Rinnenspitze Stubaital: the steep path to summit happiness

“Don’t think so much!” says mountain guide Christoph Stern, who leans casually against the rock one meter above me and stretches the rope. I would like to. But it’s all a matter of the head. And my head doesn’t want to.

“Wow, that’s steep!
Where do I put my foot next?
there?!
This won’t do!
And Jesses, I’ll never be able to get down there!”

“Then I’ll abseil you down,” Christoph says with a grin. Admittedly, it’s not Christoph’s fault that I’m clinging helplessly to the rock and my rope team, consisting of friend and mountain guide, is talking to me. I manoeuvred myself into this situation on my own. I really wanted to climb the Rinnenspitze, which is actually considered an easy three-thousand-metre peak in the Stubai. When I researched the tour on the internet, I quickly realized that the last few meters to the summit cross could be my undoing.

The day had started promisingly. Shortly before half past seven in the morning, we start the tour together with Christoph in Oberissalm in the Oberbergtal at 1,750 m above sea level. Ahead of us are almost 1,300 metres in altitude and an idyllic mountain valley. Serpentine after serpentine we hike up the steep slope, admire the opposite mountain flank and reach the plateau of the Alpeinalm thirty minutes later. Here the view opens up to the Franz-Senn-Hütte, where we fortify ourselves with muesli and coffee for the next 800 meters of altitude after another thirty minutes of walking.

The weather doesn’t know what it wants. Actually, the forecasts had promised the most magnificent summer weather, but instead a cool wind blows and wafts of fog move quickly up from the valley.

At eight o’clock sharp, we tackle the ascent to the Rinnenspitze. We hike briskly uphill north of the Franz-Senn-Hütte in the direction of Rinnensee and soon find ourselves in front of the first snowfield. Due to the low temperatures, the snow is more persistent than expected. I’m glad to have a local guide in front of me. In some places, the mountain path is barely visible due to the fresh snow. The higher we climb, the more impressive the panorama of the surrounding mountains appears. Always in view is the still partially frozen channel lake, which was the main reason why I really wanted to go to the top of the gully. It is the only one of the “Seven Summits Stubai” that is reflected in a mountain lake. But of course, that’s of little use when the landscape is freshly sugared in the middle of July.

Rinnenspitze via ferrata

I knew that I had enough stamina to cope with the 1,300 metres of altitude purely physically. But I was also aware that the last passage would not be my thing. When we reach the point where the simple via ferrata with steel cables and iron steps begins, shortly before ten o’clock, I am still in good spirits. But the confidence doesn’t last long. Less than two steps later, my brain goes crazy. And let’s be honest! That totally annoys me. Secretly, I’d like to be cool like Christoph, who takes the kicks as easily as if there were a normal path in front of him. But it is. At some point I give myself a jolt, stop my senseless rambling and seriously look for the next kick. Slowly we work our way up the via ferrata. Sometimes it’s surprisingly easy. Before euphoria breaks out, I stand in front of the next tricky crux. After 45 minutes, it’s done! We have overcome the final 50 meters of altitude and are standing on the summit. The triumphant feeling is absent, because in the meantime the layer of clouds has caught up with us again and veils the mountain panorama. I should have climbed faster.

My worry that I will never get down from the summit again vanishes into thin air on the descent. Almost as nimble as a weasel (compared to the ascent) I master the via ferrata section. After a short detour to the Rinnensee, we hike down to the Frenz-Senn-Hütte, where we stop for a fine portion of Tyrolean Gröstl. Even though it was an inner struggle, the mountain tour to the Rinnenspitze was a lot of fun and showed me once again that it is good to face challenges. I’m already thinking about another via ferrata tour. Let’s see how hard I’ll curse my adventurous spirit at the first tricky spot on the rock.

The Seven Summits in the Stubai Valley

The “Seven Summits Stubai” are seven striking peaks in the Stubai, all of which are characteristic of the valley in their own way and leave an impression. From the Elfer (2,505 m above sea level) to the Rinnenspitze, which almost exceeds the three thousand metres in altitude, to the Zuckerhütl at 3,500 m above sea level, there is a suitable summit for everyone. Among the easy ones are the Elfer and the high castle stable. For the Serles, the Habicht and the Rinnenspitze, stamina and a head for heights are necessary. For the Zuckerhütl and the Wilder Freiger, glacier passages have to be overcome. On each of the seven peaks there is a stamp to prove that you have been to the top. Those who conquer all seven mountains receive a trophy.

Tour tips for the Rinnenspitze

The tour to the Rinnenspitze is a day hike starting at the paid car park on the Oberissalm. The ascent takes about 3.5 to 4.5 hours. It took us exactly 3.5 hours to reach the summit cross. If I hadn’t wasted so much time on the via ferrata, we would have done the ascent in three hours. The descent follows the same path as the ascent. If you are doing the tour without a mountain guide, you should take a via ferrata set with you for the last stretch to the summit to be on the safe side.

Our mountain tour to the Rinnenspitze was supported by the TVB Stubai. As always, all impressions/opinions are my own.