Gepatschhaus

Gepatschhaus is a mountain hut (Schutzhütte) of Category II operated by the Sektion Frankfurt am Main of the Deutscher Alpenverein (German Alpine Club). It is located in the rear Kaunertal valley in the Ötztal Alps of Tyrol, Austria. The hut stands a few metres from the toll Kaunertaler Gletscherstraße, which has passed by the site since 1980, and it is reachable by car or by bus, with a bus stop named 'Gepatschhaus' about two minutes away. Built in 1873, Gepatschhaus was the first German Alpine Club hut erected in Austria. It was expanded in 1892, 1911 and 1958, and partially renovated in 2005. Directly next to the hut is the chapel Maria Schnee, consecrated in 1895. Since 2013, the Gepatschhaus together with the chapel has been listed as a protected monument (Denkmalschutz). The hut serves as a base for numerous summit tours in the surrounding Ötztal Alps, including the Ochsenkopf (2944 m), Hintere Ölgrubenspitze (3296 m), Vordere Ölgrubenspitze (3456 m), Weißseespitze (3526 m) and Glockturm (3355 m). It is also a stage point on several high-alpine crossings to other huts such as the Anton-Renk-Hütte, Taschachhaus, Riffelseehütte, Rauhekopfhütte, Brandenburger Haus, Vernagthütte and Hohenzollernhaus. Most of these crossings require glacier travel. A climbing garden, Fernergries, is located near the house. On 25 July 2019, a mudslide (Mure) up to 4 metres high buried the road in the valley, cutting off vehicle access; 80 people at Gepatschhaus and Gepatschalm were affected. The hut remains an active alpine facility and a protected heritage site.

Gepatschhaus was built in 1873 as the first German Alpine Club hut in Austria. It is a Category II Schutzhütte of the Sektion Frankfurt am Main of the Deutscher Alpenverein, located in the rear Kaunertal in the Ötztal Alps. The hut was expanded in 1892, 1911 and 1958, and partially renovated in 2005. Directly next to the Gepatschhaus is the chapel Maria Schnee, consecrated in 1895. Since 1980, the toll Kaunertaler Gletscherstraße has passed close by the hut. Since 2013, the Gepatschhaus together with the chapel has been under monument protection (Denkmalschutz). On 25 July 2019, a mudslide up to 4 metres high buried the valley road, interrupting vehicle access; 80 people at Gepatschhaus and Gepatschalm were affected. The hut remains an active alpine facility and a protected heritage site.

• 2019

  Mudslide on 25 July cuts off vehicle access; 80 people affected.

• 2013

  Gepatschhaus and chapel placed under monument protection.

• 2005

  Partial renovation of the hut.

• 1980

  Toll Kaunertaler Gletscherstraße begins passing near the hut.

• 1958

  Third expansion of the hut.

• 1911

  Second expansion of the hut.

• 1895

  Chapel Maria Schnee next to the hut consecrated.

• 1892

  First expansion of the hut.

• 1873

  Gepatschhaus built as the first German Alpine Club hut in Austria.

Historic alpine hut and protected heritage site, serving as a base for mountaineering in the Ötztal Alps.

• Mountain hut accommodation (Category II)

• Summit tours: Ochsenkopf (2944 m), Hintere Ölgrubenspitze (3296 m), Vordere Ölgrubenspitze (3456 m), Weißseespitze (3526 m), Glockturm (3355 m)

• Hut crossings: Anton-Renk-Hütte, Taschachhaus, Riffelseehütte, Rauhekopfhütte, Brandenburger Haus, Vernagthütte, Hohenzollernhaus

• Climbing garden Fernergries

1. 1Gepatschhaus – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
2. 2Gepatschhaus – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Gepatschhaus official websitegepatschhaus.at