Kaunergrathütte

Overview

The Kaunergrat hut is located at the Obere Pitztal with a height of 2.817 m.
The hut stands near the Plangeroßferner and near to the beginning of the east-ridge to the Watzespitze (3.533 m). The Kaunergrat hut is the highest located hut in the Pitztal.

The hut was built in 1903. Since 2003 the hut belongs to the DAV section Mainz and it was renovated and modernized.

The hut is a worthwhile target for hikers for a day trip and for route hikers an important stopover. For mountaineers there are many great and challenging mountains around.

The hut also is base for climbing schools like DAV Summit Club. There is an own education room in the hut.

Next to the hut there are some training climbing routes.

You have a great view to the mountains of the Kaunergrat and of the Geigenkamm vis-à-vis.
There are also often some Capricorns near the hut.

The hut has a big sun terrace to the south east side, so you can catch the actinisms nearly the whole day.

There are 3 rooms with 4, 5 and 6 stockyards and a big room with 13 stockyards. In the next-door building there are 2 more rooms and a big room with 23 sleeping places.

The hut has a modern kitchen and a very recommendable lunch!

Coordinates:
• 46° 59,634' / 10° 48,425'
• UTM (WGS 84): 0637399 / 5206070 / 32T

Maps & Guidebooks

Maps:
- AV-Karten 1:25.000 Nummern 30/3 (Ötztaler Alpen/Kaunergrat) and 30/5 (Ötztaler Alpen/Geigenkamm)
- Freytag & Berndt 1:50.000 Number 251.
- Kompass Number 035, 042 and 043.
- "Pitztal Kaunertal" with hiking possibilities inside, available in the Tourist-Infos in the Pitztal.

Guidebooks
- Walter Klier: Ötztaler Alpen. Für Wanderer, Kletterer und Bergsteiger (14. Auflage 2006), ISBN 3-7633-1123-8 (Alpenvereinsführer, Bergverlag Rother).
- H. und W. Klier "Pitztal" (Rother Wanderführer, Bergverlag Rother).

How to get there

The villages in the valley are Plangeroß (1.617 m), Mandarfen (1.675 m) o Trenkwald in the Pitztal.
The starting place depends on the route you want to take to the hut.

1. Normal route from Plangeroß (easy)
Starting in Plangeroß (1.617 m) you first pass the Pitze (the river in the Pitztal), then you hike through the woods via trail 927 to the Ptumbledowned Plangeroß-Alm and then via the trail 926 to the hut.
Time: ca. 3 h 30 min.

2. From Mandarfen
You take the ropeway from Mandarfen (1.675 m) to Riffelsee (Restaurant 2.291 m) or you hike the hiking trail through the Hirschtal to Riffelsee (time ca. 1:30 h). About 50 m above the Riffelsee the Cottbuser Höhenweg (trail 926) starts.
You need alpine experience and must be a good hiker. You hike via Karlesegg (2.452 m) to the hut.
Time from Riffelsee: ca. 3 h30 min.

3. From Trenkwald
From Trenkwald (1.510 m) at the trail 926 to the Neururer Alpe (2.050 m). Then to the Mittelbergles See (2.446 m).
Time: ca. 6 h.

4. From Kaunertal via Verpeilhütte
From the Verpeilhütte in 3 h 30 min.

Climbing / Hiking possibilities

1. To Plangeroßkopf (3.053 m)
Follow the signs Schwabenkopf or Verpeilspitze, pass the trinking water reservoir and reach the top with the small summit cross.
Time: 1 h 30 min.
From Plangeroßkopf you reach Schwaben Joch (3.196 m) in 2 more hours.

2. To Aperes Madatschjoch (3.020 m)
Time: 2 h.

3. Watze Spitze (3.533 m) Gletscherweg II, East ridge IV

4. Westgrat Verpeil Spitze (3.425 m) Normal route II+

5. Schwabenkopf (3.376 m) South ridge II

6. Seekarlesschneid (3.207 m) IV

7. Parstleswand und -ridge (3.096 m) II+

8. Madatschtürme in the Kaunertal (2.831 m) II-III

9. Pitz Maskus Westkante IV-V

10.Riffelseehütte (2.293 m), Time: 3 h via Cottbuser Höhenweg

11.Verpeilhütte (2.025 m), Time: 2 h 45 min (via Aperes Madatsch Joch, 3.020 m)

12.Rüsselsheimer Hütte (2.323 m), Time: 4 h 30 min

In winter

There is a permantly opened winter room so you can use the hut as base for ski tours and for snow-shoe-hikers in winter and spring.

External links:

Homepage Kaunergrathütte

Link Pitztal

Images

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