Climbing ZUGSPITZE
Zugspitze 2,962 m (9,718 ft) is the highest mountain in Germany. Located south of Garmisch-Partenkirchen on the Austria/Germany border.
Easy to access both Austrian (one) and German side via (two cable cars). More then 500 thousand people visit Zugspitze each year.
We decided to climb Zugspitze and took a route via Höllental valley.
Climbing Zugspitze
1 Day. Garmish – Höllentalangerhütte
Affter arriving to Garmisch-Partenkirchen and getting Alpenverein insurance in DAV section in Prof.-Carl-Reiser-Straße 2, 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, we got to Hammersbach village and parked a car there.
After one hour walking we arrived to amazing Höllental gorge (Höllentalklamm) the lowest threshold of the valley.
The path leeds through special shelves, or bridges suspended over the flowing stream, and in tunnels hollowed in the rock. Dripping water from above, can make you cold, so bring a rain jacket.
After about one hour walking up narrow paths of the Höllentalklamm you reach less steep Höllental valley.
It takes about 30min more to reach Höllentalangerhütte – mountain hut.
A good soup and a big beer end this day. Getting up early is a key, there will be more space in the route…
2 Day. Höllentalangerhütte – Zugspitze – Garmish
6 AM a quick coffee and small breakfast and then it’s time for climbing Zugspitze.
Climbing Zugspitze was our acclimatization before going to Bernese Alps in Switzerland. A route via Höllental Valley is not for everyone.
If you are affraid of heights, or have no mountain experience better take one of the cable cars up Zugspitze.
It’s good to have a harness, a lunge- via ferrata set with two carabiners for more safety. If you feel comfortable enough on via-ferrata routes, some people risk and go without them.
I always say, in mountains better to have 1-2kg more ballast (mountain equipment) with you than not have it at all… You never know what you’ll need. Warm clothes, flashlight and basic set of mountain equipment depending on route you take is a must.
After crossing loose rock colluvium, you reach Höllentalferner – Höllental valley glacier. If you have crampons it’s easier to move on up to the steep rock wall.
Climbing ZUGSPITZE from Höllental Valley side is the best because it’s so diversed route with meadows, gorge, mountain hut, rock, glacier, via ferrata route with quite big exposure…
Once you reach the Zugspitze summit and you see all these not sweaty people, who came by cable car, drinking beer or eating ice cream. You ask yourself why? Why so much effort, well that’s the point! Feeling and experiencing the mountains is one of the best feelings ever. Is it for you as well?
We took a cable car down, it’s very convenient. Same day we went for a party with our friends in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. It was the best 2-day trip in Germany of me…
