Werfener Hütte

Werfener Hütte is a staffed alpine shelter (Schutzhütte) owned and operated by the Österreichischer Touristenklub (ÖTK), the Austrian Tourist Club. It sits at 1,967 metres above sea level in the Tennengebirge range of the Salzburg region, at the foot of the Werfener Hochthron in the Pongau district. It is the highest staffed hut in the Tennengebirge, and its sun terrace offers views over the Salzach valley, toward the Hochkönig and as far as the Hohe Tauern. The hut serves as a destination for hikers and a base for mountaineers. Numerous plateau traverses and summit ascents are possible from it, and climbing routes are also accessible; the hut's innkeeper can provide information. A climbing garden with ten routes graded IV to XIII (UIAA) lies directly behind the hut. Access routes include the Wengerau (960 m, car park) near Werfenweng via the Elmaualm (2¾ hours), Lampersbach (900 m) near Werfenweng via Faisenberggut and Elmaualm (3 hours), the Unterholzbauern (1,100 m, car park) near Pfarrwerfen via Mahdegg-Alm (2½ hours), and Werfen via Schladmingberg, Unterholz, Mahdegg, Fieberhornkar or Tanzboden (4 hours). The former toll road from Werfenweng to the Alpengasthof Mahdegg-Alm is closed. Transitions connect to the Elmaualm (1,520 m, 1 hour), Mahdegg-Alm (1,200 m, 1½ hours) and Edelweißerhütte (2,350 m) via Thronleiter and Throntal (moderate, 1½ hours). Summit options include the Werfener Hochthron (2,363 m, UIAA II–III, 1½ hours), Streitmandl (2,350 m) via Thronleiter and Throntal (moderate, 1½ hours), and Raucheck (2,432 m) via Thronleiter, Throntal and Hiefler (moderate, 2 hours). Climbing routes on the Kleines and Großes Fieberhorn are graded UIAA IV−. A notable operational challenge is the scarcity of water at the hut's location. Water often has to be carried up laboriously; the innkeeper uses two llamas to transport loads. On the path from Alpengasthof Mahdegg to the hut, water canisters labelled "Werfener Hütte" invite passing visitors to carry water up to the hut. Otherwise the hut can be supplied by helicopter, with a landing site about 50 metres east of the hut.

Werfener Hütte is a Schutzhütte (protected mountain shelter) of the Österreichischer Touristenklub (ÖTK), the Austrian Tourist Club. It is located at 1,967 metres above sea level in the Tennengebirge range, at the foot of the Werfener Hochthron in the Pongau district of Salzburg, Austria. It is the highest staffed hut in the Tennengebirge. From its sun terrace there is a view into the Salzach valley, toward the Hochkönig and as far as the Hohe Tauern. The hut serves as a destination for hikers and a base for mountaineers. Numerous plateau traverses and summit ascents are possible from it, and climbing routes are also accessible; the respective innkeeper of the hut can provide information. Access routes to the hut include: from the Wengerau (960 m, car park) near Werfenweng via the Elmaualm, walking time 2¾ hours; from Lampersbach (900 m) near Werfenweng via Faisenberggut and Elmaualm, 3 hours; from the Unterholzbauern (1,100 m, car park) near Pfarrwerfen via Mahdegg-Alm, 2½ hours; and from Werfen via Schladmingberg, Unterholz, Mahdegg, Fieberhornkar or Tanzboden, 4 hours. Note: the former toll road from Werfenweng to the Alpengasthof Mahdegg-Alm is closed. Transitions to other huts include: Elmaualm (1,520 m), 1 hour; Mahdegg-Alm (1,200 m), 1½ hours; Edelweißerhütte (2,350 m) via Thronleiter and Throntal, moderate, 1½ hours; further transitions are comparable to those of the Edelweißerhütte. Summit ascents include: Werfener Hochthron (2,363 m), difficulty according to UIAA: II–III, 1½ hours; Streitmandl (2,350 m) via Thronleiter and Throntal, moderate, 1½ hours; Raucheck (2,432 m) via Thronleiter, Throntal and Hiefler, moderate, 2 hours. Climbing routes on the Kleines and Großes Fieberhorn are graded UIAA IV−. Directly behind the Werfener Hütte there is a climbing garden with 10 different routes in difficulty grades IV to XIII. A particular challenge is the scarcity of water at the hut's location. Water often has to be carried up laboriously. The innkeeper uses two llamas for transporting loads. On the path from the Alpengasthof Mahdegg to the hut, water canisters labelled "Werfener Hütte" invite passing visitors to carry water up to the hut. Otherwise the Werfener Hütte can be supplied by helicopter; a landing site is located about 50 metres east of the hut. Literature and map: Albert Precht: Alpenvereinsführer Tennengebirge. Bergverlag Rother, Munich, ISBN 978-3-7633-1246-7; Alpenvereinskarte 1:25,000, sheet 13, Tennengebirge.

Highest staffed mountain hut in the Tennengebirge, serving hikers and mountaineers as a destination and base for summit ascents and plateau traverses.

• Staffed mountain hut accommodation

  Overnight stays and meals for hikers and mountaineers at 1,967 m.

• Climbing garden

  10 routes directly behind the hut, graded UIAA IV to XIII.

• Sonnenterrasse (sun terrace)

  Panoramic views over the Salzach valley, Hochkönig and Hohe Tauern.

1. 1Werfener Hütte – Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Werfener Hütte – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
3. 3Werfener Hütte – official websitewerfenerhuette.at