There was a prolonged weekend ahead and nothing could have kept DF and me inside our flats - even if the weather forecast was extremely impermanent for the mountains. We had checked the forecasts, which seemed to change every second, until the very last minute. Eventually, we decided to drive to Farchant on Saturday. Our goal were the Ester mountains close to Garmisch-Partenkirchen and we had picked a nice round trip including five summits.
Little Stoffel was responsible for the detailed planning so he could grow into his role as a tour guide and become aware of his responsibility.
Little Stoffel was responsible for the detailed planning so he could grow into his role as a tour guide and become aware of his responsibility.
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| Tour-Guide Little Stoffel |
We reached the parking space after a drive with almost no traffic jams at about 07:00 pm on Saturday. The parking space was located close to the Kuhflucht-waterfalls (translated word for word: "cow flight waterfalls" 😅). We used the rest of the daylight for a short walk and became spectators of a real natural phenomena. The Kuhflucht-waterfalls and their stream had been transformed into an "alpine Niagara" due to the heavy rain during that day. There were ususally three waterfalls but the mass of water had turned them into one single powerful stream.
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| Inside the Kuflucht ditch |
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Kuhflucht waterfall during our visit
The "usual" Kuhflucht waterfall
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We returned to our car after that very refreshing walk (the mist sometimes went up to the trail) to prepare for bed. Since, we had taken DF's Yaris this time, the sleeping arrangement was a bit different. I have to admit that it is possible to spend one night in a folded back front seat. 😅 ...we still have to figure out how to prevent cold legs. We are creative and always open for suggestions.
The alarm rang at 04:40 am in the morning. Since, we had already been awake due to the nasty cold, the alarm was more a signal to get ready instead of a waking call. The final preparations were finished in no time and so we began our march to the first goal, the Fricken cave, at 05:30 am.
DF and I had looked for that cave independently of each other some years ago - and we both hadn't found it back then. That is why we were even more excited, if we might find it this time. 😄
The alarm rang at 04:40 am in the morning. Since, we had already been awake due to the nasty cold, the alarm was more a signal to get ready instead of a waking call. The final preparations were finished in no time and so we began our march to the first goal, the Fricken cave, at 05:30 am.
DF and I had looked for that cave independently of each other some years ago - and we both hadn't found it back then. That is why we were even more excited, if we might find it this time. 😄
But to get even close to the cave, we still had about 700 height meters ahead of us to reach a height of 1.300 m.
As nice as the mountain Fricken might look, it is very unkind to its hikers and the trails are steep. Sometimes, you get the feeling of walking in the vertical.
As nice as the mountain Fricken might look, it is very unkind to its hikers and the trails are steep. Sometimes, you get the feeling of walking in the vertical.
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| View towards the Wetterstein mountains |
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| Our car is down there! 😀 |
Despite the weather forecasts prediction of a cloudy sky, we had a wonderful view during our ascent. It was pleasantly cool, which is a blessing on Fricken's steep ways.
Slowly, we came closer to our goal:
Slowly, we came closer to our goal:
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| Little cottage at the Fricken |
The descriptions in the internet had mostly said that the entry to the path leading to the cave, was about 30 m about that cottage.
Actually, there was a small trail leading away from the main path right next to a heavily bent pine tree. The trail was steeply leading down the hillside.
(It's for everyone to decide who plans to reach the cave how he wants to do that; I just can highly recommend to use hiking sticks. The path is incredibly steep and slippery.)
Actually, there was a small trail leading away from the main path right next to a heavily bent pine tree. The trail was steeply leading down the hillside.
(It's for everyone to decide who plans to reach the cave how he wants to do that; I just can highly recommend to use hiking sticks. The path is incredibly steep and slippery.)
It was the 20th of May 2018, 08:00 am, when DF and I fulfilled a long-cherished dream: We had found the Fricken cave! 😁
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| Entry Fricken cave |
The cave's frequentation seemed to be rather low because the cave register's (instead of a summit register) first entry was from 1999 and there was still a lot of space for more after our entry.
You will find more detailed descriptions concerning the path and the inside of the cave in DF's video. You will find the link below.
You will find more detailed descriptions concerning the path and the inside of the cave in DF's video. You will find the link below.
We continued our way without anymore detours after that sense of achievement and reached the Fricken's peak at 10:30 am.
The weather was fantastic and completely contrary to the forecast, which had predicted no sun at all.
The weather was fantastic and completely contrary to the forecast, which had predicted no sun at all.
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| Summit cross Hoher Fricken (1.940 m) |
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| Three Stoffel at the Hohen Fricken |
We marched on to the second summit - the Bischof ("Bishop") at 2.033 m - after a short rest. It doesn't sound that much, but the mean thing is that you have to descend about 100 height meters first before you can even start to ascend the Bischof.
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| Descent from the Fricken |
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| Our next goal: the Bischof (2.033 m) |
We reached the second peak at 12:15 pm but we only had a very short stay because it was highly frequented; our chosen descent was completely contrary.
The mountain pines were really cheek by jowl (is that already sexual harassment?!). Afterwards, the slip rocks made it hard to walk steadily but we finally reached the col. Our next goal seemed very close from there.
The mountain pines were really cheek by jowl (is that already sexual harassment?!). Afterwards, the slip rocks made it hard to walk steadily but we finally reached the col. Our next goal seemed very close from there.
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| Descent from the Bischof |
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| Kareck and Hoher Rißkopf |
The Kareck was our next destination. The first part of our way was a very easy hiking trail. There were no official ways leading to the summit according to the map. DF and I decided to ascend pathless after we had already caught a glance of the summit cross from the trail.
We got closer and closer to the scarp at the ridge to the Obere Rißkopf where we became spectators of an unique natural spectacle. It seemed as if the mountains had activated a fog machine. Thick and warm fog welled up from the valley and tried to push over the scarp to spread over the plateau. There was a constant breeze from the plateau which whirled the fog back and upwards.
If one might ever need a film set for the end of the world - I think that view would suit very well.
We got closer and closer to the scarp at the ridge to the Obere Rißkopf where we became spectators of an unique natural spectacle. It seemed as if the mountains had activated a fog machine. Thick and warm fog welled up from the valley and tried to push over the scarp to spread over the plateau. There was a constant breeze from the plateau which whirled the fog back and upwards.
If one might ever need a film set for the end of the world - I think that view would suit very well.
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| Fog machine in the Ester mountains |
We discovered a few red way points during our ascent, which lead the further way to the Kareck. We reached the peak at 01:30 pm. The fog steamed around us during our short stay and even tried to swallow the Bischof on the opposite side of the col.
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| Bischof in the fog |
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| Three Stoffel at the Kareck (2.046 m) |
We continued pathless over the ridge from the Kareck to the Obere Rißkopf (2.049 m). We got there at 02:15 om. The fourth summit was accomplished so far. 😁
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| View from the Rißkopf to the Weilheimer Hütte and to the Krottenkopf (2.086 m) |
Today's target seemed within reach. We could already see the Weilheimer Hütte (prosecuted by the German Alpine Association) and the Krottenkopf. We reached our fifth summit a short descent and a little ascent later at 03:10 pm. 😆
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| Three Stoffel at the Krottenkopf |
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| Panorama view from the Krottenkopf |
We started our loooong descent after a crazy cookie experiment (you can see more in DF's video) and the obligatory entry in the summit register. Meanwhile, the fog had made its way over the scarp and began to engulf the proximity. You can see in DF's video how quick our surroundings changed in that time.
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| Fog close to the Krottenkopf |
The following trail towards the Esterbergalm was comfortable to walk on and we quickly lost height and covered quite a distance. It was the best that we could have done because loud grumble and rolling already announced a thunderstorm. The thunder accompanied us all the time and we also were not beyond getting wet by some squalls.
We reached the Esterbergalm (about 1.200 m) at 05:45 pm. The alp was already closed and we walked one, also driven by the intensifying rain.
The rain became heavier only three kilometers away from our car so we had to seek shelter in a cottage for about half an hour. After that, the weather surprised us with picture book sunshine sceneries. I felt bullied by the weather gods. 😓 At least, the clothes had dried when we reached the car at 08:00 pm.
We reached the Esterbergalm (about 1.200 m) at 05:45 pm. The alp was already closed and we walked one, also driven by the intensifying rain.
The rain became heavier only three kilometers away from our car so we had to seek shelter in a cottage for about half an hour. After that, the weather surprised us with picture book sunshine sceneries. I felt bullied by the weather gods. 😓 At least, the clothes had dried when we reached the car at 08:00 pm.
Conclusion to the tour: Two dreams fulfilled! YEAH!
It was an exhausting tour but the Fricken cafe and the Krottenkopf had been on my personal list for some years! Since, DF and I had taken up the cause of the same thing, we just had to grab the chance. 😮
It hadn't been a difficult climbing tour but still a very demanding hiking tour.
Altogether we had about 20 km and 2.000 height meters (for the ascent and the descent).
The tour is very demanding due to its length and needs some orientation in some parts.
I wouldn't recommend that for during summer because the summits of the Ester mountains and the cols are in constantly the blazing sun and one feels like in an oven. The tour is very nice during spring or autumn, also because the trails are hardly above 2.000 m and become snowless very early.
It was an exhausting tour but the Fricken cafe and the Krottenkopf had been on my personal list for some years! Since, DF and I had taken up the cause of the same thing, we just had to grab the chance. 😮
It hadn't been a difficult climbing tour but still a very demanding hiking tour.
Altogether we had about 20 km and 2.000 height meters (for the ascent and the descent).
The tour is very demanding due to its length and needs some orientation in some parts.
I wouldn't recommend that for during summer because the summits of the Ester mountains and the cols are in constantly the blazing sun and one feels like in an oven. The tour is very nice during spring or autumn, also because the trails are hardly above 2.000 m and become snowless very early.
That was our second huge mountain tour in 2018 and you can find DF's video here: 5 Summit Tour - Youtube 😊
See ya 'til the next mischieve!
Your Katharina
See ya 'til the next mischieve!
Your Katharina
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