Edelweißerhütte

The Edelweißerhütte is a small wooden mountain shelter (Schutzhütte) belonging to the Edelweiss-Club Salzburg, a traditional Austrian mountaineering club founded in 1881. It sits at 2,350 metres above sea level directly below the summit of the Mittleres Streitmandl in the Tennengebirge range of the Salzburger Land. The hut is not a commercial alpine inn but a club-owned refuge, and it is one of the club's most visible assets and symbols. The hut was built in 1921 under extremely difficult conditions. No helicopters or cable cars were available, and there was not even a trail to the Streitmandl at the time. Club members carried wooden beams up more than 1,200 metres of elevation gain from Mahdegg and assembled the shelter, which opened in the summer of 1922. Its exposed position just below the summit offers sweeping views of the Hochkönig, the Hagengebirge and the wide Tennengebirge plateau, but also leaves it unprotected against storms, thunderstorms and snowstorms. On summer weekends the hut is staffed in rotation by members of the Edelweiss-Club, who provide drinks and overnight accommodation for mountaineers. When it is closed, a small emergency room can accommodate up to four people. The hut is reached only on foot, typically in three and a half to four hours from trailheads such as Unterholzbauern near Pfarrwerfen, the Samerhof near Werfenweng, or the Wengerau. It also serves as a base for summit climbs of the Werfener Hochthron and the Raucheck, and for transitions to other huts in the Tennengebirge. As a brand, the Edelweißerhütte is inseparable from the Edelweiss-Club Salzburg. The club describes itself as a community of mountain-loving, collectively minded individualists and has been active for nearly 150 years. Its social highlight, the "Edelweiss-Kränzchen", has grown into one of the largest social events in the city of Salzburg. The hut is the club's physical home in the mountains and a tangible expression of its identity: shared adventure, volunteer stewardship and tradition.

The Edelweißerhütte was built in 1921 by members of the Edelweiss-Club Salzburg on the Streitmandl in the Tennengebirge. At the time there was no trail to the Streitmandl, and no helicopters or cable cars were available to transport materials. The builders carried wooden beams up from Mahdegg, overcoming more than 1,200 metres of elevation gain, and then erected the shelter. It opened in the summer of 1922. The construction is regarded as a remarkable achievement for its era. The hut stands at 2,350 metres above sea level immediately below the summit of the Mittleres Streitmandl. Its prominent position provides extensive views, including the Hochkönig and the Hagengebirge, as well as the broad plateau of the Tennengebirge. Because it is fully exposed, it is vulnerable to storms, thunderstorms and snowstorms. On summer weekends, members of the Edelweiss-Club take turns serving as hut keepers. During these times, mountaineers can stay overnight and buy drinks. When the hut is closed, a small emergency room offers shelter for up to four people. The hut is accessible only by foot. Common approaches include: from Unterholzbauern (1,100 m, parking, near Pfarrwerfen) via Mahdegg-Alm, Eiskeller and Grießscharte, about 3½ hours; from Gasthaus Samerhof (950 m, parking, near Werfenweng) via Tanzboden, Werfener Hütte and Throntal, about 4 hours; and from Wengerau (parking, 960 m) via Elmaualm, Werfener Hütte and Throntal, about 4 hours. The former toll road from Werfenweng to Alpengasthof Mahdegg-Alm is closed. Transitions to other huts include: Leopold-Happisch-Haus (1,925 m) via Streitmandlscharte and Pitschenbergtal, about 2 hours; Dr.-Friedrich-Oedl-Haus (1,575 m) via Hiefler, Lehnender Stein and Hochkogelsteig, about 3½ hours; Werfener Hütte (1,970 m) via Throntal and Thronleiter (climbing sections of difficulty I), about 1 hour; Laufener Hütte (1,725 m) via Wengerscharte, Bleikogel and Tennkessel, about 5 hours; and Söldenhütte (1,530 m) via Wengerscharte and Tauernscharte, about 4 hours. Summit climbs from the hut include the Werfener Hochthron (2,363 m), difficult, about 1 hour, and the Raucheck (2,432 m), moderate, about 1 hour. There are also climbing routes on the Fieberhörner and the Werfener Hochthron. The hut is listed in Albert Precht's Alpine Club guide to the Tennengebirge (Bergverlag Rother, ISBN 978-3-7633-1246-7). The Edelweiss-Club Salzburg, founded in 1881, continues to own and maintain the hut, which remains a central part of its identity and activities.

• 1922

  The Edelweißerhütte opens in the summer.

• 1921

  Edelweiss-Club Salzburg members build the Edelweißerhütte on the Streitmandl under difficult conditions, carrying wooden beams up over 1,200 metres of elevation gain.

A traditional, volunteer-run club mountain hut in the Tennengebirge, valued for its exposed summit location, panoramic views and historic 1921 construction.

• Edelweißerhütte shelter

  Small wooden mountain hut at 2,350 m on the Mittleres Streitmandl, Tennengebirge.

• Emergency room

  Small emergency shelter for up to four people when the hut is closed.

• Drinks service

  Drinks available for mountaineers on summer weekends when the hut is staffed by club members.

1. 1Edelweiss Club Salzburg – Gemeinsam Oben. Seit 1881.edelweissclub.at
2. 2Edelweißerhütte – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3Edelweißerhütte – Wikidatawikidata.org