Rheinland-Pfalz-Biwak

Emergency refuge between the Rüsselsheimer Hütte and the Braunschweiger Hütte
German Alpine Club, Mainz Division

With its orange, octagonal design, the Rheinland-Pfalz-Biwak is certainly eye-catching. It is an emergency refuge high in the Ötztal Alps providing shelter for walkers and hikers caught in bad weather or suffering some other misfortune on the Mainz High Trail. It connects two other huts, the Rüsselsheimer Hütte and the Braunschweiger Hütte, and is located near five 3,000-metre mountains and three glaciers. The terrain is alpine and challenging, so visitors must be sure-footed and should be able to deal with rock climbing sections up to grade II. A good sense of direction is also important. The reward for all that hard work is a wonderful vista taking in the Pitztal Valley and the Ötztal Valley, including the Kaunergrat ridge and the Kaunergrathütte hut as well as the Main Stubai Ridge. Amenities in the hut are basic, with a cooking area and nine sleeping places. Water can be drawn from a nearby ice field. Food must be brought by visitors themselves. The hut is locked (key available from the Alpine Club).

How to get to the hut

From Plangeroß / car park of the Rüsselsheimer Hütte in 7.5 hours, from Mittelberg in 7 hours, from car park at Rettenbachferner glacier in 4.5 hours

Walks and hikes in the area (walking time to summit)

Weißmaurachjoch (2,953 metres), 3 hours, difficult
Pitztaler Jöchl (2,996 metres), 4 hours, difficult
Emergency descent to Mandarfen (1,690 metres), 3.5 hours

Further huts in the area, long-distance hiking trails

Braunschweiger Hütte (via Pitztaler Jöchl), 4.5 hours
Rüsselsheimer Hütte (via Weißmaurachjoch), 5 hours

The Rheinland-Pfalz-Biwak is located on the Mainz High Trail, a challenging long-distance hiking trail, and on Stage 18 of the Ötztal Trek.