Ötztal Trek Route 6

Stage 21:

First, you hike from the hut into the Funduskar. The good trail then runs in steep terrain in switchbacks up to just below the Fundusfeiler gully and goes into the gully. It is almost a mountaineering obligation to add about 150 m more elevation at the Feilerscharte and to climb the 3,079 m high viewpoint Fundusfeiler. Then it goes down north into the so-called “Black Hole”. Afterwards, keep right at a route fork and hike through beautiful alpine pasture terrain west above the Leierstal. The trail later winds in switchbacks up a steep slope to a kind of saddle. Beyond that, the crystal-clear Wettersee appears, one of the most beautiful mountain lakes in the entire Ötztal. We go down a few meters to the lake and reach the Erlanger Hütte in a few minutes.


Stage 22:

On the route from the Erlanger Hütte via the Forchheimer route to Ötztal Station, it is highly advisable to stay overnight at the Maisalm, as otherwise more than 2,350 m of descent would have to be managed in one day. From the hut, it goes north down until we cross the slopes outward. On a trail, it goes up to a ridge and beyond steeply into the innermost Tumpental. We ascend to the Murmentenkarjoch.

Beyond there, the route descends northwards to the small Forchheimer bivouac box (emergency shelter, accessible without a key, four beds, 3 h). It goes down along the ridge; the Hahnenkamm is bypassed on the east side. Then it continues to the Vorderer Geigenkamm, from where the trail leads to the Mutkopf and the Muthütte (not managed). On a cart track further down to the Maisalm (6 h from Erlanger Hütte) – overnight stay here (reserve in advance). Via a drive and footpath and then again via a drive path, we reach the valley town of Roppen the next day. There we hike east along the drive path next to the railway line and follow the Ötztal bike path along the Ötztaler Ache to Ötztal Station.