Wandern in Germany

[OldnSlow]

My son and I are headed to Bavaria later this month. Besides eating, drinking, and visiting family, we hope to do a bit of Wandern (hiking) as well.

My big hope is to do the Watzmann, second highest peak in Germany. It looks like a class 2 or 3 scramble to one of the peaks though, so we may just make it to the WatzmannHaus about 2/3 of the way up and enjoy lunch.

If you have any other hiking suggestions for Bavaria, let me know.

[Hikin_Jim]

Never been, so no recommendations, but sounds pretty cool. Post photos!

HJ

[OldnSlow]

Wow, forgot I had started this thread. We hit the bad weather which caused the 100 year flooding in Bavaria, so we only had one outing in the mountains to a 1700 meter peak in OberBayern. Conditions on Zugspitze and Watzmann were still too sketchy for us.

I learned a few things on the trip.

1. They don't believe in switchbacks. It's pretty much straight up.
2. When you tell someone you'd like to hike in the mountains, be prepared. Hiking is close to mountaineering to them. The rest is walking!
3. Get maps! Rock climbing and trying to follow red dots painted on rocks can be interesting.
4. Thank goodness for the "alms" in the mountains. Small huts, many of which serve beer, sodas, and sandwiches.

[Hikin_Jim]

Hiking = mountaineering (nearly) in Germany. Got it.

Got any photos?

HJ

[GoPlayer]

....
I learned a few things on the trip.

1. They don't believe in switchbacks. It's pretty much straight up.
2. When you tell someone you'd like to hike in the mountains, be prepared. Hiking is close to mountaineering to them. The rest is walking!
3. Get maps! Rock climbing and trying to follow red dots painted on rocks can be interesting.
4. Thank goodness for the "alms" in the mountains. Small huts, many of which serve beer, sodas, and sandwiches.

1. Funny you mention that. I was on a hike in Switzerland last year when I reached a point where the red dots seemed to end. Finally I looked straight up some very steep meadow and saw the next dot.
2. That's a translation error or sloppy use of the word 'wandern' which should be nothing more than what's called class 2 here. More demanding stuff should be referred to as 'bergsteigen' which can include class 3 stuff.
3. A map is also useful since it gives you an idea about distance and elevation gain. The signs in the Alps often just give a time to a destination which I find pretty useless.
4. Love the 'Almen' for some beer and cheese!

[OldnSlow]

I think some of the translation error on my family's part was seeing my FB pictures from San J and other peaks and not realizing the trails may be different. It was a humbling experience.

And yes, having the trail signs mark times down may seem good, but I found it pretty worthless.

Maybe we could convince someone that some ranger stations need to become almen!