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| VanSims5. 09. 2013 19:30:06 |
For such a famous and crowded mountain (even worse than Triglav) I decided to open my own thread and I'm surprised no one has written anything about it yet. Anyway, a mountain like any other, yeah interesting with lots of paths from ordinary hikes to extreme via ferrata (Jubileumsgrat, D III-) but there are quite a few like that. Well, this mountain has the bad luck of being Germany's highest peak. Actually Germany and Austria share it or judging by the signs on top: Bavaria and Tyrol. Cable cars go up from both sides and the consequence is...ummm... Well, until now I haven't really despised the idea of building a cable car at least to Kredarica... but once you see Zugspitze, you can quickly turn into a staunch opponent of that idea. 
There are several paths to the mountain from both German and Austrian sides. Since ordinary hiking wasn't for me, let alone just riding the cable car up, I chose the easiest via ferrata access. That's from Austrian Ehrwald where the cable car from the Austrian side also starts.
After a night in the car at the cable car parking lot I wake up around 7am and start around 8am. Since I'm planning to take the cable car down I can afford such a late start. Start is right behind the cable car. Sign says about 3h to Wiener-Neustädter Hütte (via ferrata start). I get there in about 2.5h.
The path to the lower cable car station first turns right then left and climbs grassy meadow, suddenly turns left in the middle, after 10-15 min starts crossing scree which didn't seem too annoying to me (poles help, not must). After the scree (first real views of surrounding mountains from here) path climbs in switchbacks to plateau with some abandoned house (maybe former hut, former cable car station...  ). From there up short ridge then traverses under cable car, then first protections start which are more for exposed slope protection. Soon past sign 5 min to hut and indeed arrive soon.
Prices in hut as for Zugspitze destination, very reasonable. Surely lower than Triglav ones. There I refuel with horseradish sausage with bread (3.50 EUR) and coffee (2 EUR which is lower than in the valley because coffee is expensive in Austria).
To via ferrata start another 15-20 min scree crossing then at entrance put on gear and go! Like Alpspitze, start interesting then via easier. First moderate up then steeper through probably hardest spot (B), natural chimney with pegs. Via steep for a while then gradually eases. Doesn't drag like Alpspitze because more varied not just monotonous cable. Path not fully protected, some interesting free climb sections (max I) even hiking then cable, path varies. Still from hut to top about 2-2.5h and physically demanding. On ridge think you're there but 20 min protected walk to summit plateau.
There, cultural shock!  Really at least 10x more people than Triglav, souvenirs, restaurants... Won't go on, didn't have time to look around had only half hour to last cable car at 16:30.
Down around that time, in Ehrwald gas station for beer and no ice cream so back to Garmisch, then to Innsbruck and on or next day. 
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| acjom22. 07. 2014 18:46:32 |
Is there still any snow on the path? What are the prices in the hut, is reservation needed for sleeping and how long is the drive from Ljubljana to the starting point? Thanks
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| bos22. 07. 2014 19:11:24 |
Almost no snow on the path, on ascent you can avoid it, on descent via secured path to glacier maybe two parts where you need to watch out.
Sleeping: 15€ room, 10€ shared beds, 7€ sleeping in dining room on cushions - if all other beds full. Good to reserve.
Calculate the drive yourself, since we were with the bus I can say only that it's too long
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| acjom22. 07. 2014 19:18:50 |
Thanks, can I ask more, which side is the path more demanding, from Austria or Germany?
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| bos22. 07. 2014 19:55:42 |
The easier path is the one by which we made the ascent, and the hut is on the path too. From the descent direction the ascent is very long and there's no hut currently, because they're building a new one.
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| acjom22. 07. 2014 20:42:14 |
Thanks, I hope we set out on the path this year.
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| VanSims29. 08. 2015 10:12:28 |
@ajdcom: Is there still any snow on the path?
@bos by the way mentions glacier. Let me emphasize: The path through Hollental to Zugspitze also includes glacier crossing - according to net info at least crampons needed, recommended early summer when terminal crevasses not yet so problematic. Rest of via ferrata medium level (max B/C)
For this year's vacation I planned this tour (upwards) but had to cancel due to forecasted thunderstorms. And tired from Watzmann too
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