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SUMMITS
SUMMIT Nº 8: ZUGSPITZE (GERMANY)
GERMANY
ZUGSPITZE
11 / 06 / 2022
ALTITUDE
2.982 m
ÒSCAR SOLSONA AND ANDREU LÓPEZ
DIFFICULTY LEVEL
MEDIUM
CHRONICLE
The adrenaline of the ascent to Vorder Grauspitz, the roof of Liechtenstein, is still fresh from my mind, and it turned out to be much more complex than expected. This 5-day trip presents the particularity that we traveled through 3 countries such as Liechtenstein, Germany and Austria and although achieving the ceiling of Austria was the initially planned objective, prudence and the time of year make us rule it out. Having achieved the Vorder Grauspitz the day before, we will still have to try to do the same with the Zugspitze, which at 2,982 meters is the highest point in Germany.
The summit presents several possibilities and route options. The one that starts from the German slope is shorter, although it presents a good part of the route with equipped sections that make us doubt about the agility, progression and pace at which we will advance. In countries where we don’t know the terrain, it is essential to prioritize safety and choose the easiest option for ascent to the summit…so, and when in Germany we choose to start from the Brent Alm car park (Ehrwald) on the Austrian slope and from 1,156 meters.
Brent Alm is an area with a lot of sporting activity in the winter season, since it has the presence of a ski complex, as well as in the summer months when we coincide with cyclists, runners, climbers and hikers.
The program that awaits us is demanding with practically 2,000 meters of positive elevation gain and around 15 km. The tourist agenda of visits in the region determines the characteristics of the route and we will choose to make the return by funicular and thus also avoid unnecessarily punishing the knees.
The route from Brent Alm begins with a few kilometers of asphalt that become monotonous although they pass through forests that protect us from the sun, an element that we had found missing in recent days in Munich and Liechtenstein. After a few kilometers of gentle but prolonged ascent we arrive at Ehrwalder Alm (1,502m) and which is a space with services (cafeterias, restaurants…) where lifts converge.
From this point there is an important “sift” of hikers coinciding with the increase in slope of the terrain. Gone are the people who have opted for short and family excursions and the people we meet mostly share a destination with us.
We share lively conversations with different people from all over the world while we overcome demanding sections of the route and are accompanied by landscapes that do not disappoint and meet the expectations created. We arrive at an important point on the route and that at the same time coincides with the 50% positive slope saved and that is none other than Gatterl (2,024m), the Austrian-German border.
After this point we take the first steps of the day in German territory and advance for a stretch of about 3 kilometers without practically gaining altitude. Here the mountain becomes rocky and we stop seeing the forest as well as on the horizon we can see some white hue that covers the mountain and much in the distance the unmistakable golden color of the cross on the Zugspitze summit.
We arrive at the Knorrhütte refuge (2,051 meters) where we will make a stop, we supply ourselves well as well as put solid on the body. 900 meters of positive elevation await us, we have been walking for hours so recharging batteries is very necessary. Just leaving the refuge, the climb becomes demanding. It’s a hard day: a long hike, with a lot of accumulated unevenness, a lot of sun and the last day in the mountains in Liechtenstein is very present on our legs.
We found a Dutchman, a boy out of place in space – time who accompanies us for a bit of the road and who has not done too well the numbers on his return to his point of origin. At an elevation of 2,400 / 2,500 meters, the snow begins to appear and together with the steep climb, since we have to do it quickly so as not to miss the last cable car down of the day, implies that we physically push ourselves.
They are moments that I have enjoyed a lot. I like to ascend, I like to ascend intensely, at a good pace like today…during the ascent we had fun with some equipped steps and cables to lean on. You can smell the summit but it makes you beg…it finally arrives. We arrived at the top of a huge and spectacular stage, proudly prepared and conditioned for tourists. We can’t sleep…we have to find the summit and buy the tickets down. We are the last people of the day to summit. Together with Òscar, we take a photo of ourselves, proud of the path traveled throughout the day, of the moment we are living.
The Zugspitze summit is one of the most ostentatious I have ever climbed with a spectacular golden cross that can be seen from kilometers away. Together with Òscar, we really enjoy the moments when the summit is ours alone. If the derivative of this suspicious tranquility in such a crowded place comes, it is that we have lost the last funicular down.
Despite the previous loss, it seems that it is our lucky day and despite the fact that the person at the “ticket office” gives us an unfriendly face, it seems that we will be able to go down with the “workers / staff” category funicular. The Germans are squared but from time to time they present some figures of flexibility.
Fantastic day in the mountains and in my case with the 8th Top Summit in the bag. Danke Zugspitze.
GALLERY
