UKH

Hi Folks, new poster here..

3 of us had a trip planned between the 6th July to the 12th July, flights, accommodation.

We have booked 3 spaces in the Reintalangerhütte (needless to say, we are planning to go the Reintal 
route).

We are new to Alpine hiking, and I have a couple of questions, both COVID-19 related and not.

Firstly, does anyone know anything more specific about the sleeping bag requirements?
I've read a translated version of the house rules, and we're not sure exactly what we need.It says something about needed a silk/cotton sleeping bag for the hut? 
Does anyone have any info on how this works, and what we need to buy?

Also, does anyone have any information/updates about if the huts are being closed due to COVID-19?

I've tried to call the numbers on the hut website, and they never answer. They never email back about other questions either.  

Any advise will be greatly appreciated. 

Not surprised no one answers, in normal years the Reintalanger hut is open from end of May, and most likely even later this summer, if at all. 150 people in bunk beds? Bad idea.....

Anyway, at the moment you are not even allowed to travel to Bavaria except for work and a few selected other reasons. Tourism does not count: A French couple (who were picked up by police due to a request by French police, as they had abandoned some of their children at home) were fined several hundreds of Euros just last weekend.

Otherwise you are supposed to bring a hut sleeping bag. Traditionally that was a rectangular bag with big folds that you pull over the blanket and the pillow. Nowadays people ususally take a silk or polyester (or even cotton) sleeping bag liner that also covers your head.

Unlike other huts (usually proper mountaineering huts higher up) the Reintalanger hut does not provide hut shoes, so bring some pool sandals, flip flops, or whatever else you want to wear indoors. Your boots will stay in the gear room.

CB

Er, it means you need a cotton/silk sheet sleeping bag. That's normal in all alpine huts: the hut supplies blankets but no sheets. A normal sleeping bag is also ok if you happen to have one with you - but more weight to carry of course.

They most certainly are. Anybody's guess whether they - and Germany's borders - will be open again in July. Current statement from the DAV is definitely no earlier than Whitsun, possibly closed the whole summer. Good luck.

... assuming your trip does go ahead:

Were you planning to walk back down via Reintal too, or take the train/cable car?

If you're walking down, and still feeling fit & energetic, then I can recommend going back out from the hut via the Schützensteig/Mauerscharte. It involves a bit more uphill & is a lot more rugged than just carrying on down the main Reintal trail through the Partnachklamm, but it's scenically very worthwhile.

Definitely get the DAV map: https://www.dav-shop.de/productdetails.aspx?id=10000036&itemno=100108

No idea about COVID-19, obviously, since it's still developing. Depends on a lot of factors. I wouldn't have high hopes though.

Some basic hut advice back from normal times:

You need a "Hüttenschlafsack", which is just a cotton, silk or synthetic sleeping bag liner. Just a big sack you sleep in under provided blankets for hygienic purposes. This is required! I upgraded to a very light 300g down sleeping bag, as it's more universal, about the same weight and useful for an emergency bivvy, but any cheap sleeping bag liner will do. And your own towel, it's not B&B

Sleeping is usually communal ("Matrazenlager") plus sometimes smaller rooms. Matrazenlager can be anything from bunk beds in a room for ten, or just a long row of mattresses side by side for twenty people.

Take a head lamp and keep it near your bed, nobody wants you fumbling in the dark in the communal sleeping space if you need a late night pee, waking the other 20 sleepers (and many huts turn off non-essential electricity during the night, including lights).

Take ear plugs (see recent thread on snoring)

No boots or shoes inside, there is a shoe room at the entrance (sometimes with shoe driers) for wet gear (incl. ropes), either bring slippers, crocs, thick socks or sometimes you can use provided slippers.

Consider OEAV or DAV alpine club membership (standalone or via BMC reciprocal card). You get 30-50% off the accommodation prices (you get the "Mitglieder" member prices, without it it's "Nichtmitglieder") and a very good rescue insurance which basically pays for itself after a few nights just with the savings!

Be considerate - there is a reason for the typical early curfew. 

Bring cash - while some huts do have card terminals, they still rely on GSM service which might be spotty at best, depending on weather.

And finally, take out your trash.

Considering the German foriegn minister said 2 hours ago after a conference with the neighbouring countries that there won't be normal summer holidays this year and included full mountain huts in his comments I'd just cancel.

Zugspitze looking nice today though, it's 20°, clear and sunny!