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reaching an altitude of 2,000m
on the first day. That means
you’ ll have already climbed a
whopping 1,200m, and by the
time you reach the hut, you’ ll be
exhausted by the increasingly
steep terrain. You may, however,
find some comfort in the fact
that the hikers back at the
Reintalangerhütte still have a
whole 1,600m ahead of them
before they reach the summit.
After eight hours of
mountain hiking, you’ ll also
finally have your goal in your
sights: the summit of the
Zugspitze, which towers over the
Reintal ’s jagged slopes in the
evening light. After a lager and a
gentian schnapps, you’ ll be
ready for bed in the dormitory.
Don’t forget to bring earplugs
if you want an undisturbed
night’s sleep.
THE ROOF OF GERMANY
Hiking up to the summit of Germany’s highest mountain is an
exhilarating experience. The Zugspitze isn’t far from Munich and in the
right weather conditions, even novice walkers can make it up to the top
Z U G S P I T Z E
T
here are countless hiking
trails leading up to the
Zugspitze, Germany’s
highest summit. The mountain
also offers plenty of secure
climbing routes for ambitious
weekend climbers. Yet the route
passing through the Reintal is
the most family friendly
(although it’s also the longest)
and in good weather conditions,
even the most inexperienced
hiker can reach the peak. You’ ll
also be following in the
illustrious footsteps of
Lieutenant Josef Naus and his
mountain guide Johann Georg
Tauschl, the first mountaineers
to conquer the summit in 1820.
The Alps begin around 30
minutes’ walk from the Olympic
Stadium in Garmisch-
Partenkirchen. But before you
begin climbing Germany’s
tallest mountain, you’ ll need to
cross the dark, wet Partnach
gorge at 830m, which flows
down from an altitude of 1,440m
on the Zugspitze.
Take the narrowmountain
trail, flanked by steep 80m-high
cliff walls, with the River
Partnach roaring and gurgling
alongside you. The air is moist
and your face will soon be
soaked with spray. You gradually
move upwards, passing through
narrow caves with water
dripping from their roofs. Be
sure to bring waterproofs and a
torch with you.
The spectacle suddenly ends
after 700m, and the idyllic
Reintal now unfolds in front of
you, framed by the dramatic
peaks of the Alps and the Dreitor.
Take a leisurely stroll along a
gravel path by the Partnach,
which slopes gently upwards.
The Reintalangerhütte,
which is located at an altitude of
1,369m, was formerly a small
shepherd’s hut. It has nowbeen
transformed into a two-storey
lodge, with a lawn full of
sunshades and mountain bikes
propped up out front. Inside, it’s
packed with guests. Each season
the Reintalangerhütte provides
up to 7,000 hikers with hearty
food and basic accommodation,
which consists of 20 beds and 70
sleeping spaces in a shared
dormitory, kitted out with
Spartan woollen blankets. If
you’re planning on spending the
night there, make sure you bag
your space early.
The hut is famous for its
unusual pre-dawn alarm call.
Just before sunrise, the owner
rouses guests with the gentle
sounds of a zither and accordion.
If you don’t feel sufficiently alert
after that, you certainly will
after you’ve had a wash; the
water is nearly as icy as the
Partnach next door.
If you’re an athletic hiker,
however, you’ ll probably skip the
Reintalangerhütte and power on
to the Knorrhütte, thereby
Der Aufstieg zu Fuß
wird mit herrlichen
Aussichten belohnt
Don’t forget to stop
and take in the view
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