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Watzmann

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m're 112. 07. 2009 19:17:43
Yesterday with mountaineering ''neighbors'' (PD Horjul) on Watzmann. Via the classic from Wimbachbrücke over Watzmann Haus to the first of the three peaks Hocheck. The goal was originally also the middle Mittelspitze but we left it for next time due to unfavorable conditions (rime ice with some new snow). Otherwise a great tour with lots of elevation gain, mountains similar to ours (nice gray-white limestone). Conditions half-winter above cca. 2300 meters a few centimeters of ''fresh'', weather ''mixed on the grill''(rain, some sun, sleet, some snowflakes, fog...). Pictures soon on PD Horjul website.
So we won't always talk about Czechs and their inappropriate equipment - yesterday a genuine German group proved to be ''Czech''. On the return in the snowy summit section they had plenty of troubles, which we solved with combined forces, due to inappropriate footwear and underestimating the conditions.
(+3)like
VanSims15. 06. 2016 19:13:06
Last August, traverse of the entire ridge.

https://simsoneblog.wordpress.com/precenje-watzmanna/

Unforgettable tour!

Shame the predecessors didn't succeed. Weather is weather and on such a tour you don't joke with it. eek
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Branee16. 06. 2016 17:06:19
The helmet is not just so something doesn't hit your head, but its purpose is to protect the neck in case of slip. Otherwise nice tour. Besides Valentin Stanič as first ascender, Hermann Buhl also left his mark. Climbed the east wall of Watzmann in winter, at night, solo and without a headlamp as training for Himalaya, as a curiosity nasmeh
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mirccar4. 08. 2016 08:04:51
Hello!
Does anyone know what the conditions are like for Watzmann?
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turbo4. 08. 2016 08:33:57
If foreign language is not foreign to you, try below:

https://www.davplus.de/watzmannhaus
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hribovka14. 08. 2016 11:28:47
Hi mirccar! I was on Watzmann last weekend, the path is dry. The path is quite physically demanding, you do 2200m vertical. When I was browsing the net I saw that some go circular or traverse the entire ridge and return the same way, we didn't have enough time for that feat. To the hut we needed 3 hours walk, although it said 4 hours at the start. From the hut to the first peak Hocheck it was two hours walk and then to the next peak Mittelspitze about 45 min. To Mittelspitze it's recommended to have a helmet, before that you don't even need it and a via ferrata set, we didn't use it though, but the path is quite exposed in one section. Most were without helmet and also without protection kit. If you're interested in anything else just ask. Below attaching a blog link, interesting read:
https://simsoneblog.wordpress.com/2016/06/15/precenje-watzmanna/
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mirccar4. 08. 2016 13:03:01
Thanks a lot both for the detailed answers.

Regards,
Miran
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bagi26. 08. 2016 09:57:40
August 2016 - Watzmann ridge or traverse of the German Triglav.

This time we went to see what it looks like altogether and the comparison with our patriarch is quite apt nasmeh. The ridge quite reminds of it, mass processions even more zavijanje z očmi. No snow this time, but it's not uncommon for some cooling to bring it even in August. Watzmann has a special climate due to the endless German plain below it.

We chose the route from Wimbachbrücke and it takes good 3 hours from Ljubljana to here. Parking is organized and paid. For one day the meter demands 8.6 €, for two 11.5 €. I don't recommend Balkan variants of parking without paying, because they fine such cars. Verified velik nasmeh.

The path to Watzmannhaus hut is extremely pleasant, in late afternoon hours also shady. You need cca 3 hours to it. The hut is pleasant, overnight and food cheap. Sleeping with PZS card 12 €, completely fresh schnitzel with baked potatoes and salad 12.5 €, beer 3.6 €. Dinner must be ordered by 19.30, hut reservations only by phone.

Ascent to the first peak Hocheck (2651 m) is easy, right behind it is a simple bivouac. Most come only here. Here starts the ridge traverse of Watzmann over Mittelspitze (2713 m) all the way to Südspitze (2712 m). From here the ridge descends and the path later heads over slopes to Wimbachgrieshütte hut.

The Watzmann ridge at the start of traverse looks terribly sharp, but the passages are well set. Difficulty comparable to the Triglav one. Whoever needs SVK at home will need it there too, otherwise not necessary. Condition of protections is not at all German, i.e. bad. Chains are Italian-loose, helmet and gloves recommended.

After finishing the ridge traverse follows good 1000 m of mountaineering descent over rocks, scree and grass. Next 1000 m descent is almost unnoticeable and runs on an excellently maintained valley path from the friendly Wimbachgrieshütte hut to the starting point. All praise to the maintainers nasmeh.

I definitely recommend the described traverse direction and early start from the hut. Visiting Watzmann is similar to Slovenes' pilgrimage to our Triglav. On the whole path you accumulate 2400 m elevation and 26 km length. Marked times are very generous, Germans predicted 17 hours for all velik nasmeh.


Signpost to the hut is on the left edge of the parking lot1
Pleasant, well-maintained path offers plenty of shade in the afternoon hours2
Higher up the path continues across pastures3
One of the shepherd huts along the path. Food and drink available almost everywhere4
Pasture with a view :)5
The sun slowly takes its leave6
Just before Watzmannhaus hut7
Hut visitors are enjoying new wine in the last sun rays8
Huge Watzmannhaus hut. Sleeps 200 people9
Bedroom. Rooms are clean and tidy, bathrooms too.10
Departure shortly after five, the hut slowly wakes up.11
Signposts just below the hut. The path is well marked and unproblematic.12
View of Watzmannhaus from the path towards Hocheck.13
Morning glow.14
German markings. You also see white circles with a red dot in the middle.15
Morning, the sun wakes up.16
View into the valley.17
There in the back is our first goal.18
Company.19
Hocheck - 2651 m20
Watzmann ridge, bivouac in the foreground.21
Ridge path, exposed in places, not elsewhere.22
Fixed protections resemble Triglav ones, but in worse condition.23
Ridge walking.24
We met some mountaineers on the ridge too.25
Part of the path is on slabs.26
Mittelspitze - 2713 m27
In this chimney it's not clear how to squeeze through :)28
Descent along cables.29
There are still quite a few such descents and ascents.30
The ridge has a different appearance after every bend. Overall it is about 3 km long.31
2000 m below is the very touristy lake Konigsee.32
Loose, poorly maintained safety gear.33
Here the path runs along the right slope in the direction of travel.34
We are approaching the last peak of the ridge.35
Ridge scrambling.36
This time's team.37
Direction of descent.38
There are countless peaks in the surroundings.39
The descent goes over rocks, scree, talus slopes and grass.40
We must descend approximately 1000 m into that valley below.41
Part of the path.42
Passage above the impassable gully.43
The descent is very varied but nowhere particularly exposed or dangerous.44
Impression.45
Signpost to the Wimbachgrieshütte hut.46
Valley view of the surrounding mountains.47
The valley path initially runs through scree fields.48
Wimbachgrieshütte hut.49
The next 1000 m of descent proceeds almost imperceptibly along a pleasant, very well-maintained path.50
Inn along the path, more and more tourists.51
Glimpse along the path shortly before the end.52
(+3)like
VanSims19. 08. 2019 11:34:27
Two days ago did the route also in the opposite direction. Strongly recommend! This is the right direction where almost all climbing parts go uphill and most walking on the ridge downhill! Descent to Watzmannhaus is also safer. Time is approximately the same or even a bit shorter.

The only bigger minus is the tedious 4.5 hour ascent from Wimbachgrieshütte to Südspitze. Condition-wise thus a bit more demanding but already on the ascent itself we have some climbing (around I) to break the monotonous walk.

Despite somewhat shorter total tour time, due to south exposure of the ascent, still recommend even earlier start. On descent from Hocheck a little attention to the, similarly polished rocks by crowds as on Triglav, which can be trickier downhill - a bit of caution! Still this descent is much safer than in opposite direction to Wimbachgrieshütte.

Of course lots of counter traffic and while I already see how in Slovenia they would grumble and curse me, there was no problem. Almost I was even an attraction, some even encouraged me, when meeting on the ridge, no issues. Once I waited, once the others.

The route in opposite direction up to a bit after Wimbachgrieshütte is not marked. From this hut we go straight where the main signs point, to the first junction, there are already signs.

Time to this hut from parking is greatly exaggerated. Instead of 3.5 hours good two hours. Ascent from hut to ridge is realistically four and a half hours, admittedly still with photographing and short talks with already very early descending ones. On ridge times also a bit exaggerated as @bagi noted, descent to Watzmannhaus about right, to parking very exaggerated, good two hours instead of three and a quarter.
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VanSims21. 08. 2019 15:53:45
I expected the report since I saw your entries in the book at Südspitze. nasmeh
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