Hochsteinhütte

The Hochsteinhütte is a mountain hut (Schutzhütte) of Category II belonging to the Lienz section of the Österreichischer Alpenverein (ÖAV), the Austrian Alpine Club. It sits at 2,023 metres above sea level in the Villgratner Mountains, close to the 2,057-metre Hochstein peak, roughly five kilometres west of the town of Lienz on the municipal boundary with Assling in the Austrian state of Tyrol. As a serviced alpine refuge, it provides shelter, food and overnight accommodation to hikers, climbers and ski tourers in the region. The hut is open seasonally, from mid-December to the end of March and again from May to the end of October, serving both winter sports visitors and summer mountaineers. Its accommodation is modest and traditional: twelve mattress dormitory places and eight beds, typical of a mid-sized alpine club hut. It is a Category II hut in the ÖAV classification, meaning it offers a moderate level of comfort and service. First opened on 11–12 August 1895, the Hochsteinhütte is one of the older alpine club huts in East Tyrol. It was projected under section chairman Josef A. Rohracher and opened by his successor R. von Falser. It was extended in 1923/1924, destroyed completely by fire on 7 September 1929, rebuilt in 1931, and expanded again in 1957/58. A major renovation began in 2009, originally budgeted at 350,000 euros but ultimately costing around 700,000 euros. The hut is a starting point for tours to nearby peaks such as the Böses Weibele (2,521 m) and the Rotsteinberg (2,696 m), and is reachable from several trailheads including the Hochsteinlifte valley station, the Sternalm mountain station, the Venedigerwarte mountain station and the Bannbergeralm car park. It is marked on standard alpine maps including Alpenvereinskarte sheet 41 (Schobergruppe, 1:25,000), BEV sheet 179 and Freytag & Berndt WK 182 (Lienzer Dolomiten, 1:50,000). As a club-owned refuge rather than a commercial hospitality chain, the Hochsteinhütte functions as a membership-oriented alpine facility within the Austrian Alpine Club network. Its brand identity is tied to its long history, its location above Lienz and its role in the local hiking and ski-touring economy.

The Hochsteinhütte was projected under the chairmanship of Josef A. Rohracher of the Lienz section of the Austrian Alpine Club and opened on 11–12 August 1895 by his successor as section chairman, R. von Falser. It thus belongs to the generation of alpine club huts built in the late nineteenth century as mountaineering and hiking grew in popularity in the Eastern Alps. In 1923/1924 the hut was extended to meet growing demand. On 7 September 1929, however, it burned down completely. It was rebuilt in 1931, restoring the refuge to service. A further expansion followed in 1957/58, reflecting the post-war boom in alpine tourism. In 2009 a comprehensive renovation and conversion began. The project had been planned at a cost of 350,000 euros, but ultimately cost around 700,000 euros. This substantial investment modernised the hut while preserving its role as a Category II refuge of the Lienz section. Today the Hochsteinhütte operates seasonally, open from mid-December to the end of March and from May to the end of October. It offers twelve mattress dormitory places and eight beds. It remains a base for tours to nearby summits such as the Böses Weibele (2,521 m) and the Rotsteinberg (2,696 m), and is accessible from trailheads including the Hochsteinlifte valley station (3½ hours), the Sternalm mountain station (1½ hours), the Venedigerwarte mountain station (2½ hours) and the Bannbergeralm car park (10 minutes).

• 2009

  A comprehensive renovation began, planned at 350,000 euros and ultimately costing around 700,000 euros.

• 1957

  A further expansion took place in 1957/58.

• 1931

  The hut was rebuilt.

• 1929

  The hut burned down completely on 7 September 1929.

• 1923

  The hut was extended in 1923/1924.

• 1895

  Hochsteinhütte opened on 11–12 August under section chairman R. von Falser, having been projected under Josef A. Rohracher.

A traditional, club-owned Category II alpine refuge of the Austrian Alpine Club, valued for its long history, location above Lienz and role in local hiking and ski-touring.

• Mountain hut accommodation (12 mattress dormitory places, 8 beds)

• Seasonal food and drink service for hikers and ski tourers

• Alpine shelter and base for tours to Böses Weibele and Rotsteinberg

1. 1Hochsteinhütte official websitehochsteinhuette.at
2. 2Hochsteinhütte – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Hochsteinhütte – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org