Top of the most charming mountain hut league
Hut series - Leutkircher Hut
Beautifully ensconced in the Lechtal Alps at 2,251 metres above sea-level, it offers fabulous views and is also on top of its game when it comes to culinary delights and welcoming hospitality, with incredibly friendly hut hosts.
The unique ”elevated seat“, where the Leutkircher Hut sits enthroned on the eastern flank of Almajurjoch, is well worth seeing. If only because of the charming mountain paths with their variety of alpine flowers such as orchids, anemones, bellflowers, arnica, alpine asters and alpine roses. As such, it is fortunate that you can only conquer this mountain paradise on foot. There are four approaches from St. Anton am Arlberg or Pettneu, whereby the upper high trail (black) and the lower high trail (red) over the Almajurjoch are particularly impressive in terms of scenery - although surefootedness and a head for heights are required!
Made it? Then you can turn your attention to the fabulous view from the hut: of rocky peaks including Weißschrofenspitze, Stanskogel and the dark summits of the Verwall Alps on the opposite side of the valley. It soon becomes apparent what fantastic hiking and climbing opportunities open up here: Leutkircher Hut is located directly alongside the Lechtal High Trail
What’s the rush?
Don’t hurry on to your next destination. Hang around here for a while. After all, that's what the inviting hut, which belongs to the Leutkirch Section of the German Alpine Club, was built for back in 1912. You will enjoy replenishing flagging energy levels with specialities from the kitchen, which always include a vegetarian and vegan option and are cooked from regional ingredients without artificial additives.
The mountain hut hosts are also happy to provide information about other tours: Tom Schnabl, a native of Upper Austria who has lived in Pettneu for 23 years and once managed a mountain hut in the Swiss canton of Wallis for five years, is a certified mountain and ski guide. He has been running the Leutkirch hut since 2021 together with his partner Anja Heimes, a nurse and psychologist.
The two of them do an excellent job of running the place. Anja takes care of service,organisation and house and day guests, while Tom is mainly responsible for infrastructure and technology, especially for the energy supply, which is entirely focused on sustainability at the Leutkircher Hut. Is he available for hire as a mountain guide to explore the area? Tom laughs. ”With 18 hour working days, that unfortunately doesn't work out in summer. I will be available again in winter as a ski and mountain guide!“
Ascent
Take the chairlift from St. Anton am Arlberg to the Gampen and on to the Kapall (2,330 m). Hike in a northerly direction from here and then follow the first ascent option that branches off to the right. This ”lower trail“ is somewhat easier to master than the even higher ”Adlerweg - Eagle Walk.“ In steep terrain, the trail descends gently through scree slopes to the east. The trail initially heads upwards, before finally descending gradually to the Almajurjoch and on from there to the Leutkircher Hut at 2,251 metres above sea level.
Hiking time: 2 h
Alternative routes:
from St. Anton am Arlberg (1,286 m, 3 h)
from St. Jakob (1,295 m, 3 h)
from Gand (1,300 m, 3 h)
from Pettneu (1,222 m, 3:30 h)
from Kaisers (1,530 m, 4 h)
(E-)Bike & Hike
An excursion to Leutkircher Hut is a great (E-)Bike & Hike tour to enjoy and get acclimatised with alpine adventures. Start at Arlberg WellCom extern, before reading up to Putzenalm (e-)bike parking area and then continue eastwards on foot via the Jochmäder (Eagle Trail) to the Leutkircher Hut.
Food
The excellent cuisine - including vegetarian, vegan, gluten- and lactose-free options - are prepared without artificial additives and with regional ingredients. But local farmers don't live just around the corner here either, which is why food supplies are delivered to the hut by helicopter.
Accommodation
Rooms: 14 beds, 42 berths in the bunkhouse, which is divided into several rooms; winter and self-catering room with eight berths in the annex, six emergency bunks.
Summits and Tours
– Hirschpleiskopf (2,549 m, 1 h)
– Stanskogel (2,757 m, 2 h)*
– Arlberg via ferrata (difficulty C/D;
– climbing time 5 h/700 m)*;
– Lechtal High Trail, Eagle Walk,
– Northern Alpine Trail, European
– long-distance hiking trail from Cape St. Vincent (Portugal) – to Cyprus
* only suitable for people with good physical fitness and alpine experience.
Sustainability
In 1990, a concept for wastewater disposal and energy supply was first developed at the hut. This has now been fully completed, including a small hydroelectric power station, a combined heat and power unit that runs off rapeseed oil and a photovoltaic system. The hut can therefore be operated in an environmentally friendly and resource-saving way and has been awarded the Alpine Club's environmental seal of approval.
Facts & Contact
Coordinates:
UTM 32T East: 0597433
UTM North: 5224097
Longitude: 10°17'07''
Latitude 47°09'47''
Maps:
Alpine Club map 1:25,000, Lechtal Alps, sheets 3/2 Arlberg area) and 3/3 (Parseierspitze)
Open:
24.06.2023 - 16.09.2023
Leaseholders:
Anja Heimes and Tom Schnabl
T. +43 (0)664 9857849
info@leutkircher-huette.at
www.leutkircher-huette.at extern
