Eagle Walk Stage 12: Hallerangerhaus - Pfeis hut - Hafelekar - Nordkette Innsbruck

Route: Hallerangerhaus - Lafatscher Joch - Wilde-Bande-Steig - Pfeis hut - Goethweg - Mandlscharte - Hafelekar mountain station - Congress Innsbruck

Route description:
In front of the hut first on the trail towards "Lafatscher Joch". The trail leads into a scree cirque, which becomes increasingly steeper and narrower. The route then soon leads through the so-called "Durchschlag" (here the old mule track was broken through the rock) and a little later - past a cross - gently up on a ground (in the area branching possibility to the Speckkarspitze). Over the bottom it goes in a northerly direction comfortably to the Lafatscher Joch. At the Joch follow the signs to the "Pfeishütte". On thedescend gently and orientate yourself at "Pfeishütte" or subsequently at "Pfeishütte via Wilde-Bande-Steig". On the primitive "Wilde-Bande-Steig" often through mountain pines, crossing gullies several times, slightly ascending over to the entrance to the cirque below the Stempeljoch. Here, orientate to "Stempeljoch" or "Pfeishütte". The path (built with boards, numerous wire ropes) through the cirque becomes increasingly steeper, the (initially gravelly) ground becomes firmer further up. From the yoke down to the right and through meadows or alpine pastures leisurely to the Pfeishütte. Directly at the Pfeishütte begins thesignposted "Goetheweg" (No. 219). It leads as a footpath or later as a path with a gentle ascent into the basin south of the refuge. At a fork in the path, head in the direction of "Mandlscharte" or "Hafelekar Bergstation", at the next fork in the path, continue to the right (the Arzler Scharte would be on the left) and in a wide loop through a scree cirque up to the Mandlscharte. From the Scharte on the other side down through scree. The now again good and quite wide path crosses now practically always at the same height under the rocks the Schuttreisen (great view to the back of the Nordkette). After a short ascent, we change to the Inntal side and descend a few meters in serpentines. Then on the comfortable trail in the upper area of the sloping, partly grassy southern flank of the Nordkette overall slightly ascending to the west to the Hafelekar - mountain station (always follow the signs "Hafelekar Bergstation" or "Goetheweg"). At the end alternately left or right of the ridge. The Goethe trail is often excellent safety precautions. The descent with the renovated Nordkettenbahn and the new Hungerburgbahn takes you directly into the city center to the Congress Innsbruck, whereby the descent is also possible on foot, where a visit to the Alpine Zoo can be included as a stopover. Continue to the city hike (stage 12a).

Advice:
Surefootedness and a head for heights required; climbing system to the Stempeljoch annually affected by avalanches; Goetheweg (mostly wide, often secured trail) leads through exposed terrain. Recommended for children: from 10 years

Highlights:

• The Innsbruck Nordkettenbahn is one of the most spectacular cable cars in the Alps. The listed station buildings were designed by architect Franz Baumann back in 1928.
•  From the Lafatscherjoch, an impressive view opens up to you into the Halltal valley and in front of the panorama of the main Alpine ridge. Shortly after the Mannlscharte you reach the signposted lookout point "Zugspitzblick". On the Goetheweg you hike above the roofs of Innsbruck. This path was already opened in 1932 after two years of construction.
• This stage leads you to alpine pastures, scree cirques, rock faces and mountain pine fields. Large chamois colonies live on the slopes of the Nordkette, and even the eagle is not uncommon here.
• In a small hut on the Hafelekar, Victor Franz Hess once researched cosmic radiation.
• Surefootedness and a head for heights are required for this stage. Experienced children from the age of ten can manage the stage.
• Possible crossways: from Scharnitz through the Hinterautal to the Hallerangerhaus; from Absam through the Halltal to the Hallerangerhaus or to the Pfeishütte.
• Tip: The two eagle view lookout points Nordkette Innsbruck Seegrube and Nordkette Innsbruck Hafelekar are recommended. Special telescopes provide an impressive 360-degree panorama.