A long ascent to the summit with magnificent panoramic views.
Starting point: Pfelders car park
End point: Pfelders car park
Refreshment options: Pfelders
Directions
Ascent: via the ruined Imestalm mountain pasture to the "Rauhjoch“
Your tour starts at the bus stop in Pfelders (1,630 m). First, follow the Merano High Mountain Trail no. 24 towards Innerhütt, descending into the valley towards the cable car bottom station. Crossing meadows, you reach a group of farmsteads, where at the junction on the tarmac road you turn left onto hiking trail no. 2. Follow the road to the next farm, where the path branches off: from here, the trail climbs steeply in numerous hairpin bends through mountain meadows and partly rocky sections. Some sections are secured with steps and wire ropes. After this steep section, you reach a flat high plateau with mountain meadows that are still mown in summer.
Follow the narrow path with almost no ascent for around 10 minutes, then turn left (caution: due to the often tall grass, the trail markings are not always easy to see here). The path now climbs more steeply again to the ruined Imestalm Alp (2,200 m). Turn right here (continuing on trail no. 2) and traverse a steep slope of mountain meadows interspersed with bands of marble. Follow the trail markings steeply uphill across two streams until the terrain becomes rockier. After a section over boulders and scree, you reach the Tyrolean High Mountain Trail no. 44.
Follow this trail to the right onto a ridge, then turn left onto trail no. 2 below the „Rauhjoch“. Traverse the slope and cross some slightly slippery scree to reach the Imstjoch (2,860 m). The final metres to the summit are straightforward, following the broad ridge to the „Rauhjoch“ (2,926 m) (also referred to as Rauhjochspitz on some maps).
Tip: A weather station operated by the Province of Bolzano is located on the summit, and its live data can be accessed online.
Descent: via the "Rauhjoch" bivouac, Kreuzjoch and Imestalm Alp back to Pfelders
For the return journey, first head back to the Tyrolean High Mountain Trail no. 44 and follow it to the Rauhjoch bivouac (2,708 m). The trail then descends steeply and follows the mountainside, with some slight exposure, to a ridge where you turn onto trail no. 47 towards the Kreuzjoch.
Once the terrain becomes somewhat flatter, follow trail no. 6B past the Kreuzjoch (2,451 m) across mountain meadows to a small lake with a raised bog. The marked path then descends somewhat more steeply to the Imestalm Alp, from where you return to Pfelders along the ascent route.
The route is not suitable for strollers or wheelchairs.
• Coming from Meran towards the Passeiertal Valley, take the Jaufenstraße SS44 to St. Leonhard, continue towards Moos, take on the Timmelsjochstraße and continue on the SP114 to Pfelders
• Coming from the Timmelsjoch, take on the Timmelsjochstraße to Moos and continue on the SP114 to Pfelders
• Coming from the Jaufenpass towards St. Leonhard, take the Jaufenstraße SS44, continue towards Moos on the Timmelsjochstraße and continue on the SP114 to Pfelders
Paid public car park at the entrance to the village of Pfelders.
his mountain tour requires good physical condition, a head for heights and the highest level of surefootedness. Due to its length and the difference in altitude, this hike is quite strenuous, but rewards the hiker with an incomparable panoramic view already during the ascent and especially at the summit. Some sections of the narrow tourist trail are exposed, the ascent to the saddle is steep and partly pathless. The tourist trail is part of the circular tour "From hut to hut".
Always stay on marked trails, check the weather conditions before you hike and pay particular attention to snow, wet ground, or slippery sections.