Augstenberg
3,230 m
Switzerland, Austria
Also known as Augstenspitzen, Nördliche Augstenspitze, +2Also known as
Augstenspitzen · Nördliche Augstenspitze · Augustenspitze · Piz Blaisch Lunga
- Elevation
- 3,230 m
- Prominence
- 432 m
- Difficulty
- 5/10
- Easy alpine
- Best Season
- Mar–Apr
- Routes
- 2
Routes
2Sources differ: WS- (gipfelbuch.ch) · L–WS (F–PD) (SummitPost)
A short glacier tour from the Jamtalhütte: a path south past the Steinmannli, the Chalausferner (crevassed, often bare ice in late summer) to the Fuorcla Chalaus with a short rock step of I, a dip onto the Vadret da Chalaus on the Swiss side, and a rocky final rise to the north summit. About 1,150 m and 4 hours from the hut.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 16.5 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +1,991 m
- −343 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 3,230 m
- Time Up
- 9h 23m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 7h 11m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From Galtür or the Menta-Alm car park, a track and path lead up the Jamtal to the Jamtalhütte (2,165 m; about 3 hours from Galtür). Most parties spend the night there. From the hut a marked path heads due south and passes below the Steinmannli (2,353 m), then cairned traces cross terraces and hollows to the Chalausferner. Climb the glacier in a wide right-then-left curve, usually on its left side depending on the crevasses, to a snowfield below the Fuorcla Chalaus. A short, steep rock passage (I) leads into the col (about 3,000 m), where you cross into Switzerland; there is often a cornice or wind scoop on the far side. Descend briefly into the upper basin of the Vadret da Chalaus and cross it eastwards, then go over scree to the rocky summit structure. A short ridge from the saddle between the two tops leads to the slightly higher north summit (3,230 m); the south summit (3,225 m), entirely in Switzerland, is also easy to reach from the saddle. Descend by the same route. The Chalausferner is often broken up and icy in late summer, and the glacier has shrunk considerably since the older descriptions were written.
Start
Galtür1,577 m
- Train to Landeck-Zams, then bus up the Paznaun to Galtür; walk up the Jamtal to the Jamtalhütte.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Galtür → Jamtalhütte | 10.0 | 587 | 5 | 3h 28m |
| 2 | Jamtalhütte → Augstenberg | 6.6 | 1,401 | 338 | 6h 10m |
Waypoints
- Station: Galtür1,577 m
Bus from Landeck
- Parking: Menta-Alm1,666 m
Car park for the Jamtalhütte; the road on to the Scheibenalpe has restricted access
- Waypoint: Scheibenalpe1,836 m
- Hut: Jamtalhütte2,164 m
- Feature: Steinmannli2,346 m
End of the marked path; cairned traces continue towards the glacier
- Col: Fuorcla Chalaus2,995 m
Short rock passage (I) just below the col; cornice or wind scoop on the Swiss side
- Summit: Augstenberg3,230 m
Key Passages
- Crevassed Chalausferner (often bare ice in late summer)
- Short rock step (I) into the Fuorcla Chalaus
- Cornice or wind scoop on the Swiss side of the col
- Short ridge from the saddle to the north summit
Equipment
0/6 packedDownloads
Route confidence 70%Overview
A double-topped, partly glaciated 3,230 m summit on the Tyrol–Graubünden border, directly south of the Jamtalhütte above Galtür. In summer it is a short glacier tour (PD-, rock to I) via the Fuorcla Chalaus. In winter it is the hut's most popular ski summit.
The Augstenberg (also Augstenspitzen; Romansh Piz Blaisch Lunga, roughly 'long, wide slope') is a multi-topped massif in the Silvretta between the Jamtal and Futschöl valley on the Tyrolean side and the Val d'Urezzas and Val Urschai in the Lower Engadine. The main north summit (3,230 m Swiss, 3,228 m Austrian survey) lies on the border; the south summit (3,225 m), 220 m away, is entirely in Switzerland. Small glaciers surround it: the Chalausferner and Vadret da Chalaus to the west and south-west, the hanging Vadret da Futschöl to the east and the remains of the Futschölferner to the north. The Fuorcla Chalaus separates it from the Chalaus peaks to the west, and the Futschölpass, an old smugglers' crossing, lies to the east.
The usual base is the large Jamtalhütte (2,165 m), about 3 hours up the Jamtal from Galtür. From there the normal route crosses the Chalausferner to the Fuorcla Chalaus and briefly dips into Switzerland before climbing the gentle Swiss flank to the top. The ascent is not technically demanding, but it is a real glacier tour: the Chalausferner is crevassed and often bare ice by late summer, and the glacier has shrunk a great deal since most published descriptions were written.
The summit is a fine viewpoint, reaching the Ortler and Bernina groups to the south, the Ötztal Alps to the east, the Bernese Alps and the Weissmies to the west, and the bulk of the Fluchthorn just to the north.
Climbing Notes
Plan a night at the Jamtalhütte and an early start. From the hut, allow about 4 hours and 1,150 m to the summit (published range 3½–4¾ h). You need glacier skills and a roped party with crevasse-rescue kit, crampons and an ice axe; the only rock is a short, easy step (I) into the Fuorcla Chalaus, but the Chalausferner may be bare, crevassed ice in August and September. Early summer usually gives better snow cover on the glacier, but check conditions with the hut before you go, because the published descriptions are old. In winter and spring the Augstenberg is a classic but demanding ski tour (SAC ZS-): the last metres into the col are usually climbed on foot, and the traverse to the north summit is steep, so it needs stable avalanche conditions and confident skiing. Mountain guides from Galtür can be booked through the hut.
Season
Best Mar–Apr- January: Possible
- February: Good
- March: Best (best window)
- April: Best (best window)
- May: Possible
- June: Good
- July: Best
- August: Good
- September: Good
- October: Possible
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Hut opens at the end of January; winter room otherwise
- Feb
- Ski touring; hut open
- Mar
- Main ski-touring season
- Apr
- Spring ski touring; hut closes late April
- May
- Hut closed; late ski tours for self-sufficient parties
- Jun
- Hut opens around 19 June; good snow cover on the glacier
- Jul
- Main summer season
- Aug
- Glacier increasingly bare and crevassed
- Sep
- Bare ice likely; hut closes late September
- Oct
- Hut closed; early snow
- Nov
- Hut closed; early winter
- Dec
- Hut closed
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- Jamtalhütte (DAV Sektion Schwaben): book online via alpsonline or contact the hut (+43 5443 8408, info@jamtalhuette.at); advance booking requested.
- Fees
- Overnight fee at the Jamtalhütte (reduced rates for Alpine Club members)
- Rules
- The Fluchthorn and the unmarked approach to the Zahnjoch, north-east of this route, have been closed since a major rockfall in June 2023; the Augstenberg route does not cross the closed area.
- Getting There
Galtür (Ischgl is the larger resort down the Paznaun valley)
Innsbruck (INN); Zurich (ZRH) is the larger alternative
- Train to Landeck-Zams, then bus up the Paznaun valley to Galtür
- By car via Landeck and the Paznaun to Galtür, or over the Silvretta High Alpine Road (toll) from the Montafon; parking at the Menta-Alm, with restricted access on to the Scheibenalpe
- Galtür to the Jamtalhütte on foot takes 3–3½ hours; from the Bielerhöhe about 4½ hours, and from Guarda in the Engadine via the Chamanna Tuoi about 6 hours
Hazards
- Glacier
- Crevasses
- Avalanche
- Cornices
- Weather
Huts & Shelters
1- 2,165 m
JamtalhütteHutStaffedBooking required
180 beds · 2026: winter 30 January–26 April, summer 19 June–26 September; winter room with 12 places when closed