining rooms seating about 85 and a terrace seating about 160 guests.

• Winter room

  A winter room with 10 mattress places, equipped with a 1-euro coin machine for power.

• Material cable car

  A material cable car supplying the hut directly into its cellar; the new cable car is also approved for staff transport.

1. 1Totalp | Lünersee | Totalp-Hütte 2385 m, Rätikon (Alpenverein Vorarlberg)totalp.at
2. 2Totalphütte – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Totalphütte – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org