Zugspitze - Germany's highest mountain

We were looking forward to being atop the Zugspitze (2,962 metres), Germany's highest mountain with views of the surrounding alps in Austria, Switzerland and Italy.  It was on our way to Fuessen and we were happy to see it from the bus, thinking our luck held out. The cable car to the top already gave us breathtaking views but as we neared the top, the clouds rolled in! By the time we were at the viewing platform, the surrounding countryside disappeared.  We were lucky we could still see the top of the Zugspitze with its golden cross and climbers posing at its foot after their successful climb up the mountain.

Apparently the mountain straddled Germany and Austria and you can cross the border right on the viewing platforms. It was too cold to stay outside to wait for the clouds to clear so we spent some time in the museum below. As luck would have it, just as we finished watching the video in the theatre and made our way up to the platform, the clouds cleared off for about 5-10 minutes on one side of the mountain giving us just enough time to take a few shots. Some people missed that window entirely so we considered ourselves lucky.  The return ticket to the top was quite expensive at 53 euros per person, so it would be nice to see a little more than clouds, although with the mountains one has to take one's chances.                              
On the way down, we saw some awesome views of the Eibsee Lake nearby and the dense forests surrounding. The countryside was a beautiful spring green.

The Zuspitze as seen from our bus - all clear! We thought it was quite safe to buy the lift ticket...

Gorgeous views of the surrounding valley and mountains on the way up to the Zugspitze as well as views of the side of the mountain

 

Mountaineers halfway up the mountain

The side of the mountain - this looked like the clenched fist of the giant...

And up we went into the clouds

We could no longer see the valley below

Even the summit was barely visible behind the clouds although this changed by the minute

Climbers making it to the top

Sculpture of man conquering mountain by Mario Gasser on the viewing platform

Line up for food on the viewing platform

A sudden opening of the clouds revealed the surrounding mountains in the distance but very quickly, it clouded over again

We saw at least one of the jagged peaks atop the Zugspitze...and then the clouds rolled in again

On our way down the mountain, just below the summit, we could see the surrounding mountains again

And the beautiful Eibsee Lake at the foot of the Zugspitze

We can actually see part of the Zugspitze clearly and the verdant forests on its slopes from the cable car

Back down on the valley floor, we headed to Fuessen, our next destination, surrounded once again by mountains.

Next post:  Fuessen

Magical Mountains - the Dolomites

I was very excited about visiting the Dolomites and was hoping desperately for good weather so we could do some hiking on the Alpe di Siusi, Europe's largest high alpine meadow. Weather forecast was for thunderstorms in the afternoon! We made an early start hoping to beat the thunderstorms. While it looked complicated on a map, it was actually quite easy to get up to the meadow from where we stayed in Castelrotto. We took a bus to Siusi, a cable car up to Compatsch and we were already up on the meadow.  To get to the trail head, we took a chairlift from Compatsch up to Puflatsch and we started our hike on the "Trail of the Witches".

It was an awsome hike, at least at the beginning, when it wasn't too steep and there were lots to see.  Apart from gawking at the ever changing views of the Dolomites, there were cows and horses on the meadows, not to mention the spring flowers carpeting the fields. It was particularly intriguing to watch the clouds roll in and cover the mountains from one minute to the next, even as my camera was trying to focus. The mists turned the landscape to magic!

All this time, we were watching the skies. One minute we could see all the way down the valley to Castelrotto, the next, we couldn't see 10 feet in front of us - that's mountain weather for you. Ever conscious of the looming clouds, we made good time and did the trail in a couple of hours, just in time for lunch at the much-hyped Arnikahutt, which lived up to its name. I love these mountain huts in the Alps! 

The hike after lunch was a bit strenuous as there were steep uphill sections with no switchbacks. But the approaching thunderclouds and fog were enough incentive to move us along and we made it to the chairlift before it started to pour. We were fortunate that there was shelter at the station.  By the time we made it to the cable car station going down to Siusi, the sun was out and we could see all the way down to the valley.

It was an amazing day - one of the high points of our trip!

Magic mountains - here one minute, gone the next...

Up into the clouds...

View of the valley from the top

The Alpe di Siusi as viewed from Compatsch, surrounded on all sides by the Dolomites

View from the Trail of the Witches

 

Mountain huts on the meadows

Friendly cows and shy horses

The landscape changed even as I was focusing my camera

Abundance of alpine flowers - it was spring afterall!

Lunch at the fabulous Arnikahutt

 

 

The last section of the Trail of the Witches was quite steep

We kept our eyes on the fog rolling in and had to quicken our pace

Made it!  Just in time before the thunderstorm hit!

When we reached the cable car station to Siusi, sun was out again!

I love how the locals in this area decorate their houses - this one in Castelrotto is actually a hotel with the months of the year all around it. The one below is the historic hotel we stayed at - the Cavallino D'Oro, beautiful inside too with one room with a decorated ceiling and another converted from the owner's chapel. 

 

 Next stop:  the Zugspitze, Germany's highest peak