High alpine experience Zugspitze
Germany’s highest mountain doesn’t just attract experienced mountaineers because of the superlative. There are many challenging routes around the golden summit cross, such as the famous Jubiläumsgrat. The modern cable cars operated by Bayerische Zugspitzbahn prove to be a reliable friend on the first or last stage of the day.
The craggy ridge between the summit of the Zugspitze (2,962 m) and the summit of the Alpspitze (2,628 m) is one of the most spectacular traverses in the Eastern Alps and is a parade route for experienced mountain climbers. The ridge runs for 5.3 kilometres and features continual ups and downs, demanding a high level of endurance, concentration and surefootedness from the climbers for the hiking time of 7 to 9 hours. They are rewarded with magnificent views over Werdenfelser Land and down into the imposing Höllental.
Besides the Jubiläumsgrat, which can also be tackled in the opposite direction, many routes lead to the Zugspitze from the surrounding valleys. The route through the Reintal is seen as the easiest, but broadest and most isolated option, offering few technical difficulties until the final ascent. A popular but extremely challenging ascent leads through the varied Höllental. You need to allow 6-8 hours for the route through the spectacular Höllental gorge and on over the Höllentalferner glacier to the Zugspitze. Ascending a total of 2,200 metres in altitude, this route is only suitable for very experienced climbers. The shortest and most direct ascent to the summit runs from Eibsee lake or Obermoos via the Wiener-Neustädter Hut and the Austrian Schneekar.
