Royal Family Stone.

As punishment in stone: The peaks of the Massif Watzmann at Berchtesgaden was the legend, once a cruel man. For climbers, the rugged rocks everything other than a penalty - even though the climb through the coldest place in Germany leads.

 

Berchtesgaden - Powerful enthroned on the Watzmann Berchtesgadener Alps. His two characteristic peaks are on the trail "Large grater" ever again. The route leads from the vantage point of Jenner on Königssee and Wasseralm Gotzen, Kärlinger and Ingolstädterhaus Steinernes into the sea. On narrow paths intersect hikers peaceful pastures and rugged rocks, cross streams and lovely cold snow fields. Who at the end of the tour still has forces left, the lures' Watzmann King "on its summit.

The first ascent is easy: A cable car runs to 1874 meters high Jenner. But instead of the much praised outlook, there is at this day of fog, visibility of each swallow. The next morning the sky is clear, fortunately. It goes to the ascent to Schneibstein, the first two peaks of the tour. Links, Austria, Germany right. The path to the summit requires use of the cross. Rewarded for a sensational view of the towering Grand Arche head for all the effort.

The first snow falls in August

A reward for the palate, there is a little further on the Gotzenalm: Here hikers can Berchtesgadener bowl handmade cheese taste. Early in the morning Modersohn Irmgard Egger processed milk, which gives her cow Mausi. "My husband still milking by hand in a cow's worth is not a machine," says the dairymaid.

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With a blaukarierten gown and flowery apron pure blouse, gray hair to a four-ring braided, it is in drafty log cabin. Moder Egger like the high life in the mountains. "You go in the spring with plenty of momentum to the pasture," she says. But they are also to: "It is like back home in the autumn." At the end of August, the first snow, then it is final.

According to legend, the craggy peaks a royal family, the punishment for their cruelty has been turned into stone. From the nearby lookout point Feuerpalfen acts of St. Bartholomew at the foot of the massif as an air intake. The white onion towers on the shore of the Königssee is a good kilometers below - the lake is from the blood of bluebloods have been fed.

For 200 years old do not Wasseralm wide paths or roads. "We get everything delivered by helicopter," says Schell Monika Moser. If the supplies for the daily stew or toilet paper for the earth to run out, must be a team from the lodge and descend into the valley to shop. Helicopters create bread and potatoes, but also the new satellite phone and solar tree then up the mountain.

Clear sight glass in the Grünsee

In the morning, the pasture in dense clouds shrouded. Fog fields move up from the valley. All sounds are muffled, even birds are seldom heard. The narrow path through the forest is muddy and slippery. The Grünsee other hand, is crystal clear - diving ducks can be even several meters below the surface even more clearly. From the shores of Grünsee results from the "ladder" to Kärlingerhaus on Funtensee, the coldest place in Germany. Minus 45.9 degrees were measured here. At the bottom of the mountain basin, it is so cold that only grasses and flowers can survive - and marmots, which are a whole lot together.

The way to Ingolstädter house by the sea Steinernes. As far as the eye can see, only to see Rocky. The higher it goes, the smaller the flower, between the stones in the barren earth claw. Even snow fields must be crossed, and at the sweaty 30 degrees. In the evening, announcing, however, a bad weather front. The valleys disappear under a thick cloud layer that requires a continuous rain. And in the morning it is snowing.

The rocks are of marine Steinernen white powdered sugar, just the water grooves are characterized as black lines. At noon, the decision to descend into the valley before the markers under the snow layer can no longer be seen. Only after a few days the weather is better and thus increase the chances, "King Watzmann" to conquer. By boat to cross the Wanderer Königssee St Bartholomew - and from then on it only goes uphill.

Sport Aircraft at eye level

With beautiful views of the winds Rinnkendlsteig upwards and hangelt on rock along. From Kührointhütte leads Falzsteig on the tree line. Continuous sweeping lead uphill to the house Watzmann arises. Crowded, most guests have dinner at nine camps on the mattress. Anyone who wants Watzmann cross, has a kräftezehrende tour ahead.

As the sun rises, kraxeln the climbers up to the summit cross of gold Hocheck. Short breather, then helmet, belt and tightened Klettersteigset. On the way to the middle mountain top need friends to forward their hands more often. Always be steeper to the left and right the abyss. Then he reached the 2713 meters the highest point of the Watzmann. Kilometers above the eye wanders across the Alpine peaks. A light aircraft flying past at eye level.

A one kilometer long, sometimes only a meter wide degree leads to the southern tip. Schroff breaks the rock on both sides. Also, the subsequent descent through scree fields and washed out creek beds, it is again. The hikers stuck around 3500 meters in altitude in the legs, as they in the evening in the lunar landscape of the dip Wimbachgries. The broad band rubble miles runs through the valley. Just at that moment to start the top of the Watzmann in the setting sun to shine. The "king" sends a farewell in Red and Orange.