Alpine. Solitary. Breathtaking. The Pfunderer High Route
Hiking Collection by komoot
6
days
3-9 h
/ day
50.2 mi
17,900 ft
18,375 ft
On lonely hiking trails from hut to hut, high up, through wild nature in front of breathtaking panoramas - that's really possible, a little off the beaten track of the Alps. And because it's you, we'll tell you where: on the Pfunderer High Trail in the Zillertal Alps in South Tyrol. There is a good chance that you won't meet anyone all day except the mountain innkeeper – except of course cows, marmots, Alpine jackdaws and sometimes even ibex.
The Pfunderer Höhenweg leads you in five to six stages from Sterzing in the Eisack Valley over the most exciting embrasures and through the most pristine valleys of the Pfunderer Mountains to Bruneck. Here you can still experience the Alps just as lonely and pristine today as you would have hundreds of years ago. Accordingly, the mountain huts are scarce and you should always have enough water and provisions with you on the individual stages. For that reason, you shouldn't attempt this hike if you're not in good physical condition and be sure you have plenty of Alpine experience. But come prepared and you're in for a treat: the Pfunderer Höhenweg leads you on narrow paths over steep meadow slopes, up to rocky embrasures and through impressive block heaps. In short, a dream for every experienced mountain hiker.
Here we introduce you to the six-day variant. Between the third and fourth stage you will spend the night in the rustic Walter-Brenninger bivouac. Alternatively, you can combine days three and four to form a mega stage and shorten the hike to five stages. Whatever you decide, it's guaranteed to be unforgettable.
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Last updated: February 10, 2023
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All stages of the Pfunderer High Route
- Expert06:4710.4 mi1.5 mph4,850 ft1,400 ftExpert mountaineering route. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
In the South Tyrolean village of Vipiteno, located in the middle of the narrow Eisacktal, your tour starts on the Pfunderer Höhenweg. Starting point is the station. Right next to it you will find a supermarket where you can stock up on food again, then we start.
On the banks of the Pfitscher Bach you…
by komoot
- Expert05:406.15 mi1.1 mph3,475 ft2,600 ftExpert mountaineering route. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
After a leisurely night on the Simile-Mahd-Alm, the Pfunderer Höhenweg leads you further uphill right at the beginning. First through a sparse mountain forest, then over barren meadows and finally over rocky block terrain you climb the altitude by altimeters. But every step is rewarded: the higher you…
by komoot
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- Expert06:116.74 mi1.1 mph2,900 ft3,300 ftExpert mountaineering route. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
First stage of the third stage: Climb over rocky terrain up to the Steinkarscharte. Be sure to pay attention to the trail markers, because off the trail, the terrain is sometimes slippery and the fine scree is under the feet. If you follow the markings, but you come safely to the point. There you will…
by komoot
- Expert03:043.25 mi1.1 mph2,025 ft850 ftExpert mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
With five kilometers of track and just under 700 meters in altitude ascent, the fourth stage is one of the shorter tours on the Pfunderer Höhenweg. But do not be fooled by the numbers: With the Gaisscharte, today you can expect the most adventurous and at the same time most spectacular pass crossing…
by komoot
- Expert06:389.16 mi1.4 mph2,650 ft3,450 ftExpert mountaineering route. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
The fifth stage starts very comfortably. After the hut breakfast, the Pfunderer Höhenweg leads you gently downhill on a well-accessible mountain path along the Eisbrugbach stream and past the Eisbrugsee lake - the first few hours pass by in a flash. Only after about four kilometers you leave the creek…
by komoot
- Expert09:2014.6 mi1.6 mph2,000 ft6,800 ftExpert mountaineering route. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
The sixth stage of the Pfunderer Höhenweg is also the last one - as a farewell you will once again be rewarded with grandiose views and five peaks. From the Tiefrastenhütte you first hike gently downhill and follow the Tiefrastenbach. At the first fork your ways separate and you climb over barren mountain…
by komoot
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Collection Stats
- Tours6
- Distance50.2 mi
- Duration37:39 h
- Elevation17,900 ft18,375 ft
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