Haindlkarhütte

The Haindlkarhütte is a mountain hut (Schutzhütte) of the Austrian Alpine Club (Österreichischer Alpenverein, ÖAV), specifically its Sektion Austria, located in the Ennstaler Alps within the Gesäuse region of Styria, Austria. It sits at 1,121 metres above sea level in the middle of Gesäuse National Park, on the western edge of the Haindlkar cirque near the Gsengscharte. The hut is a key base for climbing routes on the north faces of the Hochtor-Ödstein range, including the Planspitze, Hochtor and Ödstein walls, which rise between roughly 600 and 800 metres. From late September to mid-March the hut lies in the permanent shadow of the Ödstein. The history of the Haindlkarhütte begins in 1921, when the Vienna section Reichenstein of the Alpine Club began building a base in the Haindlkar on the north side of the Hochtor. That first structure opened in 1923 but was destroyed the same year by a powder avalanche. A new hut was started the following year under the protection of a huge rock block, the so-called 'Hüttenblock', and this became the 'old Haindlkarhütte'. As climbing in the Gesäuse grew in popularity, the two-room hut became too small; on summer weekends it was overcrowded up to two and a half times its capacity. Construction of the 'new Haindlkarhütte' began in 1958 and was completed in 1960. The new hut is supplied by a material cable car. From the 1960s onward, new routes up to UIAA grade IX were established through the north (actually northwest) faces from the hut. Access to the hut is typically from Admont or Hieflau via the Gesäuse Straße to the Haindlkar car park, which is also a bus stop. The Gstatterboden railway station is about 2 km from the car park. The usual marked ascent (trail no. 658) takes 1.5 to 2 hours. An alternative approach from the Johnsbach valley over the Gsengscharte includes some steel cables and chains in its upper section and is more often used for descent. The hut serves as a starting point for numerous climbing routes, including classic lines such as the Pichlweg on the Planspitze north face (first ascent 1900, grade II+), the Pfannl-Maischberger-Weg on the Hochtor north face (first ascent 1896, grade IV), the Jahn-Zimmer-Weg (first ascent 1906, grade III+), the Rosskuppenkante (first ascent 1925, grade V, A0), and the Dachl north face routes from V+ to IX-. The easiest route to the ridge from the north is the Peternpfad (UIAA II) to the Peternscharte, discovered by hunters in the 19th century; it was buried and closed after a major rockfall on 25 May 2016 but has since been largely restored and is passable as of July 2016. The hut also connects to the Hesshütte via the Peternpfad. The Haindlkarhütte is a commercial hospitality and alpine services offering within the Austrian Alpine Club network, providing accommodation, food and information for mountaineers. It is not a publicly listed company but a facility operated by a non-profit alpine association section. Its brand identity is tied to the Gesäuse climbing tradition and the national park setting.

The Haindlkarhütte was established by the Vienna section Reichenstein of the Austrian Alpine Club (ÖAV). In 1921 the section began building a base in the Haindlkar on the north side of the Hochtor, which opened in 1923. However, in the same year a powder avalanche destroyed the unfinished structure. In 1924, construction of a new hut began under the protection of a huge rock block known as the 'Hüttenblock'; this became the 'old Haindlkarhütte'. The challenging tours and the development of new routes, some considered milestones in climbing history, attracted increasing numbers of climbers to the Gesäuse. The old hut, consisting of only two rooms, became too small in the 1950s and was overcrowded up to two and a half times its capacity on summer weekends. Therefore, in 1958 construction of the 'new Haindlkarhütte' began, completed in 1960. The new hut is supplied by a material cable car. From the 1960s onward, new routes up to UIAA grade IX were established through the north (actually northwest) faces from the Haindlkarhütte. The hut remains an active facility of the ÖAV Sektion Austria, serving climbers and hikers in the Gesäuse National Park.

• 2016

  Major rockfall on 25 May buries and closes the Peternpfad; largely restored by July 2016.

• 1960

  New Haindlkarhütte completed.

• 1958

  Construction of the new Haindlkarhütte begins.

• 1924

  Construction of a new hut begins under the 'Hüttenblock', becoming the old Haindlkarhütte.

• 1923

  First hut opens but is destroyed the same year by a powder avalanche.

• 1921

  Vienna section Reichenstein begins building a base in the Haindlkar.

A traditional Austrian Alpine Club mountain hut and climbing base in the Gesäuse National Park, catering to mountaineers and hikers.

• Mountain hut accommodation

• Food and beverage service

• Climbing base and information

• Material cable car supply

1. 1Haindlkarhüttewikidata.org
2. 2Haindlkarhüttede.wikipedia.org