Hiking under starry night skies

The Kaunertal Glacier Road offers safe access to Gepatsch in the Kaunertal, a magical place in the midst of a glacier shaped mountain landscape at about 2,000m. 

Here, away from the cities and far away from artificial light glare, you can experience an unforgettable deep gaze into a dark night sky, the history of the universe and also time.

Accompanied by experts, you will be able to recognise stars and constellations and learn about the meaning stars have for humans, for our orientation and for the creation of stories and world views. Signs of the times in the Kaunertal, our galaxy and the universe will give you new insight into dimensions on the edge of your imagination. 

To round off the experience, the impressions can sink in at the Gepatschhaus, Austria's oldest alpine club hut.   

Nocturnal meetings at the most beautiful cul-de-sac in the world

A guided tour will be offered weekly between mid-July and the end of August 2022. A time window of three days is planned for the hike (Wednesday – Friday). The first possible date is Wednesday, if the weather does not allow it, the date will be postponed by one day. On the day of the tour, by 4 p.m. at the latest, the guide will decide which day is best suited for sky observation according to the weather forecast and the participants will be informed by the guides.

If the star hike has to be canceled due to unsuitable weather, a 1.5-hour indoor program will be offered on Friday. In interactive experiments you can experience how planets move in their orbits and which laws they follow, an overview of how our solar system is structured and how the seasons come about.

Course of the hike:

The starting point is the Gepatschhaus
Brief discussion and introduction
Easy hike on existing hiking trails
The hike starts at dusk and ends at the star bowl when it gets dark.
In between we stop again and again, tell you things worth knowing and give you time to be amazed.
The way back is via the newly built bridge to the Gepatschhaus.
Selected celestial objects can be admired here at two telescopes
Tour duration: 3-4 hours
Tips and hints:

Dress warmly: it can get very cold at night, even in summer.
Good footwear: Sure-footedness is required at night, even on paved paths!
Flashlight: for orientation before and after the experience
Red light lamps: are provided on loan for the duration of the tour. The use of red light has no effect on the eyes' adaptation to the dark.
Use of light: The eye needs about 30min to get used to the dark. A glance at the mobile phone or the use of "normal" flashlights means that you have to get used to the darkness for another 30 minutes. We therefore ask you not to use any other light during the hike, apart from the red light lamps (also out of consideration for other participants).
Binoculars: If you have binoculars, you are welcome to take them with you. Even with binoculars you can already discover many things in the night sky.
Registration:

Registration at: Philip Hughes & Andreas Penz
Philip: 0043 (0) 681 2032 1035
nfo@tirolerhof-feichten.at
Andrew: 0043 (0) 664 522 5568
Participants min. 15, max. 20 people
Star hike costs:
€ 25.00 per person, € 20.00 with Summer Card
Alternative program costs:
€ 15.00 per person, € 10.00 with Summer Card
In the case of no-show or cancellation at short notice, the fee is to be paid. If it becomes apparent that you will not be able to attend, please let us know in good time so that others on the waiting list can move up.

Alternative program:
If the star hike has to be canceled due to unsuitable weather, a 1.5-hour indoor program will be offered on Fridays provided there is sufficient interest. In interactive experiments you can experience how planets move in their orbits and which laws they follow, an overview of how our solar system is structured and how the seasons come about.