Heinrich-Schwaiger-Haus

The Heinrich-Schwaiger-Haus is a Category I mountain hut of the German Alpine Club (Deutscher Alpenverein, DAV), operated by its Munich section (Sektion München). It sits at 2,802 metres on the Salzburg side of the Hohe Tauern National Park, high above the Mooserboden reservoir, with sweeping views over the high-mountain reservoirs and the Kitzsteinhorn opposite. Its 'house mountain' is the Grosses Wiesbachhorn (3,564 m), and the hut serves as a classic summer base for high-alpine tours in the Glockner group. The hut is deliberately simple and original in character — a place for mountaineers seeking a quiet, unspoiled refuge rather than hotel comforts. It is reached only on foot, in about two and a half hours from the 'Heidnische Kirche' restaurant at the Mooserboden reservoir via trail no. 718. It offers dormitory sleeping places, a terrace with panoramic views, and is a waypoint on the four-day Tauerntour for experienced mountain athletes. Reservations are made online, and the hut is typically open in the summer season, closing in autumn. The present building traces its origins to a predecessor, the Kaindlhütte, opened in 1872 and financed by the fur trader Albert Kaindl of Linz. Because that site proved too damp, the Munich section of the DuOeAV decided in 1895 to build anew nearby. Construction was led by the Munich alpinist and tourist outfitter Heinrich Schwaiger, who died on 15 August 1902, one day before the planned inauguration of the Wiesbachhornhaus. Still in 1902 the section assembly resolved to rename the completed shelter in his honour. The hut was extensively expanded in 1962 and 1963, supplied by a material cable car until 2009, fully renovated in 2011 (closed that year), and reopened in July 2012, after which supplies have been delivered exclusively by helicopter. In 2023 it received the environmental seal of approval for Alpine Club huts. As a branded Alpine Club hut, the Heinrich-Schwaiger-Haus is part of the DAV's network of mountain shelters, which provide accommodation and food to members and guests in the Alps. Its operation is entrusted to tenant teams; the official website notes that the current tenant team runs the hut 'with much heart and a clear, simple line'. The hut is a trademarked name and facility within the DAV system, not a commercial company, but it functions as a service brand for mountaineers in the Glockner region.

The Heinrich-Schwaiger-Haus is a Category I Alpine Club hut of the Munich section of the German Alpine Club (Deutscher Alpenverein, DAV), located in the Glockner group of the Hohe Tauern in Austria, above the Mooserboden reservoir on the north-west slope of the Oberer Fochezkopf. It is a classic summer high-tour base, reachable only on foot. Its predecessor, the Kaindlhütte, opened in 1872. It was financed by the fur trader Albert Kaindl from Linz, after whom it was named. The site proved too damp and quickly required renovation work, carried out by Johann Grill, who later became known as the first German mountain guide and first innkeeper of the Watzmannhaus. Because of these problems, the Munich section of the DuOeAV decided in 1895 to build a new hut near the old one. Construction was led by the Munich alpinist and tourist outfitter Heinrich Schwaiger. On 15 August 1902, one day before the planned inauguration of the Wiesbachhornhaus at the Berghotel am Moserboden, Schwaiger died of pneumonia. Still in 1902, the full assembly of the Munich section resolved to rename the completed shelter in honour of its builder. In 1962 and 1963 the hut was extensively expanded. Until 2009 the house was supplied with the help of a material cable car. In 2011 the Heinrich-Schwaiger-Haus was fully renovated and therefore closed. After the general renovation it reopened in July 2012. Since then there is no material cable car; supplies are delivered exclusively by helicopter. In 2023 the house was awarded the environmental seal of approval for Alpine Club huts. The ascent starts from the 'Heidnische Kirche' restaurant at the Mooserboden reservoir, reachable from the Kesselfall-Alpenhaus near Kaprun by shuttle buses and via the Lärchwand inclined lift. From there the route leads over the crowns of the two dam walls to the east shore and in 2½ hours on trail no. 718 to the hut. The hut serves as a base for summit tours including the Grosses Wiesbachhorn (3,564 m) via the Kaindlgrat (3 hours), the Klockerin (3,422 m, 3½ hours), and the Vorderer and Hinterer Bratschenkopf (3,400 m and 3,412 m, 3 or 4 hours). Transitions to other shelters are possible via the Wielinger Scharte (3,265 m) to the Oberwalder Hütte (2,973 m, 6 hours) and to the Schwarzenberghütte (2,267 m, 5 hours), via the Max-Hirschelsteig to the Gleiwitzer Hütte (2,167 m, 7½ hours), and to the Gruberscharten-Biwak in 3 hours. The hut is run by tenant teams. The official website notes that the current tenant team runs the hut with much heart and a clear, simple line, describing it as a place for all who seek a quiet, original mountain hut with simplicity. The hut is typically open in the summer season and closes in autumn; reservations are made online only.

• 2023

  Awarded the environmental seal of approval for Alpine Club huts.

• 2012

  Hut reopened in July after general renovation; supplies now exclusively by helicopter.

• 2011

  Hut fully renovated and closed for the year.

• 2009

  Material cable car supply ended.

• 1989

  Bartl Goller ('Bascht') took over as hut tenant.

• 1963

  Expansion completed; tenant Simon Wurm resumed operation in the enlarged house.

• 1962

  Extensive expansion of the hut began (completed 1963).

• 1902

  Heinrich Schwaiger died on 15 August; the completed shelter was renamed in his honour.

• 1895

  Munich section of DuOeAV decided to build a new hut near the old Kaindlhütte.

• 1872

  Predecessor Kaindlhütte opened, financed by fur trader Albert Kaindl.

Simple, original Alpine Club hut for mountaineers seeking a quiet, unspoiled high-alpine base; Category I (basic) standard.

• Category I Alpine Club hut accommodation

• Dormitory sleeping places (online reservation only)

• Simple meals and drinks

• High-alpine tour base and hut-to-hut transitions

1. 1Heinrich-Schwaiger-Haus – Alpenverein München & Oberlandalpenverein-muenchen-oberland.de
2. 2Geschichte Heinrich-Schwaiger-Haus – Alpenverein München & Oberlandalpenverein-muenchen-oberland.de
3. 3Heinrich-Schwaiger-Haus – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
4. 4Heinrich-Schwaiger-Haus – Wikidatawikidata.org
5. 5Mediadaten Magazin alpinwelt Alpenverein München & Oberland - Alpenverein München & Oberlandalpenverein-muenchen-oberland.de
6. 6Alpenverein München & Oberland Mitgliederzeitschrift alpinwelt - Alpenverein München & Oberlandalpenverein-muenchen-oberland.de