2980 m

18 km

↑600 ↓1420

This hike took us up and over the Pitztaler Jöchl into the Ötztal Alps. We didn’t really want to hike this route but the less technical route was closed due to a blockage. The descent from the Pitztaler Jöchl at nearly 3000 meters was very challenging, involving steel ropes along a rock face where we had to choose our footing very carefully and use gloves to maintain a solid grip. This was a descent for the record books for us and required a measure of bravery and hoping for the best. Far below us was the town of Sölden. We had to take a regional bus through the Rosi-Mittelmaier Tunnel, through an otherwise impassable section, to the Rettenbach Glacier of the Ötztal Alps. From here we walked the Venter Panoramaweg, a high altitude route on which we were alone for 4 hours. We saw not a single sign and wondered if we were on the right path. There was no village in sight below. We were surrounded by glaciers ranging from 3600 to 3900 meters. We crossed several scree and boulder fields, making best efforts to do so as quickly as possible, though in a few spots going quickly was definitely not an option. The terrain was occasionally soft, yet extremely steep, requiring concentration with every step. Again, we had to dig deep to maintain our calm. Eventually we saw Vent. These destinations always look much closer than they are. We arrived with a feeling of great relief!