The 1991 discovery of Ötzi, the Man from the Ice, brought worldwide fame to the Similaun peak in the unique Schnalstal Valley! My latest mountain portrait tells you its precise location, how to climb it and why we should take more care of our mountains.

The giant above the “Dark Valley”

I wasn’t even born at the time :-), but some of you will certainly remember: in September 1991, up near the Tisenjoch Pass, a German couple found what would become the world’s most famous glacier mummy! Since that day (if not before), South Tyrol, the Schnalstal Valley and above all the Similaun have enjoyed worldwide fame – just like the 5,300-year old Ötzi, who is kept in Bozen’s Museum of Archaeology and who attracts several thousand visitors each year.



Unremarkable, yet dangerous and imposing
The Similaun, which rises to a height of around 3,599 metres, is not only famed for its many mountain and glacier tours: a number of blockbuster films, such as “Everest” and “The Dark Valley” have also been made amidst the snow and ice of its unique landscape, ensuring that the Schnalstal Valley is well-known far beyond the borders of Italy. The Similaun was once an ice-covered mountain on the border between the Austrian Tyrol and South Tyrol, located in the middle of the Niederjochferner, a glacier in the Ötztal Alps that stretches northwest from the Similaun. The entire glacier extends eastwards into Austria, while the western part lies in Italian territory, in the Texel Group Nature Park.
Incidentally, the Similaun was first climbed in 1834 by Theodor Kaserer, a priest, guided by Josef Raffeiner: their route runs to the summit from the village of Unsere Frau im Schnalstal.

High up in a world of glaciers
There are particularly good views of the Similaun from the Vernagt reservoir. From here a steep ascent of five-and-a-half hours leads to the Similaun Hut at 3,017 metres. The climb to the hut – one of the most popular in the Meran area – is a straightforward mountain hike. From here, however, you will need glacier gear and roped partners to reach the summit of the Similaun. Be careful: even if it looks unremarkable, there are numerous crevasses on the mountain! And, just an hour’s walk from the hut, stands a monument to the Ötzi, on the site where the Iceman was found.
From the summit of the Similaun you have the feeling that an unreal parallel world of snow, ice and scree is spread out beneath you. The panoramic views of the entire Ötztal Alps and the Texel Group are spectacular and will stay as a memory forever.



All things must pass
In such places, unfortunately, climate change is particularly noticeable: the Schnalstal Glacier has significantly retreated in recent years, draining via the Niedertalbach stream and from Vent via the river known as the Ötztaler Ache. Feeling and seeing in close-up just how much nature is changing is sure to move you. I too believe that, out of respect for nature, it is our duty to change our behaviour – whether while hiking, on holiday or in general, so that a paradise like the Schnalstal Glacier can be preserved.



Would you like to holiday near the Schnalstal Valley and the Similaun in South Tyrol? Then take a look at our private landlords in Meran and environs!

Yours from the heart, Sabine