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Posts tagged ‘Zugspitze’

Münchner Haus, Zugspitze, Germany

Germany’s highest postal code on Zugspitze

Here you are; you’ve made it all the way up onto Zugspitze, the highest point in Germany.

You’ve always appreciated receiving handwritten mail in letters or postcards. As you’re traveling, it’s time you reciprocated by sending cards to family and friends, and you’ve written up a few postcards, ready to send. You’ve come up to the summit and you have the postcards in hand with correct postage already affixed to the postcards.

And in passing, you’ve just noticed there’s a mailbox here … at an elevation of over 9700 feet (almost 3000 metres) above sea level.

Sitting on Zugspitze’s west peak is the Münchner Haus (Munich House), started in 1897 and maintained since by the Deutscher Alpenverein (German Alpine Club). The building has the mailing address and post-code: “Münchner Haus, 82475, Zugspitze”. The accompanying and familiar yellow Deutsche Post mailbox here on Zugspitze is the highest in the country (obviously), and the box’s contents are emptied at 1030am every morning except Sundays (“Leerungszeiten”).

There’s no guarantee your mail will get a “Zugspitze” postal mark before the mail is sent to its destination, but one thing is true: that mailbox has a stunning view of the Alps to call its own.

Münchner Haus, Zugspitze, Germany

Münchner Haus, Deutscher Alpenverein (2011).

Münchner Haus, Zugspitze, Germany
Münchner Haus, Zugspitze, Germany

Germany’s highest mailbox (2011).

Zugspitze Germany

Münchner Haus’ east-southeast view, towards Gletscherbahn (glacier cablecar) and Reintal valley (2011).

On a repeat visit to Zugspitze in 2017, I discovered the mailbox on the summit was no more. The “highest” mailbox and post office in Germany is located in the warm confines of the Sonn Alpin on the Zugspitzplatt plateau below the summit proper.

Münchner Haus, Zugspitze, Germany, fotoeins.com

No more mailbox (2017).

Deutsche Post, Sonn Alpin, Zugspitzpltt, Zugspitze, Germany, fotoeins.com

Deutsche Post office with PLZ (postal code) 82475 at the highest point in Germany.

I made the photos above on 9 October 2011 and 25 February 2017. This post appears on Fotoeins Fotopress at fotoeins.com as https://wp.me/p1BIdT-4h2.

Fotoeins’ Favourite 5 in Germany

I’ll be the first to admit it.

I’m apoplectic with rage if a person answers “Oktoberfest” as their first and only thought when asked what they think about Germany.

There’s nothing wrong with the raging keggers and oom-pa-pa at Oktoberfest or the beautiful city of Munich. But there’s a lot more to Germany than Oktoberfest. For example, there’s a festival lasting months: the Karneval on the Rhein …

I’m very fond of the country and her people; so I can be defensive when it comes to my “adopted” Deutschland. Yes, the people can be a little ornery, but break past their gruff orderly fastidious exteriors, and they are a lovely warm and generous people.

Sounds a lot like you and me, doesn’t it?

To encourage favourable views about different parts of the country, here are my 5 faves while I’m in the big D:

Click here for more

Hanging out at the top of Germany, 4 of 4

This is the final post in the series about visiting the Zugspitze summit, the highest point in Germany.

Admiring the spectacular view from the Austrian side, I wandered slowly back to the German side of the mountain. You know how you want to soak in everything you see, afraid that it’ll slip away if you turn your head or close your eyes. Fact: leaving behind a snow-covered landscape is a difficult thing to do.

Frosted peaks

Zugspitze Germany

Welcome (back) to Bavaria, Germany.

Zugspitze Germany

Clouds have cleared: Schneefernerkopf, Zugspitzplatt, Zugspitzeck.

Zugspitze Germany

L-to-R: Hochwanner (2744 m), Kleinwanner (2548 m), Reintal, Hoher Kamm (2376 m), Gatterl, Hohe Munde (2662 m), Östlicher Gatterlkopf (2475 m).

Zugspitze Germany

Bergstation Gletscherbahn – Upper station, glacier cable car.

Zugspitze Germany

L-to-R: Gipfelkreuz (summit cross), Hochblasen (2707 m), Innere Höllentalspitze (2741 m), Jubiläumsgrat, Leut. Dreitorspitze (2682 m), Oberreintalschrofen (2523 m), Hochwanner (2744 m).

Zugspitzplatt (Zugspitz Plateau), below the summit

The Gletscherbahn cable car takes you down 300 metres (about 1000 feet) from the summit proper to Sonn Alpin at the Zugspitzplatt plateau “below”. It’s also at the plateau where I’ll take the cogwheel railway back into the valley to complete the daytrip.

Zugspitze Germany

Sonn Alpin, Zugspitzplatt (plateau); the Zugspitze summit proper is at the upper right.

Zugspitze Germany

Schneefernerkopflift, Gletscherseelift ski-lifts.

Zugspitze Germany

Kirche Maria Heimsuchung, the highest church in the country.

Zugspitze Germany

Sonnenklar and Weisses Tal ski-lifts.

Zugspitze Germany

Sonn Alpin, with Gletscherbahn and Zugspitze summit in the background.

With the final view from Sonn Alpin, it’s time to head back into town. Thanks for following me on this trip up to Zugspitze!

The series:

•   Ascent to Zugspitze, the top of Germany
•   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 (this post)

I made on 9 October 2011 the photos shown above. This post appears originally on Fotoeins Fotopress at fotoeins.com.

Hanging out at the top of Germany, 3 of 4

I wrote previously about hanging out at the Zugspitze summit from the Austrian side. Conditions had been overcast, but I’m glad the chance I took coming up on the German side worked happily in my favour.

Zugspitze is one of many peaks in the Wetterstein mountains, which form part of the Northern Limestone Alps. The Limestone Alps are composed of “softer” porous rock, in contrast with the much harder granite composition found in the central and much taller Austrian Alps.

I was over on the Austrian side of Zugspitze, and by local noon, the clouds parted to reveal a fresh dusting of snow on all of the local peaks. At over 9000 feet above sea level, the mountains, regardless of composition, all look majestic, covered in snow and illuminated under sun.

Zugspitze AustriaZugspitze Austria

“Radiative transfer” : antenna/fixture by Telekom Austria & Katastrophenfunk.

Zugspitze Austria

Southwest view – upper-centre: Schneefernerkopf; left-centre: Sonn Alpin, Zugspitzplatt; right: Zugspitzeck.

Zugspitze Austria

West view – left-centre: Ehrwald, Tirol, Austria; centre: Tiroler Zugspitzbahn.

Zugspitze Austria

Northwest view – left: Tiroler Zugspitzbahn, Tirol, Austria; right: Eibsee, Bayern, Germany.

Zugspitze Austria

North view – left-centre: Eibsee lake, right-centre: Grainau.

Zugspitze Austria

Northeast view – left-centre: Grosser, Kleiner Waxenstein; centre-background: Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Zugspitze Austria

Left: cross on Austrian side. Centre-background: Cross on Zugspitze peak in Germany.

The series:

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

I made the photos above on 9 October 2011 with the Canon EOS450D camera, EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS kit-lens, and the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens. This post is originally published on Fotoeins Fotopress at fotoeins.com.

Hanging out at the top of Germany, 2 of 4

I wrote previously about hanging out at the “top of Germany” from the German side just after arrival at the Zugspitze summit.

I wandered over to the Austrian side of the summit to have a look around for the view, which is about the time the clouds below started to clear.

Zugspitze Austria

Former border-control entry point from Bavaria, Germany to Tirol, Austria.

Zugspitze Austria

L-to-R: Austrocontrol Flugüberwachung (air traffic control), Bergstation Tiroler Zugspitzbahn, Sendmemast ORF (broadcast tower)

Zugspitze Austria

Looks cold, doesn’t it? -12C (+10F) temperature at the summit, but -20C (-4F) with the windchill. At least the sun’s out.

Zugspitze Austria

Bergstation (mountain station), Tiroler Zugspitzbahn.

Zugspitzeck Zugspitze

Partly obstructed view through blowing snow down to Schneefernerkopf (upper left), Zugspitzeck (centre).

Schneefernerkopf Zugspitze

Zooming in on the ski-lift near the top of Schneefernerkopf.

Zugspitzeck Zugspitze

High winds and clouds surrounding Zugspitzeck.

Tiroler Zugspitzbahn

Bergstation (upper station), Tiroler Zugspitzbahn cable car.

Tiroler Zugspitzbahn

Arrival of Tiroler Zugspitzbahn cable car, Bergstation (upper station).

The series:

•   Ascent to Zugspitze, the top of Germany
•   Zugspitze summit : part 1, German side
•   Zugspitze summit : part 2, Austrian side (this post)
•   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 with the Canon EOS450D camera, EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS kit-lens, and the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens. This post is originally published on Fotoeins Fotopress at fotoeins.com.

Hanging out at the top of Germany, 1 of 4

I wrote previously about my ascent to Zugspitze, the highest point in Germany.

I rode the Bayerische Zugspitzbahn railway from Garmisch to Eibsee, followed by the steep Eibseeseilbahn cable-car/aerial tramway directly to the summit. Although the mid-level clouds earlier in the morning looked like a no-go, I “broke through” the clouds into clear blue skies at the Zugspitze summit. As clouds continue to roll in and out, up and over the summit, I stayed at the summit for a number of hours in the glorious sun to snap away at the scenery around and below.

There is a truckload of photos to fill many posts and pages, but I’ve selected plenty for the following series of four posts to describe and show the view at the Zugspitze summit:

•   part 1 (the post you’re reading now) is on the German side of Zugspitze,
•   parts 2 and 3 are over on the Austrian side of the summit,
•   and part 4 is a final set of photos from the German side, after much of the cloud below cleared.

Walking from one side of the summit to the other only takes ten minutes, even with the ever-present crowds in the way! Besides, with the pointy craggy summit at 2960 metres (9710 feet) above sea level, it’s not very far where one can wander off.

Zugspitze

Downstairs to the Eibsee cable car, or the Zugspitzplatt.

Zugspitze

Upstairs to the summit to view the cross, or over to Austrian side.

Zugspitze

Summit temp. -12C (+10F), summit winds 17 km/h (11 mph), windchill -20C (-4F), visibility 30 km (19 mi). In Garmisch-Partenkirchen below: +5C (41F).

Zugspitze

Bergstation | Upper station. Yeah, it really looks that cold.

Zugspitze

Background through winter fog (L-to-R): Alte Zollhütte, Meteorologischer Turm, Münchner Haus, broadcast tower for Austrian ORF

Zugspitze

Munich House, German Alpine Association: shelter-hut, built in 1897.

The Munich House at the summit even has a mailbox; I wrote about the “mailbox with a view” here.

Have you also gone up to the highest point in Germany? Please leave your comments below!

The series:

•   Ascent to Zugspitze, the top of Germany
•   Zugspitze summit : part 1, German side (this post)
•   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

The windchill estimate above was obtained from the U.S. NWS Wind Chill Index and from the Environment Canada Windchill Calculator. I made the photos above on 9 October 2011. This post is originally published on Fotoeins Fotopress at fotoeins.com.

Bayerische Zugspitzbahn, Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Ascent to Zugspitze, the top of Germany

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.

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