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Summer 1967
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View Photo Set 1/3 | Set 2/3 | Set 3/3 || Map of huts
The trip was made in 1967 and I am writing this page in 2013. Whilst I am retrieving a lot of long-forgotten things from my memory there is a lot missing
I have several motives for writing-up these accounts and one of them is to make available some of my photos from the 1960's as a record of the times.
Having arrived from the UK and spent the night in Innsbruck, I left some of my climbing gear in a locker at the station and then got myself to Wattens. I started the 5hr toil up the valley to reach the Lizumer Hütte and I was finding it hard work. A car driven by a monk in brown robes stopped and offered me a lift which took me right to the top of the valley. Before depositing me he insisted on giving me a packed lunch, which I suspect was his own lunch.
I arrived very early at the hut and dumped my stuff in the matratzenlager before going for a stroll up the valley above the hut. When I returned there was an English family in the hut who said they were glad to see me since the hut warden had said I spoke excellent German. This was news to me and totally untrue! However, we must take this as a compliment to my teacher, John Manton, and particularly his sensible use of language laboratory facilities in teaching
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My first day going hut to hut in the alps. I will always remember my error in route-finding which had me using my ice axe to cut footholds along a crumbling rocky spur! I could see the destination, but I was not doing the easiest descent to it.
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A delightful location in a green patch overshadowed by majestic mountains.
The hut, having much wood in its construction, had a relaxed feel.
The way the packhorse spent so much time looking in the door definitely added to the feeling.
Heading West one has the Brenner pass to cross. From the Geraer Hütte I descended through old farms and villages to reach the Brenner. There I crossed into the Gschitztal and hitch-hiked up the tarmac road to its upper end at the Gasthof Feuerstein - where I spent the night.
Next day was cold and raining, I can still remember the footpath covered in black and yellow Salamanders which were sluggish in the cold rain. I may have gone to the Innsbrucker Hütte (3hrs) although, 41 years later, I cannot recall it. More likely I went straight to the Bremer Hütte (4hr), of which I have a photo.
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A 4hr journey to reach this from the Gasthof Feuerstein. I cannot retrieve any memories of it, perhaps because I arrived in cloud and rain.
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No photos and I remember this visit as a bad-weather two night stay before continuing.
Hope the label is correct. It was more than 40 years ago!
If so, it is on the route from the Nürnberger Hütte to the Sülzenenauhütte
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This is the original hut.
It was destroyed by an avalanche in April 1975.
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This hut used to be isolated in the mountains. Now it is immersed in a modern summer ski complex!
These photos were taken on a bad day during a short break in the weather.
The hut was run by two sisters: Maria and Mathilde.
During the bad weather the cook had gone out and shot a Chamois.
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My "warm-up" journey finished at the Dresdener Hütte. From there I returned to Innsbruck to join the Rock and Ice course. We were transported by mini-bus to the Zillertal and made ourr way up to the Berliner Hütte, where the course was based.
View Photo Set 1/3 | Set 2/3 | Set 3/3
