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Bayerische Zugspitzbahn, Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Ascent to Zugspitze, the top of Germany

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Around the Alps, the following questions are often asked: is it cloudy? If it is and I decide to go up, will I see nothing but near-zero visibility?

On an October morning, skies were overcast, but there were some promising clear patches around. Rainshowers over the previous couple of nights down in Garmisch-Partenkirchen town would have been snow at elevations higher than about 1000 metres, which meant all of the “local hills” would be frosted in white.

I took a chance and decided to ascend Zugspitze. It’d be all or nothing: a view full of glory, or a view with a whole lot of grey.

4 ways up top

There are four ways to Zugspitze, which at an altitude of 2960 metres above sea level is the highest spot in Germany. One way up is to scale the mountain on foot for the experienced trekker and climber. For the rest of us, there are three alternative routes to the summit:

•   Bayerische Zugspitzbahn cogwheel railway from Garmisch-Partenkirchen;
•   Eibsee-Seilbahn, aerial tramway from Eibsee, down the road from Garmisch-Partenkirchen; and
•   Tiroler Zugspitzbahn, aerial tramway from Ehrwald in Tirol, on the other side of the valley in Austria.

For the ascent, I rode the Zugspitzbahn railway to Eibsee, and took the aerial tramway up to the summit. Despite the possible snow up top, this was still the “summer season”. The round-trip to the summit costs € 48 per person (summer 2011), which sounds expensive, but as you’ll see in this and subsequent posts, I believe the trip was worth the price.

Bayerische Zugspitzbahn, Garmisch-Partenkirchen

The way up. “Halt auf Verlangen” (stop upon request).

Zugspitzbahn leaving Eibsee station

Zugspitzbahn, leaving Eibsee station for the summit.

With operations starting in 1963, the Eibsee aerial tramway was designed as an alternative and faster means of ascending the Zugspitze summit.

Over the total 4.5 kilometres (2.8 miles) horizontal distance traveled, there are just two pylons or support towers, lifting the aerial tram vertically over 1950 metres (6400 feet) from the lower-station in the valley (about 1000 metres or 3280 feet above sea level) to the upper-station near the summit (2960 metres or 9700 feet above sea level). The height of the towers are 65 and 85 metres (213 and 279 feet, respectively), which makes the latter the tallest cable support-tower in the country. At its steepest near the summit, the aerial tramway reaches a grade of 46 degrees.

Eibsee aerial tramway

Eibsee cable car: just TWO support towers over a horizontal length of 4.5 kilometres, a vertical climb of almost 2 kilometres, and a maximum grade of 46 degrees.

Eibseeseilbahn Talstation

Looking up from the Eibseeseilbahn Talstation | lower station, Eibsee cable car.

1st tower, Eibseeseilbahn (cable car)

On the Eibsee cable car to the first tower.

To the 2nd tower, Eibseeseilbahn

On the Eibseeseilbahn, up to the second tower.

Looking down, Eibseeseilbahn

On the Eibseeseilbahn: breaking through the clouds.

Eibsee lake

Past the second tower, looking back down to Eibsee.

Ridge along Grosse Riffelwandspitze

Ridge along Grosse Riffelwandspitze; ice and snow chunks from the cable.

Cross marks the summit

Gipfelkreuz (summit cross) on the Bavaria/Germany side.

Austrian side of Zugspitze

Towards the frozen Tirolian/Austrian side of Zugspitze.

Despite the clouds at mid-level, the chance I took with the trip up to the summit proved very rewarding, as the aerial tramway broke through the clouds and into clear blue skies at the Zugspitze summit.

Subsequent posts highlight the exquisite view of the surroundings under a fresh layer of snow.

The series:

•   Ascent to Zugspitze, the top of Germany (this post)
•   Zugspitze summit : part 1, German side
•   Zugspitze summit : part 2, Austrian side
•   Zugspitze summit : part 3, Austrian side, after the clouds cleared
•   Zugspitze : part 4, the summit and the plateau below

I made the photos above on 9 October 2011. This post is published on Fotoeins Fotopress at fotoeins.com.

18 Responses to “Ascent to Zugspitze, the top of Germany”

  1. Sezin

    Wow! You are brave, Henry! I never could have managed that trip. Ever! I get dizzy just looking at those photos. And speaking of the pics, what amazing captures! Just beautiful. National Geographic-worthy snaps here.

    Safe travels, my friend!

    -Sezin

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • fotoeins

      Hi, Sezin.

      The Eibsee cable car was breathtaking, and had I been really *thinking* about it, I might have been more terrified. Fortunately, the view was spectacular and I kept clicking. 😉 I’m glad the photos managed to convey the steep dizzy climb on the cable car.

      Thank you very much for your kind comments!

      Like

      Reply
  3. GlobetrotterGirls (@TravelWorkLive)

    We went up on the Top of Germany last spring and had such a great time – we took the Eibsee-Seilbahn on our way up, and went down in the Zugspitzbahn. Although the Seilbahn was quite scary, we felt safer there than in the long tunnels of the Zugspitzbahn. Anyway, a great experience and we loved the views!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • fotoeins

      Hi! I might’ve been distracting myself from that steep gradient on the Eibseeseilbahn by continually snapping away with my camera; so, I didn’t really dwell or think about it too much on the ride up. Because the railway goes relatively slowly, the trip down through the long tunnels seems to take a little longer than forever. The whole trip is a lot of fun, especially when the sun is shining up top. Thanks for your comment, and for stopping by!

      Like

      Reply
    • fotoeins

      Hi, Debbie. It sure would be exhausting but so much fun to chase down and ride all of the cable cars, gondolas, cogwheels, and yodel out loud like the best of them throughout the entire Alps region from France, through Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and into Italy. It would be one tremendous journey, the photographs/videos would be brilliant, and it’d make a great film and/or a book. And yes, I’m sure it’s been done before, but the important thing is we haven’t!

      Thanks for stopping by my blog, your comment, and your very kind retweet!

      Like

      Reply
  10. Masha (2away)

    Loved your photos from the top! Sparkling white snow, clear blue sky and perfect views. This is exactly the way I’d like to experience Zugspitze!

    We were planning to go up there just 2 days ago, but finally decided to postpone because of the bad weather. It hardly makes sense, if the only thing you can see on top is the thick gray clouds (especially as the round trip costs almost 50€ per person).

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • fotoeins

      Hi! Thanks for your kind comment about the photos!

      You’re right – I think you have to be sure conditions are right to get the most out of that (50-Euro) round trip. Even if it’s cloudy or foggy on the way up, the goal is the summit. I was very fortunate that the conditions were clear at the top, which I tried to capture through the photos. I hope you saw the entire series of (five) posts for the rest of the photos at the summit.

      Thanks again for stopping by my blog!

      Like

      Reply
    • fotoeins

      Hola, German! Starting at about +5C in the valley below, the -10C at the summit (not including windchill) was a little rough, but not unexpected. Fortunately, the sun helped to keep things a little milder. Thanks for reading and for your comment!

      Like

      Reply

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