Stubai Alps Peaks Traverse

Stubai Alps Peaks Traverse Itinerary

Travel/Arrival Day:

Travel Day – arrive at our hotel in Neustift, Stubai Valley (Austria). Dinner included at your hotel. Please have your daypack packed and ready to go for tomorrow morning!

Day 1: Neustift – Innsbrucker Hut

Breakfast at the hotel before you meet your guide. 8:30AM guide meeting in the hotel lobby for a trip briefing and distribution of rental equipment. Today is a warm-up day with a short approach hike to the Innsbrucker Hut (2369m) with an optional afternoon ascent of the Habicht (3277m), a dominant massif on the Elferkamm ridge and one of the most impressive panoramic mountains in the Stubai Alps.
We start the day with the “Pinnis Shuttle”, a taxi that takes from Neustift to Karalm (1737m). Our trail begins with a gentle hike through the Pinnistal valley before we take a steep trail up to Pinnisjoch ridge, gaining beautiful views of Habicht Peak (3277m). From here we cross the ridge to change over to the side of the Gschnitztal valley. The Innsbrucker Hut (2370m) is only a few minutes away now and is our resting place for the evening. We’ll have lunch at the hut and if the group is feeling up to it, optional ascent of Habicht Peak in the afternoon. Keep in mind that tomorrow is the longest and most strenuous day of your hut trek.
Distance: 3.6 km / 2.2 mi | Ascent: 626 m / 2053 ft | Descent: 10 m / 32 ft | Duration: 2 hrs
Distance with Habicht Peak: 8.8 km / 5.5 mi | Ascent: 1531 m / 5023 ft | Descent: 914 m / 2998 ft | Duration: 5.5 – 6.5 hrs

Day 2: Innsbrucker Hut to Bremer Hut

Breakfast at the Innsbrucker Hut. Today is a very long day. The distances do not sound overwhelming compared to the other days but don’t let that fool you. The undulating route has prolonged, steep ascents and descents on loose and exposed sections of trail with extended sections of via ferrata. If you are up for a challenge, the stunning views make this a very rewarding day.
The hike begins at the foot of the Habicht and leads uphill past the Alfaiersee lake to the Sendesgrat. The path continues through the Glättegrube leading to the second sustained climb toward Pramarspitze (2,511 m). From there, the route descends through the Wasenwand section, where ropes provide support, before crossing the Traulgrube. The third and final ascent leads to the Trauljöchl, starting with a gentle climb that gradually becomes steeper. After descending for about 25 minutes to a trail junction, the hike follows the right shore of the scenic mountain lake Lauterer See. The route then passes through a short chimney equipped with ropes and supports. We have two routes two choose from for the final push, one is a non-technical route and the other an easy via ferrata before reaching the Bremer Hut (2413m) for dinner and lodging.
Distance: 10.5 km / 6.5 mi | Ascent: 892 m / 2926 ft | Descent: 846 m / 2776 ft | Duration: 7-8 hrs

Day 3: Bremer Hut to Nuernberger Hut

Breakfast at the Bremer Hut. Trail hike with some cable-protected sections across the steep pass of the Simmingjoechl (2764m). A small shelter sits at the pass where we can leave our backpacks behind for an optional ascent of the glaciated Eastern Feuerstein (2967m). Descent to the Nuernberger Hut (2280m) for dinner and lodging.
Distance: 5.8 km / 3.6 mi | Ascent: 483 m / 1584 ft | Descent: 616 m / 2021 ft | Duration: 4-5 hrs
Distance with Feurerstein: 8 km / 5 mi | Ascent: 622 m / 2040 ft | Descent: 755 m / 2477 ft | Duration: 6-7 hrs

Day 4: Nuernberger Hut to Mueller Hut

Inclusions

Included:

• 5 x days of guiding by an internationally certified (UIAGM / IFMGA), English-speaking mountain guide or guide aspirant under supervision
• Guide expenses
• 2 x nights lodging at a hotel in Neustift
• 4 x nights multi-bed or dormitory lodging in mountain huts
• 6 x dinners
• 6 x breakfast
• Taxi or bus transfers from Neustift to the trailheads and back
• Equipment use: harnesses, helmets, carabiner and shock absorber set for via ferratas
• Glacier equipment use: ice axe
• All trip organization, reservations as well as assistance with all pre- and post- trip preparations

Not Included

• Single hotel room supplement (€40 – €90 per night)
• Boot crampons for glacier travel
• Airfare
• Airport shuttles
• Gondolas /chairlifts
• All beverages (water, alcoholic, and non-alcoholic)
• All lunches and snacks
• Insurance
• Any additional cost due to changes in the itinerary, may they be caused by weather, mountain conditions or personal preference

Custom Itinerary

On a custom trip basis we offer options to make this itinerary easier or more challenging, depending on your preference. Please inquiry for a custom itinerary and pricing.

Easier Variation of 5-Day Itinerary

The easier variation modifies day 1 and day 2 of the standard itinerary by removing the night at the Innsbrucker Hut:

Day 1: Neustift – Day Trip

Please have a packed lunch prepared for today’s trek.

Distance: 7.9 km / 4.9 mi  | Ascent: 950 m / 3116 ft | Descent: 950 m / 3116 ft | Duration: 6-7 hrs

4-Day Option: reduce the trip by 1 day by removing the day trip!

Day 2: Neustift to Bremer Hut

Breakfast at your hotel followed by an 8.30AM trip briefing with the guide. We will take a 40 min taxi ride to the Gasthof Feuerstein in Gschnitz, our trailhead for the trek to Bremer Hut (2413m).  We begin hiking along a paved road through forests and cow meadows towards Laponesalm (1472m) where we have the option to eat an early lunch here. Shortly after the Laponesalm, we branch off onto a signposted trail that leads us steeply through a lush mountain forest to a high plateau (~2000m) with several lakes and a great spot for a packed lunch. From there a gentler trail leads us above the treeline to the rustic, but comfortable Bremer Hut for dinner and lodging.

Distance: 8.4 km / 5.2 mi | Ascent: 1131 m / 3710 ft | Descent: 0 | Duration: 4-5 hrs

3-Day Extension Option of 5-Day Itinerary

The 3-day extension modifies day 5 of the standard itinerary and adds 3 more days of trekking.

Day 5: Mueller Hut to Hildesheimer Hut

The big summit day. We start with a roped scramble along an exciting rock ridge to the Wilder Pfaff (3458m). A quick descent on talus and glacier leads us to the Pfaffensattel (3330m), where we can deposit the backpacks for the ascent of the Zuckerhuetl (3505m), the highest peak in the Stubai Alps. Instead of descending, we spend the evening of day 5 at the Hildesheimer Hut (2899m).

Distance: 0 | Ascent: 0 | Descent: 0 | Duration: 0

Day 6: Hildesheimer Hut t0 

From there, we traverse four glaciers and three passes via the Bildstoeckeljoch (3144m), Wuetenkarscharte (3187m) and the Wuetenkarsattel (3115m) to the Amberger Hut (2135m) for dinner and lodging.

Distance: 0 | Ascent: 0 | Descent: 0 | Duration: 0

Day 7

Last big day: To the Wildgratscharte (3170m) with the option to climb the majestic Schrankogel (3450m) on the way. Descent to the Franz Senn Hut (2150m), one of the largest and most comfortable mountain lodges in Austria, for dinner and lodging. Showers available.

Distance: 0 | Ascent: 0 | Descent: 0 | Duration: 0

Day 8

Beautiful panoramic trail high above the Stubai Valley to the Starkenburger Hut for a late lunch and descent back to the Valley to lodge in our Hotel in Neustift.

Distance: 0 | Ascent: 0 | Descent: 0 | Duration: 0

Departure/Travel Day

Your trip officially concludes after breakfast.

Transportation

Our Stubai Alps Peaks Traverse begins from Neustift im Stubaital which is reachable from either Munich International Airport (closest Airport, about 3 hrs drive, mostly on highway, airport shuttle available) or from the main train station in Innsbruck (30 min drive / 50 minute bus ride).

If you arrive by Air to Munich, Innsbruck, Zurich there are regular shared and private shuttle services to Neustift im Stubaital which you can book online with Four Seasons Travel. Cost is approx 70 euro / person one way from Munich airport, prices vary from other airports.

If you arrive by Air / Train to Innsbruck, you can book shared or private shuttles with Four Seasons Travel.

If you’d prefer Public Bus Transport from Innsbruck, buses leave every hour (even during the night) from the main train station (Hauptbahnhof) to Neustift. The bus takes about 50 min, cost are about 6 Euros.

If you have a car: Neustift is located 30 min south of Innsbruck and 2.5 hrs south of Munich airport by car.

We gladly can help you arrange any of these transfers and pre or post hotel accommodations

FAQ

Do I need to sign a Release of Liability & Assumption of Risk Agreement (a.ka. liability waiver)?

Yes, you do. Mountaineering, skiing, climbing, hiking, via ferrata and all other wilderness and adventure travel activities are inherently risky with potential for injuries or even death.
It is very important to us that you are aware of those risks before you start the booking process, which includes filling out a booking form and paying a deposit.
With signing the liability waiver, you confirm that you understand the potential risks and hazards, and are willing to accept the risks, which includes giving up legal rights you may have.
This would also be the time to ask questions or address concerns before you book.
For your reference here is a link to our Liability Waiver. Our booking terms & cancellation policy with more details can be found here

Trip Related Questions:

What are the Huts like? Double Rooms? Showers? Food Choices?
The standard of the huts in the Dolomites differ hugely. While some of the huts that we are using for this trek are rather like mountain lodges that offer double or 4 bed rooms and showers in the hall (Lavarella, Lagazuoi, Drei Zinnen) others have only cold running water and bunk bed sleeping in rooms with up to 10 fellow sleepers (Fonda Savio, Buellelejoch). Smaller rooms are in short supply and cannot be guaranteed for every trip or guest. Huts supply pillows, duvets or wool blankets.The food is always delicious and plentiful with lots of choices. Special diets can usually be accommodated.

Can I buy boots / backpacks and other equipment in Cortina?
There are a few sport stores within close walking distance from the Hotel, namely the K2 Sport store and the Cooperativa. The latter is the large department store on the right side shortly after you enter the pedestrian mall. Their sporting department is upstairs and the often have the best deals!

Is there a luggage transport between huts? How much do we have to carry?
All huts and mountain lodges used for this trek are remotely located high in the mountains and away from paved roads. While a luggage transfer can be organized on a custom basis, it is costly and not customary. Instead most people travel lightly and only carry spare underwear & socks, light hut slippers and a few personal hygiene items beyond of what one would usually carry on a day trip. A 25 – 35 liter backpack should be sufficient weighing about 5 kg plus your daily supply of fluids. Don’t forget that the trip is divided into two legs of three days each – hence there is a chance to replenish with fresh clothing mid-trip.

You can also store luggage at your Cortina hotel whilst on trek.

Knowing that we are going hut to hut and carrying a lighter load, what is your recommendations on boots or trekking shoes?
If the weather is nice, we often wear approach shoes (low ankle hiking shoes with a vibram sole with good tread). You are sacrificing a bit of ankle support that a regular high ankle hiking boot would give you, especially in the gravelly sections, which there are a few. It’s also not so great in snow and if the trails are muddy. What we wouldn’t bring are trail running shoes (too flimsy, not enough tread, not enough water resistant) and stiff hiking boots (too cumbersome for walking and on the ferratas). But like any place in the mountains it can snow any day and any time of the year and if so, you may be happy for ankle high hiking boots?…sorry to have to give the “it depends” answer.

Should I take hiking poles?
We recommend using only one collapsible pole if any. On the via ferrata trails you can’t use them anyways and they can get in the way if they stick out too high from the backpack. Hiking poles can be rented or bought at the various sport shops in town.

Will I be able to access a cell network or Wi-Fi?
Internet access is available in Cortina at our hotel and many bars/cafes. Currently, the huts have no Wi-Fi, most people rely on the cell service, which is can be a bit spotty in most hut locations.  Make sure to inquire with your cell phone provider as to your roaming capabilities in Europe

Lunch is not included in the trip price. How is lunch handled during the Hut trek?

The lunch options depend on the day and preferences. Some days will see us passing by a hut close to lunch time giving us an option to stop and do a sit-down lunch. Most days we will bring pic-nic supplies, which gives us more flexibility, especially in high season when lots of huts are super-busy during lunch time. The pic-nic supplies can be bought in town and / or at the huts where we spend the night. Often the huts offer a lunch bag with sandwich, fruit, chocolate etc. if you order it the evening before. Most of our guests start off from town with a supply of snacks (granola bars, nuts, fruit, etc), breads, local cheese and dried meats (salami, speck) and supplement in the huts if need be.

 Are we roped up for this? I’m curious exactly how the Via Ferrata is done.
This seems to be a good example:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PEBtTp644I
You will see that you have 2 leashes attached to a device with a braking/shock system and that is attached to your harness.  When done properly, you are always attached to the cable and when you get to the end, you unclip one leash and attach it to the other side of the bolt and then the other so you are always secure.

Is drinking water available at huts or creeks in the Dolomites?
Generally all guarded huts in the Dolomites have running water. In a very few huts, it is labelled as “not potable” which is not because the water is contaminated but rather because it is not guaranteed that it is potable. For example at the Fonda Savio Hut the water is collected from surface water from a small glacier and the location of water collection changes over the summer and has to be adjusted at times. Most people drink the water at the huts with no problems. If you are uncomfortable with this, take tablets, water filters, water sterilizers, or purchase bottled water directly at the huts. A liter of mineral water costs around 3-4 euros.

Creek water in the Dolomites is usually potable and so far nobody that we know of ever had any problems. That being said, it is nice to drink from creeks that have a good flow and are originating in high regions that have no source of contamination (i.e. no grazing cows etc). We don’t recommend to drink from lakes in the Dolomites.

What are my options if I’d like to do Via Ferrata earlier or later in the season than the trip dates are offered in the Dolomites?
The better venue for early season is the area around the Garda Lake / Lago di Garda. It’s an awesome mix of lake country with a very steep limestone relief of almost 7000 feet and a base elevation of 300 ft = pleasant temps in May and no residual snow coverage.

Where can I do my laundry in Cortina?
Laundry service is available in Cortina at:  http://cortina.lavapiu.it/it/contatti.php  however its a bit out of town—probably 10 minutes by car.  You may be best off to bring a little container of liquid detergent (in a Nalgene or similar) and do a quick sink wash of your stuff and hang it to dry.

Do Huts & restaurants in Cortina, Misurina & Venice take major credit cards?

The most widely accepted credit card is Visa or MC. Many places do not accept Discover or Amex. Cash is king there! I would recommend pulling cash out of an ATM for smaller meals and purchases.

Most huts prefer cash but they can run credit cards for larger bills. Best to charge everything to your account/room and pay the evening before.

Will I need crampons in early season with residual snow in the Dolomites?
If you have YakTraks that is not a bad idea, especially in early season in years with a lot of residual snowpack and in the fall, when precipitation falls as snow in the higher elevations of the Dolomites already. Crampons (10 or 12 points) may be a bit much and a pain to carry.

Get to Know the Beautiful Resort Town of Cortina D’Ampezzo

Just 2 hours north of Venice, Cortina D’Ampezzo is the perfect mountain escape for international travellers drawn to the beauty of the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Cortina has been a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts since the 1930s. Its popularity grew in 1956 as a ski destination when it hosted the first Italian Winter Olympic Games. Summer popularity has grown over the years as sports like rock climbing, via ferrata, and hut-to-hut trekking became more mainstream. Boasting stunning valleys, hundreds of kilometres of hiking trails, 30 via ferrata routes, downhill biking trails, and some of the best ski resorts in Europe, Cortina continues to draw adventure-seekers from around the world.

What is the Shopping like in Cortina and the Dolomites?

You will find a wide variety of shopping in Cortina – from a multi-floor department store to luxury clothing stores. The most popular shopping area in Cortina d’Ampezzo is the Corso Italia pedestrian way. Here one can find souvenirs, popular fashion and clothing brands, designer boutiques, sports equipment, jewelry, antiques, art. Local artists and businesses also have shops downtown and are known for their “made in Italy” products. Sports Equipment Rental Shops are also found in the pedestrian area and rent hardgoods like hiking poles, rock climbing gear, and bikes.

Italian “Riposo”. What is it? Why do Shops and Restaurants Close in the Afternoon?

In Italy, you will come to find that many shops, grocery stores/supermarkets, and restaurants close for a few hours in the afternoon. This is called the “riposo” or in English, simply “rest”.  It is an integral part of Italian culture that typically sees Italians taking a 1.5 – 2 hour rest break after lunch. It is a cherished part of the day where Italians nap, rest, spent time with loved ones, avoid the heat during the hottest hours of the day, etc. Between 12:30 pm and 4 pm is when you will commonly see shops, and restaurants shut down so plan ahead!

Trip Details

Meeting Point

Meet your guide at 8AM on the first hiking day at our Hotel in Neustift in the Stubai Valley after breakfast.

Climate, Weather, Temperatures:

High season for all mountaineering in the Austrian Alps is July through mid-September, mainly due to the stable weather that time of the year. Day time temperatures can vary between 30C (86F) in the valleys to -10C (14F) on clear mornings, when we start our day from a high level hut. Snow is possible at any time in the higher elevations.

Medical/Rescue and Trip Cancellation Insurance

We strongly recommend the purchase of a travel insurance package that does cover adventure travel. Common policies sold by travel agents or policies included in your credit card contract tend to exclude “mountaineering”  if you read through the fine print. We recommend an adventure travel policy on our website at http://ontopmountaineering.com/travel-insurance/  which our clients had good experiences with in the past. *NEW: we now recommend including covid-19/pandemic coverage with your insurance policy.

Can I Do It?

Stubai Alps Peaks Traverser requires up to 8 hrs/day of strenuous trekking with passages of roped glacier travel and some easy scrambling, at times secured with cables to hold onto. The trek can be considered a bit less demanding than our Haute Route Trek in terms of cardio-vascular endurance but has some short passages, that are a bit more technical. Our Via Ferrata Trek “Best around Cortina” requires less endurance but more technical “scrambling”. The use of crampons might sometimes be required (Introduction and training session during the trek!)

Feedback

We will gladly put potential clients in touch with previous participants of each trip in order for interested guests to get more personalized references and their questions answered from a more objective point of view than what our office could provide.

“Excellent! Kurt is a professional. Felt very secure the best guide I had. Excellent organization and timely communication. Itinerary: Excellent! Fulfilled my expectations.” Veronia Q.,  Italy

“We found Moritz to be a very competent guide. This was our first time using a guide so we weren’t sure what to expect and have no standard to compare him with. He was a very skilled mountaineer and was able after the first couple days of hiking at the lower elevations to read our abilities and needs and adjust accordingly. For example my somewhat difficulty with heights was managed by him expertly. When he thought that we needed various forms of protection he employed them. He was also a good hiking companion and fun to be with. His English was a bit rough but we were able to communicate fine. At times he could be not clearly communicative as to what we were going to do and the route we were going to take. This was more the case on the last day when we were on our way back down from Muller Hut back down to the valley via Wilder Pfaff. This was exacerbated by bad weather namely freezing temperatures with blowing snow and slippery rocks and footing. He was hampered a bit by never having hiked in the area we travelled on the first three days but he dealt with it fine. He was familiar somewhat with the summit ridge on the last day although I’m not sure he had ever taken that exact route down off of the ridge to the ski area. I would use him again but it would be preferable that he be a bit more familiar with the high terrain. Overall I would give him a B+.
The itinerary was great. The high stuff especially on the last day in the less than good weather was a bit beyond our comfort zone but there isn’t anything wrong with stretching our limits and abilities.
The huts were fantastic! The only complaint was that the first 2 nights we seemed to have been given large bunk rooms with other people and Moritz had rooms to himself although for some reason at Bremer he would up in a spare bed in a utility closet. The food there was great.  I would give the trip a 9 and would recommend it to others.” John N., USA