Langtalereck hut to Stettiner hut / into Pfossental via Gurgler Eisjoch / Bankkogeljoch

From the Langtalereck hut to the (closed) Hochwildehaus / Fidelita hut or start from there (1.5-2h shorter)

Past the Fidelita hut / Hochwildehaus heading south, always keeping altitude on the well-marked path up to a small lake and a bit further to a flat area. Now leave the trail and go right downhill towards the clearly visible debris plain formed by the streams coming down from the eastern arm of the Gurgler Glacier. Depending on the water level, you can bypass the debris plain above or below if you do not cross it directly. When doing the route in the opposite direction, in the afternoon there can be so much meltwater that it is best to cross the streams barefoot on the debris plain.

From the lowest point, ascend over scree fields (covered with snow in early summer) further south towards the moraine coming down from the Mitterkamm. At first, cairns and red/white markings still show the way. At some point, the markings stop and you walk over fresh scree and former glacier bed. The glacier is divided into a lower and upper part in this area, and you can make good progress in the glacier-free sections. As of 09/2025, see pictures, only 2 narrow ice tongues must be crossed when aiming for the Gurgler Eisjoch. The ice is very flat; crampons are advisable for safety. The ice will completely disappear by 2026 or 2027.

When you reach the Gurgler Eisjoch, do not descend directly into the steep, dangerous gully to the south — this is only passable with skis when covered in snow. Turn west from the Gurgler Eisjoch towards the Bankkogeljoch and follow the ridge all along. In the last 200m, the ridge narrows somewhat but remains passable via trail traces.

You can also already aim directly for the Bankkogeljoch over the flat remnant glacier before the Gurgler Eisjoch. If the glacier is still snow-covered, a rope should be used for safety.

At the Bankkogeljoch (point 3134), a pole with a large white ball is set up as a clearly visible marker. It is the lowest point on the ridge in this area.

From the pass, descend south into the Pfossental. The upper part of the descent is secured and marked on the right side with steel cables. In early summer, the cables in the upper area may still be buried under snow. In that case, ice axe/crampons/rope security in the early morning are recommended. With no snow, cross the gully by scree in the upper section.

Many rope protections are damaged as of 2025; the poles are often only shallowly anchored, wobble, or have been knocked out by avalanches/rockfall. Be careful! It is best to avoid holding onto the cables! Ascent and descent are possible without these steel cables.

After about 200 meters altitude gain, continue without major difficulties. Over scree fields and grassy rocky terrain with only a few old red path markings, you reach the Grubalpe. From there, follow trail traces (an archaeological hiking trail also runs here) to the Meraner Höhenweg, leading from the Pfossental to the Stettiner hut.

The solitude ends again on the Meraner Höhenweg.

Endurance hikers can also continue to the Zwickauer hut (4 hours from the Stettiner hut). From there it is possible to hike to the Timmelsjoch road and return to Obergurgl with the newly established bus.

The route was done on 12.07.2014 - however, it did not descend into the Pfossental, but returned via the Stettiner hut and Langtalerjoch to Obergurgl.

Update: The route was done again on 08.07.2018 - with recommended overnight stay at the Stettiner hut and return via Langtaljoch.

Update: The route was done again on 02.07.2023 - with recommended overnight stay at the new Stettiner hut and return via Langtaljoch.

Update: Since summer 2023, several rock islands have formed in the western arm of the Gurgler Glacier. It is expected that in a few years one can reach the pass on the west side of the Mitterkamm without glacier contact.

Update: The route was done again on 20.09.2025 for exploratory purposes. The glacier has now receded so far that it is interrupted in the area of the mapped track. Only a narrow, flat, crevasse-free tongue still needs to be crossed.

Warning - please note that the route on the descent from the pass to the Meraner Höhenweg is not maintained and the steel cable protections are in a dangerous condition. Unfortunately, there is little interest from North and South Tirol in cross-border cooperation, not even among the Alpine clubs.