Hochwildehaus

The Hochwildehaus is a mountain hut owned and operated by the Sektion Karlsruhe of the Deutscher Alpenverein (German Alpine Club). It is situated at the eastern edge of the Gurgler Ferner glacier on the Steinerner Tisch in the Schwärzenkamm ridge, next to the older Fidelitashütte, in the Ötztal Alps of Austria. At an elevation of 2,883 metres, it historically served as a base for mountaineers and hikers exploring the surrounding peaks, including the Hochwilde, Annakogel, and Schalfkogel. The hut was built in 1938/39, adjacent to the Fidelitashütte which dates from 1896. The Fidelitashütte, an unmanaged shelter, later functioned as a winter room and self-catering facility for up to 12 people. From 2011 onwards, increasing structural damage was documented at the Hochwildehaus, attributed to the thawing of permafrost caused by global warming. A support structure erected in 2014 temporarily stabilised the building, but in 2016 it was closed for safety reasons. As of 2020/2021, geological investigations were being conducted by the Chair of Landslide Research at TU Munich under Professor Krautblatter. The hut remains permanently closed due to irreparable damage. The Hochwildehaus is not a commercial brand in the traditional sense but a facility brand of the German Alpine Club, representing alpine heritage and mountaineering infrastructure. Its closure reflects the impact of climate change on high-alpine structures.

The Hochwildehaus was constructed in 1938/39 by the Sektion Karlsruhe of the Deutscher Alpenverein, adjacent to the Fidelitashütte which had been built in 1896. The Fidelitashütte, an unmanaged shelter, later served as a winter room and self-catering hut for up to 12 people. The Hochwildehaus, at 2,883 metres, became a key base in the Ötztal Alps, offering access to peaks such as the Hochwilde (3,461 m north summit, 3,482 m south summit), Annakogel (3,336 m), and Schalfkogel (3,540 m). From 2011, increasing structural damage was documented at the Hochwildehaus. The cause was identified as the thawing of permafrost on which the hut was founded, a consequence of global warming. In 2014, a support structure was erected to temporarily secure the building. Despite this, the hut was closed in 2016 for safety reasons. The damage was deemed irreparable, and the closure remains indefinite. In 2020/2021, geological investigations were conducted by the Chair of Landslide Research at TU Munich under Professor Krautblatter. The hut remains permanently closed, and the Fidelitashütte continues to be available as a winter room.

• 2021

  Geological investigations by TU Munich.

• 2016

  Hut closed for safety reasons.

• 2014

  Support structure erected to secure the hut.

• 2011

  Increasing structural damage documented.

• 1939

  Hochwildehaus built by Sektion Karlsruhe.

• 1896

  Fidelitashütte built.

Alpine club hut for mountaineers and hikers in the Ötztal Alps; currently closed.

• Hochwildehaus (mountain hut)

• Fidelitashütte (winter room)

1. 1Hochwildehausalpenverein-karlsruhe.de
2. 2Geschichtealpenverein-karlsruhe.de
3. 3Hochwildehauswikidata.org
4. 4Hochwildehausde.wikipedia.org