Ramolhaus – Awesome View of 3000-meter high Peaks

Four hours walking time – is written on the signpost that I saw behind Obergurgl. Probably it is meant for hikers not carrying a heavy rucksack. To the right of the bridle path majestic rock walls lead up to dizzy heights, to the left the terrain drops precipitously towards a huge ravine down to Gurgler Ferner – the famous Glacier where Switzerland’s professor Auguste Piccard made an emergency landing in his stratosphere balloon on 28 May 1931. A historical fact that made the secluded mountain village famous overnight: Obergurgl, Tirol’s highest parish village, is in sight – even from Ramolhaus. Rolling thunder is coming nearer and nearer.

My heart is scared, my feet feel like lead on the long and winding path covering 7.5 kilometers and almost 1100 meters of altitude gain – from 1927 to 3006 m above sea level. Scenic Ramolhaus is run by “Sektion Hamburg und Niederelbe e.V.” of the German Alpine Club (DAV). A strenuous climb that makes you sweat on the narrow footpath winding its way through the high Alpine landscape. There is no further climbing experience required but a very good physical shape to reach Hamburg’s highest house in the Alpine Mountains.

Right before the last steep ascent I meet the former hut tenant Alfred König – for me it feels like a shining light! He watched me from above and came to meet me. And what’s best, he also carries my heavy rucksack. In his opinion I should have taken advantage of the goods lift which was installed for food and (on request) also luggage transport in 2003. Up to 5 rucksacks cost 50 Euros. Now I can finish the last short part of the tour almost light-footed. These are things of the past.

Now Ramolhaus is run by Florian Mader and Sonja Prepstl. But the awe-inspiring views remained just the same: Ramolhaus towers on bare rocks in a fairly exposed location at 3006 m above sea level, it is DAV’s third highest Alpine refuge hut in the Ötztal Alps. On the huge panoramic terrace with a flag showing the Tirolean Eagle, you enjoy picture-book views of the high Alpine scenery: Großer Ramolkogel (3550 m), Spiegelkogel (3426 m), Firmisanschneide (3491 m), Schalfkogel (3540 m) and the immense glacier snout of Gurgler Ferner.

When dinner is served everyone knows the all efforts are rewarded. Florian tells: “Ramolhaus is the only hut above 3000 meters taking part in a special culinary campaign initiated by DAV. Most products come from local farms and organic mountain farming within a maximum distance of 50 km.” It takes a special type of person to run a mountain hut in such a secluded mountain area. Florian (23) from Ranggen in Tirol and his girlfriend Sonja (26) have taken up the challenge. Sonja worked as a cook in Innsbruck’s renowned Restaurant Cammerlander on the Inn river shore. Now she spoils hikers with mouth-watering specialties on half-way to heaven.

Like the former host Alfred König, also the current hut tenants are famous for their excellent cooking. Ramolhaus not only offers splendid Alpine landscapes but also tongue-tickling shredded herb pancakes, spinach dumplings, peppers and cabbage soup, grey cheese soup or fine set menus accompanied by a glass of wine from Scheiber’s own vineyard in Burgenland. Crisp and clean mountain air already included! Florian is a passionate Alpine hiker himself and provides his guests with heaps of useful tips and route recommendations: “We never feel alone, we have everything we need – and even more. In bad weather, when there are no hikers, our four-member hut team plays cards in a relaxed atmosphere.” Also their Appenzell mountain dog Baul (3), mascot and favorite of all hikers, feels at ease at such high altitudes. He attaches great importance on his name starting with “B”.

Although the mountain hut is open only in summer, approximately from late June to mid-September, it happened that guests were snowed in for four days (in 2007). A helicopter rescued them on their fourth day. Fortunately there is a landing site next to Ramolhaus. Among the biggest modern comforts rank a huge freezer and a radio in the kitchen. Nothing else. Just unexcited hikers immersed in mountain magazines and illustrated books. Some of them also play board games or the guitar. The “Stube” parlor furnished with homey larch wood and a tiled stove makes a great place for a nice get-together. Ramolhaus boasts the best panoramic view! Additionally, it has hot water and excellent meals are served.

At 11.00 pm everyone is in bed because at 5.00 am in the morning the first hikers set off towards the nearby Alpine summits. A young couple has booked the attic Honeymoon Suite. Other hikers disappear in the new chapel on the second floor, it also features an altar where the parish priest celebrates a holy mass once a year. A perfect spot to find one’s inner peace and make a short prayer after an exhausting climb.