Hiking (mountain trail, in places narrow and exposed)
Alpine route (equipped or very exposed section, snow field, blocks)
R65
Madlener Haus » Jamtalhütte
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5h10 |
13.8 km
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866 m
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711 m
A high-alpine, magnificent stage awaits you, although it can only be taken in high summer, snow conditions permitting. The trail brings you close to the glaciers of the Silvretta massif. At an altitude of 2,839m, the Getschnerscharte gap is the highest point to cross here. You must have alpine hiking experience and not suffer from vertigo.
From the Madlener Haus lodge, follow the little track upward to the Silvretta high-alpine road. Follow it for a short while to the right and then walk directly alongside the dam wall of the enormous Silvretta reservoir until trail 02 branches off to the left along a somewhat broader hiking trail. Here, you will cross the border from Vorarlberg into Tyrol. At the Bielbach stream, the trail splits in two. Follow the left-hand trail alongside the stream on the left-hand bank into the valley. The route continues for a while on an almost even course but then climbs steeply up below the "Runde Kopf" in sharp bends. After approx. 300 metres in altitude, it becomes flatter again and the trail leads along the stream through the damp Hochtal valley. At the fork in the road, keep to the left and climb now along a steeper course towards the Getschnerscharte. The last stretch of the climb leads in part over the snowfields of the Madlenerferner glacier steeply upward to the Getschnerscharte at 2,839m (approx. 4h 10min). Between the Middle and Lower Getschnerspitze peaks, climb steeply downward now, mainly over a few remaining snowfields. Continue down with a view into the Jamtal valley below the Madlenerspitze peak and the Gletschnerferner glacier embedded in its cirque. Finally, cross the Jambach stream to arrive at the Jamtal Hut (1h 40min from the Getschnerscharte). (Christina Schwann, OeAV)
Natural and cultural heritage
The Via Alpina trail route may not lead directly into the town of Galtür, but it can be reached either on public transport from the Bielerhöhe pass or on foot through the Jamtal valley. The Tyrolean winter sports resort of Galtür, which is small but has always been treasured for its special quality, was laid to waste on 23 February 1999 by a gigantic dust avalanche. 31 people lost their lives in the tragic accident. Until that point, Galtür had been considered to be secure against avalanches. In the 600-year chronicle of the town, there had not been a catastrophe of the like. Naturally, there were always occasional avalanches, but none ever came even close to reaching the town – until that day in February. The accident was by no means foreseeable, but rather a chain of several fatal circumstances that had already started four weeks beforehand: in the northern Atlantic, unusually violent storms broke out and one precipitation front after the other moved in the direction of the northern Alps. Up to four metres of new snow fell over the next four weeks in Galtür. First of all, extremely dry powder snow fell due to the extreme cold, which as a supporting layer was scarcely able to bind the snow lying above it. Finally there were also violent winds that caused immense snow drifts in the high mountains. All of these separate events finally led to the worst avalanche accident in the Alps: the edge broken off on the Sonnberg peak was approx. 500m wide and the snow was about 2.5 to 3.5m deep. 330,000 tonnes of snow rushed down at a speed of over 350 kilometres per hour onto the little town. The people in Galtür have since had to live with this misfortune. The newly established Alpinarium is to contribute towards this. Not just because the construction is part of a massive wall that in addition to approx. 2,000 running metres of steel avalanche barriers on the Sonnenberg was erected to protect the village, but also because the Alpinarium deals with the castastrophe and offers people a way to come to terms with the past. The Lorenz family from Galtür has been running the Jamtal Hut for four generations. The hut was closed during World War I but it was extended and modernised as early as 1929/32. A drinking water pipeline was laid in addition to the installation of a hot air heating run on coal, while a little electricity plant supplies the necessary current. Today, the hut above all struggles with the rock masses that are released by the receding glacier and that exert enormous alluvial pressure. (Christina Schwann, OeAV)
Other long-distance trails and alternative routes
02 Zentralalpenweg
Useful topographic maps
Nr. 26 Silvretta ~ Oesterreichischer Alpenverein (1:25.000)
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.
Kat - 2023-07-07
The Futschol pass on R66 has collapsed, making this a dead-end stage. A good alternative is the Vermuntjoch. Madlenerhaus-Wiesbadener Huette 3h ish, 4wd track or hiking trail. W.H.- Vermuntpass 3h ish, first on an easy to lose cairn trail (but you can always see the destination) then over a simple glacier crossing (spikes useful but no major difficulty). V.J - Chamonna Tuoi 2h, over crumbly and collapsing boulder and scree fields and some snow. Avoid in bad conditions. From C.T. many options to Scuol (end R66), including arriving at the end of the same day (long).
souris48 - 2019-08-03
Une étape difficile, surtout à la descente...l'ai signalé à la gardienne. Des câbles où chaînes seraient bien utiles...il semble que la demande à été faite à la section. Avons rencontré un sentier presque identique du côté de la Prinz Leopold Hütte = là, il y avait heureusement des câbles et même un escalier dans la caillasse. Très bon accueil à la Jamtalhütte. Pour ceux qui le désirent : service de taxi jusqu'à Galtür pour 8€
Automatic translation
[Google]
A difficult stage, especially downhill ... reported it to the babysitter. Cables where chains would be very useful ... it seems that the request has been made to the section. We met an almost identical path on the side of the Prinz Leopold Hütte = there, there were fortunately cables and even a staircase in the pebble. Very welcome at the Jamtalhütte. For those who wish: taxi service to Galtür for 8 €
POPEYE GG - 2019-02-04
Mardi 10 juillet 2018
Une courte étape, mais peut-être la plus belle cette année, par contre difficile.
Après avoir hésité, j'y suis allé en me disant que je pourrais toujours faire demi-tour en arrivant au pied du névé de la Getschnerscharte. Finalement, une personne est arrivée à ce moment et a bien voulu m'attendre, me donnant confiance. La descente, dans les éboulis et plus raide encore était heureusement relativement peu enneigée du fait des mois d'avril et mai qui ont été chauds et qu'elle est orientée au sud.
Superbes paysages, particulièrement dans la descente.
Variante possible en descendant jusqu'à Galtur (éventuellement en car), puis en remontant (10km) le vallon de la Jamtal, mais sans intérêt.
Automatic translation
[Google]
Tuesday, July 10, 2018 A short step, but perhaps the most beautiful this year, by cons difficult. After hesitating, I went there and told myself that I could always turn around when I arrived at the foot of the Getschnerscharte snowfield. Finally, a person arrived at this moment and was good enough to wait for me, giving me confidence. The descent, in the scree and steeper still was fortunately relatively snow-covered because of the months of April and May were hot and it is oriented to the south. Beautiful landscapes, especially in the descent. Possible variant down to Galtur (possibly by bus), then up (10km) the valley of the Jamtal, but without interest.
The Jamtalhütte is a massive place. They house a climbing school, for people who love to do bondage with mountains. At arrival you will be offered a plate of soup. Food is good here.
Christina, ÖAV - 2015-07-13
Das Madlenerhaus ist wegen Umbauarbeiten voraussichtlich bis Ende 2018 geschlossen!
Weitere Unterkünfte in der Umgebung finden Sie hier: http://www.silvretta-bielerhoehe.at/gastronomie-und-unterkuenfte/
Automatic translation
[Google]
The Madlenerhaus is expected to be closed for renovation until the end of 2018! More accommodations in the region can be found here: http://www.silvretta-bielerhoehe.at/gastronomie-und-unterkuenfte/
Hauck - 2015-07-13
Das madlehner haus ist geschlossen!
Automatic translation
[Google]
The madlehner house is closed!
Secrétariat international Via Alpina - 2014-03-17
@Elisabeth: En effet, il s'agit de la rive orographique droite donc à gauche à la montée ! Corrigé, merci ! Cette étape est en effet exigeante (difficulté indiquée 3).
Automatic translation
[Google]
Elisabeth: Indeed, it is the orographic right bank therefore left to climb! Fixed, thank you! This step is in effect demanding (indicated difficulty 3).
Elisabeth - 2014-03-16
Au Bielbach, le sentier monte rive droite et non pas rive gauche. Entre les R65 et R66, il y a manifestement confusion en ce qui concerne la difficulté des cols : le col de Futschöl, au final soi-disant exigeant, est tout à fait débonnaire, tandis que le Geschtnersharte (ou Gleschtner : il faudra choisir !) est, lui, très exigeant - et sur les deux versants. Le 19/07, il y avait encore beaucoup de neige.
Automatic translation
[Google]
In Bielbach, the trail goes right bank and left bank not. R65 and R66 between, there is clearly confusion regarding the difficulty of the collar: collar Futschöl ultimately supposedly demanding is quite debonair, while Geschtnersharte (or Gleschtner: you have to choose! ) himself is very demanding - and on both sides. The 7.19, there was still a lot of snow.
|
5h10 |
13.8 km
|
866 m
|
711 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.