A second summit cross for Zugspitze
Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The Zugspitze is getting a second summit cross.
Bayerische Zugspitzbahn Bergbahn AG is already looking forward to the work by artist Bernhard Rieger, which will be on display at the Zugspitze summit station from July 3rd. The replica will enable guests to visit the summit cross without any risky climbing and leave their mark on it.
A risky route to the summit cross
Around 600,000 guests visit Germany's highest peak every year and many of them take the risk of walking to the summit cross. It is only a few meters from the summit station, though on steep rocky terrain. On busy days, space at the summit cross itself is limited due to the steep terrain. It is very popular with visitors to leave their mark on Germany's highest peak by attaching stickers to the summit cross. There are now only a few free spots and visitors have to work increasingly hard to find a free spot to stick their name. “It's very risky in this steep terrain,” says Klaus Schanda, Head of Marketing and Sales at BZB. “Guests are exposed to alpine dangers there.” Cleaning the summit cross is not an alternative in the long term, as it is costly and the summit cross would be taped up again within a very short time anyway. The BZB has therefore come up with something new in collaboration with artist Bernhard Rieger.
Second summit cross to offer an alternative
The replica of the summit cross is now intended as an invitation and solution to immortalize yourself at the summit cross without any risk. “Then there would be a nice selfie spot again without any risk,” says Klaus Schanda. The cross was designed by artist Bernhard Rieger from Wallgau, who has worked with the BZB for many years. Combining art with the mountain is also the focus of the ever-changing exhibitions on the Zugspitze. “We want to use the exhibitions to bring our guests closer to the history of the company,” says Martin Hurm, Head of the Zugspitze Division. “The summit cross in particular has an emotional value for many people.”
Summit cross since 1851 Landmark of the region
When Zugspitze was first climbed in 1820, there was no summit cross. At the insistence of the parish priest at the time, a summit cross was transported to the former western summit for the first time and finally erected there on August 12, 1851. In the meantime, it was relocated to the eastern summit, repaired several times and replaced by a new summit cross in October 1993 as part of the construction of the new Gletscherbahn cable car. Since then, the gilded landmark of the Zugspitze has become a focal point for mountaineers, tourists and guests from all over the world. “The idea is that we can offer our guests a new perspective without having to prohibit anything,” says Klaus Schanda.
