The Tölzer Hut in Mountain Spring

The Tölzer Hut in Karwendel, a mountain hut of the German Alpine Club at an altitude of 1,825 m, opened its 2016 hut season on Father’s Day at the beginning of May. At this time, however, the Tölzer Hut was still deeply covered in snow, as spring brought heavy snowfall and cold spells well into May. However, a high-pressure system finally promised sun and good long-distance visibility; since it was also a new moon, there should also be a star-studded night sky to see.

The mountain hut has retained its original character as a refuge and is located on a sunny terrace at Delpsjoch with a fantastic panoramic view of the mountain peaks in the heart of Karwendel. From the hut, you look south directly onto the impressive, steep rock faces below the Laliderer Spitze with its distinctive edge, beneath which the Falkenhütte lies, or across the Nordkette up to the Birkkarspitze and the Schlauchkar, where the tracks of the last ski tourers can still be seen. To the west, the view sweeps between Wörner and Soiernspitze into the Wetterstein Mountains and the Leutascher Blatt.

The short ascent to the Tölzer Hut passed through all aspects of mountain spring, from the shady valley floor with blooming meadows through fragrant, light mountain forest on the warm, sun-drenched slopes of the Lecktal, the last few metres of altitude on the tracked path through the slippery, soft snow. The further ascent to the Schafreiter (2,102 m, also called Schafreuter) was more challenging, however, as the snow softened by the strong sun repeatedly caused steps to sink deep, and the last exposed metres through the rock required sure-footedness, experience, and caution. In return, the long-distance views over the Karwendel, to the Wetterstein Mountains, and even as far as the Großvenediger were phenomenal.

After a relaxing afternoon, well looked after by hut wardens Margot and Michael, a colourful sunset followed, as well as a night sky with thousands of shining stars. The again intoxicating colours in the early sunrise, favoured by the snow-covered mountain flanks, once again showed the full beauty of the wild mountain world of the Karwendel and once again provided unforgettable moments at the Tölzer Hut.