Hiking (mountain trail, in places narrow and exposed)
Alpine route (equipped or very exposed section, snow field, blocks)
R38
Finkenberg » Rastkogelhütte
|
7h15 |
22.4 km
|
1980 m
|
701 m
A somewhat longer stage follows the last two leisurely ones, the destination being the Rastkogel hut at an altitude of 2,117m. The trail starts off on an incline at the Penken mountain. It passes through a number of little settlements, and crosses meadows and woodland before arriving in the hamlet of Morbach, where the climb to the Rastkogel hut begins.
In Finkenberg, Via Alpina continues directly from the main entrance of the church. Here, follow the signposting in the direction of “Astegg”. After a short stretch uphill on the asphalt road, a hiking trail branches off to the left. Here, follow trial number 25, although it is also possible to take the Marienweg or Wasserfallweg trails, as they end up in the same place. The trail leads uphill through the wood and across the meadows and ends exactly at the entrance to the “Gletscherblick” inn, where you can have a 2nd breakfast. Climb the steps and keep to the right once on the road, continuing to follow trail no. 25. You must now follow the asphalt road for a while, but it does offer a wonderful view over Finkenberg and the entire lower Zillertal valley. Any turnoffs uphill over the steep mountain pastureland are not advisable! After several hairpin bends, you will reach the Astegg inn after approx. 1h. A well is also situated here and offers the opportunity to stock up on water for the next rather steep climb to the Penken mountain. Exactly at the “Oberegger” farmstead, the trail leads uphill to the left until reaching the hairpin bend in the road. From here, follow trail no. 2 in the direction of Penken and Gschößwand. Once again, you must follow the asphalt road for a while, although it dwindles off into a gravel road just after the second bend. Just after the start of the gravel road, a track branches off to the left into the wood. Follow it to walk uphill through more or less sparse mountain woodland, crossing the forest road another few times. Finally, the trail arrives at a cattle gate and covers the last stretch across the alpine pastureland to the “Penken Express” station. Turn right again once on the asphalt road, pass below the Penkenbahn railway and head directly to the Gschößwand inn, which is in a wonderful setting and offers a fantastic view over the mountain scenery and the Zillertal valley (1h 40min). From here, take trail no. 24. Before the Gschößwand inn, head to the left and briefly uphill, then take the next right onto a track that starts off on an almost level course through beautiful alpine pastures covered in alpine roses and cembran pine. Afterwards, follow a somewhat steeper and partially rather damp downhill course, before continuing through denser woods on a gentle descent. An approx. 30min walk will take you to a forest path. Cross it and continue along the track until reaching Mösl (1h 10min). In Mösl, continue along the asphalt road in the direction of the Rastkogel Hut. The trail bears the numbers 18 and 302A. Follow the road until the luxuriant Pointalm meadow, then take a track behind the meadow to continue. This soon opens out onto the forest road to the Rastkogel Hut, which must be followed until reaching the destination for this stage (2h 30min). In the Mösl, the "Alpengasthof Mösl" alpine inn offers accommodation for all those who wish to save the climb over the Almrundwanderweg trail to the Rastkogel Hut for the next day. (Christina Schwann, OeAV with the kind support of Gudrun Wallentin, High Alpine Zillertal Alps Nature Park)
Natural and cultural heritage
The little village of Finkenberg has quite a lot to offer. There is the legend-steeped “Teufelsbrücke” (devil’s bridge) over the Tuxerbach, for instance, which you cross on the trail from Karlsteg to Finkenberg. Legend has it that the farmers of Finkenberg built it in order to play a trick on the devil himself by having him build the bridge, in return for which they promised that the first living being to cross it would belong to him. When the bridge was ready, they sent a nanny-goat across the bridge. This made the devil extremely angry, and he grabbed the animal by the horns and rode away on it. And there is also another creepy story that has been woven around the village: the wild story of the "Zingerle". The “Zingerle” was a notorious murderer of women. He is responsible for several rapes and murders, for which he was then finally sentenced. But people say that he was able to break out of prison and hide in a cave in the Jochberg woodland just above the trail from Karlsteg to Finkenberg. In Tyrol, the Zingerle became an eerie legend. A teacher from Bruneck says: “My maternal grandmother used to always say to my mother: take care when you wander off into the woods or the Zingerle will get you.” Although in earlier days, summer tourism was of special importance for the Zillertal valley and particularly for Mayrhofen, today it has undoubtedly been replaced by winter tourism. An increasing number of mountains and of course also glaciers have been developed and equipped with the most modern lifts, such as the Penken ski lift. World-famous slalom skiers such as Stefan Eberharter and Markus Kröll come from the Zillertal valley and prefer to train on the local mountains. (Christina Schwann, OeAV, Gudrun Wallentin, Zillertal Alps Nature Park)
Other long-distance trails and alternative routes
From the Rastkogel Hut, you can take the route via the Weidener Hut, then the Lizumer Hut, the Glungezer Hut and the Patscherkofel-Schutzhaus lodge to Innsbruck, the seat of the permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention. From there, it is possible to reach either the Karwendelhaus lodge or directly Scharnitz (stage R43), via the Pfeis Hut and the Hallerangerhaus lodge.
Favourites, criticisms ? Make your personal comments on this stage. For more general notes please use the comments section of the page Over to the Via Alpinists.
Carsten - 2022-01-10
Water at Pfundsalm, Lamarkalm, and Maschentalalm.
The guidebook includes the 2-hour ascent to the Kellerjochhuette in both R39 and R40.
Carsten - 2022-01-10
(2) No water at Rastkofelhuette; possibilities before and after (some judgment required as to quality).
Highline / ridge trail alternative from Finkenberg: Take Finkenberger Almbahn (gondola) to the very top (Penkenjochhaus) and continue from there via the Rastkogel to the Rastkogelhuette. Maps.me has the trail with 4 hours 33 minutes, 13km and 704m of elevation gain (and a similar elevation loss in the diagram); I would probably double-check in Finkenberg as to the difficulty; as far as I can tell from looking at the Rastkogel (peak), it’s not difficult.
Carsten - 2022-01-10
(1) In sunny weather, the first climb of the day in the morning up a South-East facing hillside is nicely warm, and after the descent the second climb of the day in the afternoon up a West-facing hillside is also nicely warm.
I took the Finkenberg gondula to its Mittelstation (first leg only) and then walked over (100m elevation gain, then level, then down) to the Penken Bahn station, where I joined R38 after a 5min descent; total walking time 1 hour. This was the only worthwhile hiking that I experienced in the Zillertal.
Rerouting of trail to Moesl, different from guidebook/GPS coordinates (also from AllTrails map), with original trail seemingly under nature restoration. This means a descent to 1327m before ascending towards Moesl (with another short descent in the 15min before Moesl).
sennburk - 2020-07-06
strBis zum Gschösswandhaus ist der Weg recht einfach zu finden-danach wird es mit der Orientierung schwieriger - gleich beim Gschößwandhaus rechts zum Steig Richtung Mösl- man kann auch am Weg Nr. 24 bleiben über die Kressbrunnalm nach Mösl gelangen. Almhof Roswitha lädt zu einer Jause ein. Danach über herrliche Almböden zur Rastkogelhütte. Schiane Griaß Burki
Lolo - 2019-07-29
Bonne montée de 1000m pour commencer puis redescente à Mosl avant de remonter 700 m vers le refuge Raskogelhütte. Balisage moyen pas continu de bout en bout. Arrivé à 14h , je poursuis sur Hochfügen en 2h de descente. Peu d'hebergement ...Hotel Berghotel superbe. 1/2 pension 89€.
Automatic translation
[Google]
Good climb of 1000m to start then down to Mosl before going up 700 m towards the refuge Raskogelhütte. Average markup not continuous from end to end. Arrived at 14h, I continue on Hochfügen in 2h descent. Little accommodation ... Hotel Berghotel superb. 1/2 pension 89 €.
Die Rastkogelhütte ist leider nicht zu empfehlen. Die Gastwirte sind sehr unfreundlich und diese Unfreundlichkeit macht sich im ganzen Haus bemerkbar.
Da wir in der Hütte nichts verzehrt, sondern uns draußen selbst versorgt hatten, mussten wir pro Person 5,- „Infrastrukturbeitrag“ zahlen, worauf wir vorher nicht hingewiesen wurden.
Ich kann den Grundgedanken verstehen, dass ein Konsum in der Hütte gewünscht wird, allerdings kann dies auch anders und netter kommuniziert werden.
Wir haben uns hier rundum unwohl und nicht willkommen gefühlt.
Automatic translation
[Google]
The Rastkogelhütte is unfortunately not recommended. The innkeepers are very rude and this unfriendliness makes itself felt throughout the house. Since we had not consumed anything in the hut, but had taken care of ourselves outside, we had to pay per person 5, - "infrastructure contribution", which we were not previously informed. I can understand the basic idea that a consumption in the hut is desired, but this can also be communicated differently and netter. We felt uncomfortable and unwelcome here.
POPEYE GG - 2019-02-01
Et bien non, c'était le 15 juin!
Automatic translation
[Google]
Well no, it was June 15!
POPEYE GG - 2019-02-01
Désolé, il fallait lire 5 juin 2018, et non 5 juillet!
Automatic translation
[Google]
Sorry, we had to read June 5, 2018, not July 5!
POPEYE GG - 2019-02-01
5 juillet 2018
C'est reparti pour 2018! Objectif cette année: Scuol (R66). Nous sommes 3 avec André et Thierry.
Bonne 1ère étape: 1900m de montée et 700m de descente, au bout de laquelle on a failli ne pas pouvoir être hébergés à la Rastkogelhütte, pour cause de fin de travaux... mais ça c'est arrangé!
Voir aussi mon blog "vivelaretraitesurlaviaalpina.blogspot.com"
Automatic translation
[Google]
July 5, 2018 Let's go back to 2018! This year's goal: Scuol (R66). We are 3 with André and Thierry. Good 1st stage: 1900m of climb and 700m of descent, at the end of which we almost could not be lodged at the Rastkogelhütte, because of end of works ... but that it is arranged! See also my blog "vivelaretraitesurlaviaalpina.blogspot.com"
Brigitte Duquesnay - 2018-09-24
Nous avons été très mal accueillis à Rastkogelhütte. Comme il pleuvait et que le temps était bouché, nous avons pris un bus pour éviter de marcher 8h sans rien voir. Nous sommes arrivés vers 13H et avons demandé s'il était possible de manger notre piquenique à l'intérieur en ne commandant qu'une soupe. Il nous a été répondu que ce n'était possible que si nous étions du Club Alpin. Nous étions 3 mais 2 seulement avaient leur carte du club alpin français. Nous n'avons pas voulu laisser l'un d'entre nous manger seul dehors sous la pluie. Donc nous n'avons pas commandé de soupe et avons attendu 15H pour avoir notre place en dortoir. (nous avions réservé 3 demi-pensions et payé 15€ d'arrhes par personne). La gardienne de ce refuge était particulièrement désagréable et nous avons appris le lendemain qu'un couple du club alpin allemand ayant réservé la demi-pension avait été enregistré 2 fois. La gardienne n'a pas voulu leur rembourser les arrhes payés 2 fois...
Automatic translation
[Google]
We were very badly received at Rastkogelhütte. As it was raining and the weather was clogged, we took a bus to avoid walking 8h without seeing anything. We arrived around 1pm and asked if it was possible to eat our picnic indoors by ordering only one soup. We were told that this was only possible if we were in the Alpine Club. We were 3 but only 2 had their French alpine club card. We did not want to let one of us eat alone in the rain. So we did not order soup and waited 15H for our place in dormitory. (We booked 3 half-board and paid 15 € for each person). The guardian of this refuge was particularly unpleasant and we learned the following day that a couple of the German alpine club having booked half-board had been registered twice. The babysitter did not want to refund them the deposit paid twice ...
The GPS track is not matching the signposts. According to the track there should be an hiking path through the forest which is much shorter and avoids the road. Unfortunately I couldn't find it, I think it is not marked (yet).
Having lost too much time, I had to go to Waldhaus Mösl. The dorms are for children groups only. Private room €50HP. It is a very chaotic place, when I entered my room I found it was already occupied. Then the warden inspected all the other rooms to finally find one that was empty. Also the food is very poor. I went to bed hungry. Not recommended.
After Penken, just after another ski-lift, you will find the passage through the valley of the Horbergbach is closed. Walk up the valley until you reach a most horrible deserted ski-resort, pass the closed Eisberghutte, ignoring the 'Hikers strictly forbidden' sign, and climbing a barb-wire fence, to return on the other side of the valley. The road ends up in a meadow. Climb up to the asphalted road, and follow that down.
Penken is a depressing place. The top station is a huge squarish building with a shopping mall inside. Surroundings are flattened by a bulldozer to comfort the skiers, thereby burying the Via-Alpina track. Find the track by going to the closed down gasthof between the two cable-stations, go underneath a bridge and on the back of that house you will find a road-sign.
gianadda marie-jo - 2015-08-17
Sommes descendues directement sur Mayrhofen. Grande station, pleine de monde....Départ en train pour Innsbruck (fin de Via Alpina pour nous)
Automatic translation
[Google]
Are descended directly to Mayrhofen. Great resort, full of people .... Departure by train to Innsbruck (end of Via Alpina for us)
Elisabeth - 2012-12-24
Etape très longue et très mal balisée ! Beaucoup de route goudronnée. Heureusement, une dame m'a prise en stop et rapprochée de Mösl. De là, il faut encore marcher pendant 5 km sur la route avant de trouver la piste qui mène à Rastkogelhütte.
Automatic translation
[Google]
Very long and poorly marked Step! Many asphalt road. Fortunately, a lady took me in and stop close to Mösl. There must still walk for 5 km on the road before finding the trail to Rastkogelhütte.
|
7h15 |
22.4 km
|
1980 m
|
701 m
Favourites, criticisms ? Make your personal comments on this stage. For more general notes please use the comments section of the page Over to the Via Alpinists.