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ROUTE 8

Gaschurn (979m) – Tübinger Hut (2191m)

Start	Gaschurn (979m)
Valley base	Gaschurn
Distance	9km
Height gain	1212m
Grade	2–3
Time	4–4½hrs
Location	In the Garneratal south of Gaschurn

The Tübinger Hut sits high up on the east side of the wild Garneratal in the rocky cirque that carries the Austro–Swiss border. Built in 1908 it has been enlarged and improved at least twice since then, but it retains a cosy atmosphere with its wood-burning stove glowing in the stube when storm clouds broil outside. The valley is narrow, steep-walled and rugged; at its head rise mountains of 2700–2800m, but a wooded gorge squeezes its northern end from which the Garnera Bach spills out to the Montafontal.

There are at least two routes to the hut from Gaschurn. This is the shortest and easiest, but a good alternative begins by taking the Versettla gondola lift to Nova Stoba on the western ridge at 2010m, from where a waymarked path heads south to cross several modest summits before coming to the 2515m Vergaldajoch, after which the way cuts across the valley’s upper reaches with a final climb to the hut (5–6hrs).

A signpost by the tourist office in Gaschurn’s main street directs the way down a side road towards the river. Do not cross at the first opportunity, but turn left along a side road, then cross at the next bridge, arriving on the main road opposite the Versettla Bahn. Take a service road left of the cableway entrance, and when this ends by a restaurant, go ahead on a stony track, cross a stream and turn right on another service road.

Following the Garnera Bach upstream, the tarmac ends by some houses, but an unmade road continues, twisting uphill through the wooded gorge (Garneraschlucht) at the Garneratal’s entrance. At the first hairpin a footpath breaks away to climb alongside the river’s waterfalls, and about 1hr from Gaschurn it brings you to the large and attractive group of timber buildings of Ganeu (1420m) set among pastures. The track also reaches this hamlet, then continues upvalley, crossing the stream several times.

Although it’s perfectly feasible to follow the unmade road/track all the way to the Tübinger Hut’s goods lift about 6km beyond Ganeu, a better option is to take the path which remains on the east bank of the stream as far as a bridge where you rejoin the track. The valley is surprisingly level for while, then it rises on the approach to the Garneralpe (1675m). Once again it’s possible to take a path on the east bank, rejoining the track where it crosses the stream a little over 1km further on.

At about 1890m a signed path breaks away to make a rising traverse of the eastern hillside. The Tübinger Hut is now 40mins away. Rising among lush vegetation the path climbs steeply in places up what is an old glacial sill, and the final few paces to the hut are over rocks.

The Tübinger Hut (2191m: Category I) has 40 beds in rooms and 79 dormitory places, and is fully staffed from July to the end of September (tel 0664 2530450).