Zugspitze – Germany’s Highest Mountain

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

Weather-wise, this was one of the best of the year. ☀️

I’d waited for a good weather window before heading to Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

The Zugspitze, at 2,962 m (9,718 ft) above sea level, is the highest peak of the Wetterstein Mountains and the highest mountain in Germany.

It lies south of the town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria, and the Austria–Germany border is on its western summit. …

On the flanks of the Zugspitze are two glaciers, the largest in Germany: the Northern Schneeferner with an area of 30.7 hectares and Höllentalferner with an area of 24.7 hectares.

Shrinking of the Southern Schneeferner led to the loss of glacier status in 2022.

Zugspitze from the Austrian village Ehrwald

Wanting to beat the rush — as much as possible — I caught the first cable car up in the morning from the Germany side. And immediately headed up to the former “glacier“.

Once 1.5km thick, it may be gone entirely by 2035.

This is the Zugspitze plateau. You can do a self-guided glacier walk. Or sign-up for a guided tour.

From here, I had to take another cable car up to the summit.

Three cable cars run to the top of the Zugspitze. …

The rack railway and the Eibsee Cable Car, the third cableway, transport an average of 500,000 people to the summit each year. …

… Did I miss the race? 😀

I didn’t bother getting in the long line to scramble up to the summit Cross.

Too. Many. Tourists.

BUT … all-in-all, I’m glad I joined the mob atop Zugspitze. The vistas are fantastic on a clear day.

I had been considering hiking down — until I heard it was 7-10 hours!

Instead, I descended by cable car and hiked Eibsee. 😀

Circuiting the lake was much easier.

Click PLAY or watch Rick Steves on YouTube.

August 21, 2023August 15, 2023

Best Multi-day Hikes in Europe

Though I use AllTrails everywhere I go, my main source for advice in Europe 2023 was Kati and Sabrina ➙ Moon & Honey Travel.

After years of traveling across Asia, New Zealand, and the Balkans, they are now hiking across Europe based out of Vienna.

The problem for me in Europe is that there are TOO MANY great hikes. It’s difficult to find advice this specific.

Start on this page:

20 Best Treks in Europe

A collection of thrilling multi-day hiking trails in Europe for the offbeat adventurer, ranked easiest to most difficult. We starred our top recommendations. We also linked each trek to its trekking guide.

Easy-Moderate European Treks

Rota Vicentina Fisherman’s Trail, Portugal*
Emperor’s Crown, Austria
High Tatras Hut-to-Hut Hike, Slovakia
Rätikon High Trail Circuit, Austria and Switzerland*
Alta Via 1, Italian Dolomites
Tour du Mont Blanc, France, Italy and Switzerland

Moderately Difficult European Treks

Liechtenstein Panorama Trail, Liechtenstein
Ortler High Mountain Trail, Italy
Montafon Hut-to-Hut Circuit, Austria
Venediger High Trail, Austria

Difficult European Treks

Karwendel High Trail, Austria*
Schladminger Tauern High Trail, Austria*
Triglav National Park Trek, Slovenia*
Berlin High Trail, Austria*

Challenging European Treks

Kamnik – Savinja Alps Trek, Slovenia*
Eagle Walk Lechtal Alps, Austria*

Short 2 – 3 Day Treks in Europe:

Veliko Špičje & Seven Lakes Valley, Slovenia*
Mount Triglav, Slovenia
Rosengarten Traverse, Italian Dolomites
Tre Cime di Lavaredo Trek, Italian Dolomites

August 20, 2023August 20, 2023

Höllental Gorge, Bavaria

Höllentalklamm (Valley of Hell Gorge) is a wild, narrow gorge located near the village of Grainau, at the foot of Zugspitze in Upper Bavaria, Germany. …

Most visitors hike to Höllentalklamm gorge from the Hammersbach hamlet in Grainau, close to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. This is the fastest and most direct route (1 hour to the gorge entrance).

However, a far more dazzling approach begins at the Kreuzeck cable car mountain station.

This moderate circuit hike is mostly downhill, which is a perfect option for hot summer days and acclimatization. …
Moon and Honey Travel

Click PLAY or get a glimpse on YouTube.

Knowing the tunnels would be wet and crowded, I opted to go late in the day. And hiked only the gorge. In both directions.

Very cool.

Also, literally cool. Air conditioning and water spray on a hot day.

I was happy to have brought a light rain jacket.

On the down side, it was very dark in the gorge by the time I got there.

August 18, 2023August 16, 2023

Women – 140 days Great Himalaya Trail

Wow. What an undertaking.

The Great Himalaya Trail (GHT) Women Leaders on the Trail Campaign (GHT Women Leaders campaign) is a once in a lifetime opportunity to elevate the roles and status of female Nepali guides and porters in Nepal.

The campaign involves organizing a group of female Nepali guide(s) and porters to trek on the Great Himalaya Trail for 140 days beginning February until July of 2024.

This campaign is in support of the mission of the non-profit human rights organization, The Porter Voice Collective, which aims to advocate for the human rights of porters in Peru, Nepal & Tanzania via all forms of media and storytelling. …
Details

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Anu Shrestha, Campaign Manager (Nepal)

Gauri Malakar, Campaign Advisor

Sara Frenning, PVC Researcher & Campaign Coordinator, Videographer

Pema T. Sherpa, GHT Logistics Coordinator

Marinel de Jesus, Campaign Manager (Global)

August 16, 2023August 16, 2023

Climbing Flakstadtinden, Lofoten, Norway

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

I enjoyed hiking Sandbotnen beach to Ryten Summit out of Fredvang.

Definitely one of the best hikes in Norway. Almost every hiker has Ryten on their Lofoten list.

Everyone en route to Ryten from Ramberg sees this nearby imposing triangular peak. Much less well known.

Surprisingly, it’s quite easy to hike from the backside. There are at least 2 trailheads.

It only takes a couple of hours to get up and down.

Wait on good weather. The views are terrific in every direction.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. #shorts

AllTrails – Flakstadtinden

68North – FLAKSTADTIND HIKING GUIDE

August 15, 2023August 15, 2023

Wendelstein Peak near Munich

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

A popular destination out of Munich, Germany is Wendelstein, an 1,838-metre-high (6,030 ft) mountain / tourist attraction.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

There’s much to see.

On the summit of the mountain is the Wendelstein Chapel, an observatory, a weather station, a geopark and a transmission mast for the Bayerischer Rundfunk.

About a hundred metres below the summit, on the ridge between the Wendelstein and the Schwaigerwand, lie the mountain inn, the termini of the rack railway and cable car, the service building for the mast, the former mountain hotel (above the station), a hut for the mountain rescue service and the Wendelstein Church. …

The most intriguing sight for me was this … trojan horse? 😀

I checked. It’s something like a trojan chamois.

Kids were climbing up inside.

There are several trails up and down. And is accessible via both the Wendelstein Cable Car and the Wendelstein Rack Railway.

This was a rest / detour for me on a cycling day to nearby Lake Schliersee.

Tempted to take the cable car up, hike down — I ended up taking the car both ways. And made it home before dark.

The trails do look good. And popular.

I do recommend a visit to Wendelstein.

August 14, 2023August 8, 2023

#4 day hike – Laguna de los Tres, Argentina

One of our top 10 day hikes in the world.

Why?

The photos say it all. 😀

our pick for best day hike — of many — out of El Chaltén, Argentina’s Trekking Capital in Patagonia
the nearest airport is El Calafate
November – March are the best months. You might have snow on the trail in November or March, however.
8+ hours round trip depending on route
elevation gain 2,300 ft. (700m)
option to tent near the lake
infamous for bad weather. Be prepared for extreme wind.

World → S America → Patagonian Andes → Argentina → Laguna de los Tres