The ultimate Montafoner family tour – 9 days
Level: T2, with parts T3
Period: End June – mid September
In this epic eight to nine day hut hike is located in the Rätikon range of the Alps, on the border between Austria and Switzerland. You will hike to the Lünersee, the Schesaplana and around the Sulzfluh. You will cross the border into Switzerland and hike back into Austria via the Drusentor. It’s all family-friendly, but be aware that for some parts (f.i. from the Totalphütte to the Schesaplana and the hike to the Tilisunahütte) you need to be sure-footed! This is not a beginners hike.
This is the ultimate trip voor hut hiking families. Many of these huts can be booked by using alpsonline.org, so it’s quite easy to organize. Hiking times mentioned below are adjusted to hiking with kids.
Day 1: Take the gondola from Latschau – Talstation Golmerbahn to Golmerbahn Bergstation (1900 m) – Heinrich Hueterhütte (1766 m) (alpsonline) – 7,8 km, 3;15, ↑400 m, ↓540 m,
Day 2: Heinrich Hueterhütte (1766 m) – Douglasshütte (1979 m) – 4,7 km, 2:00, ↑ 400 m, ↓ 180 m. With extra hiking options at the Douglasshütte: around the Lünersee – 7 km, 3:00, 200 m, 200 m.
Day 3: Climb to the Totalphütte (2385 m) – 3,3 km, 2:30, ↑ 500 m, ↓ 90 m, T2. This is a relatively short route, but you can add some kilometers around the Lünersee or the Totalphütte.
Day 4: From the Totalphütte you climb the Schesaplana (2964) – 4:00 ↑ 620 m, ↓ 620 m, T3 (with steep parts and some cables). You’ll stay another night in the Totalphütte. Note: This day is optional. This is a though climb. When we were there in the middle of summer, this hike was too dangerous for us due to fresh snow fall.
Day 5: Totalphütte (2385 m) – Lindauerhütte (1744 m) – 10,4 km, 4:30, ↑ 500 m, ↓ 1150 m.
Day 6: Lindauerhütte – Tilisunahütte (2211 m) – 5 km, 4:00, ↑ 810 m, ↓ 330 m, level: T2/3. A challenging hike that starts with a descent followed by a steep ascent of 800 meters. The last part of the ascent – the Birkengrat – is a bit difficult for people with vertigo. The first 50 meters have cables, but after that there is a steep part of about 100 meters without cables.
Day 7: Extra night in the Tilisunahütte. Hike to the top of the Sulzfluh (2.818 m) – 4:00 – 650 m ↓ en ↑ T2/3. This is a beautiful hike on high altitude terrain, on a lunar landscape. You might not reach te top, but even if you go halfway, this is a very satisfying hike.
Day 8: From the Tilisunahütte across the Swiss border to the Carschinahütte (2236 m) – 6,4 km, 4:00, 400 m ↓ en ↑, level: T2/3.
Day 9: From the Carschinahütte (Switzerland) to the Lindauerhütte (Austria) and on to middle station Golmerbahn – 12 km, 5:30, ↑ 500 m, ↓ 1200 m, level: T2/3. It’s a small climb from the Carschinahütte to the Drusentor where you cross the border back into Austria. At this point you will have a magnificent view. From here it’s steep downhill to the Lindauerhütte.
From the Lindauer Hütte you will have several options. You can hike to the top station, middle station and ground level station of the Golmerbahn.
Good to know:
– Lunch packets can be pre-ordered (the night before) in most huts (around €7 pp).
– In most huts it is cash only.
– Swimming is possible at the Tilisunasee and Partnunsee (nice and cold!)
– In Latschau there is ample parking space ate the gondola (Golmerbahn) – free of charge.
