- Refurbished Red-Brick Residence Reopened: Once Again Serving Water from Containers
Emergency Closure of Rotwandhaus Above Spitzingsee Lake in Miesbach District Lifts After Two and a Half Months
The widely visited Rotwandhaus situated above Spitzingsee Lake in the Miesbach district has resumed operations after a two and a half month hiatus due to the discovery of germs. "The drought is over," the facility declared on their website. The Miesbach health department has lifted the lockdown, which became feasible due to a temporary water supply via containers, revealed Anselm Engelmayer, the treasurer of the DAV section responsible for the hut, in response to an inquiry.
On Saturday, for the first time, guests were able to spend the night. The initial group consisted of approximately a dozen hikers, primarily on a rainy Sunday. The number of guests is expected to increase to 20 or 25, said Engelmayer. "We are proceeding with caution. We need to ensure the water supply is sufficient." The hut has around 80 sleeping quarters.
Water Supply via Containers – Temporary Solution
The showers continue to remain closed due to water scarcity. The water supply via containers is a temporary solution and is not environmentally friendly, pointed out Engelmayer. The trucks have to navigate around 700 meters uphill through the forest road frequently used by hikers and mountain bikers to reach the hut located at approximately 1,700 meters.
The alpine club house was forced to close its operations in the past as the mountain rescue service had to attend to 21 visitors due to severe gastrointestinal complaints – seven of whom were hospitalized. Initially, it was suspected that the infected had probably been infected with coli bacteria, and norovirus was also found in some. Rotaviruses were later detected in the drinking water. However, no illnesses were attributed to this virus; it was not detected in any of the affected individuals, said Engelmayer.
Rotaviruses in the Source
According to current knowledge, the rotaviruses originate from the source located about 150 meters below the hut, which usually supplies the house with water. The water supply via the source is intended to be protected from germs through additional measures, such as mechanical filters and UV irradiation. "We will upgrade the water treatment. We are working on it full-speed," said Engelmayer. However, the duration of this process is uncertain. The source of the viruses remains unknown.
Up to 1,000 day visitors visit the hut below the Rotwand peak on sunny days. During the summer, it is also a popular destination for mountain bikers and climbers who start their journeys from there towards the Ruchenköpfe. In winter, the relatively snow-secure area attracts ski tourers with numerous tour options.
The facility encourages guests to visit on sunny days, like on Sunday, to make the most of their stay. Despite the temporary water supply solution, the hut plans to gradually increase the number of guests, starting from around 20 or 25.
