Stubai Seven Summits – Elfer

It was supposed to be a leisurely hike, but a navigation error led us onto the Elfer circular tour, part of the "Stubai Seven Summits." The route offered breathtaking views, rugged cliffs, and a very exposed, dangerous section that required full concentration. In the end, what was supposed to be a relaxing hike turned into a true adventure that we'll remember for a long time.

Due to technical problems, Komoot sometimes did not add my photos to the appropriate location ❗

Seven mountains with character In the middle of the impressive Stubai mountain world, 7 peaks stand out and form the "Seven Summits Stubai". In contrast to the 7 highest peaks of the 7 continents, it is not only the largest mountains in the Stubai Valley that bring unforgettable experiences. Due to their shape and nature, their location, their history and the views that this Mountains are possible, the "Seven Summits Stubai" have their appeal and can trigger a long-lasting feeling of happiness.

Incredibly beautiful rock formations await hikers on the Elfer. The trail has a few climbing sections. The ascent to the summit is short, but you have to hold on tightly to the rocks and steel cable, or you can skip that section. The trail leads past the Elferkofel via ferrata on the Zwölfernieder; with climbing equipment, you can also climb that, but only then!

With the prospect of thunderstorms, I had good arguments to motivate the group to get up early, because the idea was to complete the main part of our Elfert tour as early as possible in order to be able to dedicate the necessary time to it. --- So we set off together and followed the signpost towards Elferspitze above the hut, which coincides a good deal with the path to the Elfer north face. Long before nature withdrew and gave way to the bizarre rock formations, the interplay of sun, blue sky and masses of clouds around us, below us, next to and above us, kept us under our spell. If I had taken a picture of the same place every second, it would always have been a different one. The higher we got, the wilder the landscape deteriorated and the alpine feeling of height, space and silence enveloped us, while we climbed towards the goal in the face of our sweat, which was immediately dried by the gentle gusts of wind. At one point it was necessary to descend a steep step with a climbing passage, which was a great adventure, especially for the inexperienced, but that everyone got involved without hesitation. With a sling and a few words of encouragement, everyone got over it well and the final spurt to the summit of the eastern Elferturm could begin. Below the not exactly spacious summit, break stations were set up and the small cross was visited alternately, as well as the numerous boulders in the vicinity were climbed. --- As the weather seemed to be good to us, three via ferrata friends - including myself - split off from the rest of the group and crossed the Elferkamm via the via ferrata, which led purposefully over all the towers of the Elfer massif and which with its ups and downs was enormous varied endeavor turned out to be. Splits, cracks, slabs, straddling steps, ridge climbing - everything was there that was fun, sometimes tricky in detail, but never overwhelming and despite the decent length it was over too quickly. --- The group was reunited at the Zwölfernieder, because the hikers used the no less exciting panorama path at the foot of the wall to reach the same goal. So we could start the rest of the panorama trail back to the hut and had to find out more than once that the name is more than justified. The weather remained mixed and played us one partition after the other on the keyboard of the heavenly spectacles, while we imperceptibly destroyed the kilometers. --- An hour after arriving at the hut, the weather changed and brought rain and thunder with it. That was irrelevant for us, because we had savored everything that can be experienced around the eponymous mountain for more than six hours and we enjoyed a second evening in a hut that was in no way inferior to the first. Well fed, we retired to our rooms and prepared ourselves for the descent the following morning.

The most beautiful hike I have done in the Northern Alps. From the start of the Elfernbahn, we first went through the pine forest beyond the tree line through bizarre limestone formations. High on the Elfer around the Zwölfer back to the Elferhütte

In the end, this beautiful tour lasted almost 8 hours! You just have to take the time to enjoy nature!