The winter of 2023 leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to snow situations at the start of January. However that additionally meant for us that we might confidently depart the snowshoes and Grödeln (microspikes) at residence and begin a “regular” hike. Our vacation spot: the well-known mountain Grünten, the guardian of the Allgäu. With the transmission tower on the highest, it may possibly already be acknowledged from afar when driving by automobile from Augsburg within the path of Allgäu.
Tour information
- Begin and finish level: Hiker’s car parking zone “Auf dem Ried” at Burgberg, close to Gasthof Alpenblick
- Period / pure strolling time: approx. 3:10 h (there and again)
- Elevation overcoming: approx. 800hm
- Distance: 9,4 km
- Issue: medium
- Refreshment cease: Grüntenhaus (open in winter on weekends in good climate)
The tour on Komoot
Tour description
This morning, our early rising even paid off on our automobile experience to the mountains, simply behind Augsburg. We had been rewarded with an exquisite dawn and might already spy the mountains from afar.
The hikers’ car parking zone “Auf dem Ried” is straightforward to seek out by way of Google Maps, if you happen to take the village of Burgberg and the Alpenblick Inn as a reference. We drove the whole tarred street previous quite a few hiker parking tons to behind the final parking choice. Parking value us 6 euros for the entire day (as of January 2023). We dressed warmly in accordance with the onion system and off we went. First, the trail led us alongside the tarred street and we adopted the indicators. The climb was initially very average and never very strenuous. After a short while, the traditional Allgäu view opened as much as us: Lush inexperienced meadows, remoted bushes and small wood huts on it and an exquisite mountain panorama within the background.
A number of meters additional we turned left from the tarred street and ran previous a hut on a forest street. From right here, the trail was now additionally considerably crisper and steeper. The forest street ended after one or two curves in a big meadow, by way of which slender and particularly muddy paths led up serpentine.
The upper we climbed up the mountain, the extra stunning the view of the encircling mountains grew to become, whose peaks had been at the very least sugared by snow.
On the high, on the finish of the meadow paths, we arrived on the hut Obere Schwande. A number of meters additional and we had been already within the forest.
Between the bushes we loved the silence and tranquility. Every so often we talked at size in regards to the essential issues in life, forgetting the time and the hassle. Till now, we had not met one other particular person on the hike. I at all times discover the ascent virtually meditative after a sure level. The ideas wander, you’re in movement and in nature, you do not need to hurry however can merely benefit from the second and the corporate. Whether or not with good dialog or in silence.
On the high we took a brief break on an idyllic bench, loved the mountain view and waited for the stragglers in our small group.
When our group was then full once more, we continued strolling within the path of the Grünten monument. A stony path led us nearer and nearer to the – in my view grizzled – transmission tower on the Grünten. There on the transmission tower can also be the mountain station of the cable automobile that leads up the mountain. Nonetheless, this had closed at the moment of 12 months. Nonetheless, the way in which to the transmission tower was very stunning and likewise the view to the best of us was to not be despised. On the opposite facet of the mountain, Sonthofen and the small village of Burgberg proper subsequent to it had been additionally completely seen.
Within the meantime, we had now encountered just a few different folks on the climbing trails. From the transmission tower, we lastly continued below the railroad throughout tiny snow (slush) fields to the Jäger monument. The monument rises up within the panorama of the Grünten and commemorates the 3000 members of the mountain troop regiment “Jägerregiment 3” who died within the First World Conflict. As soon as there, we lastly huddled collectively to get pleasure from our snack regardless of the brisk wind.
After our well-deserved break and refreshment, we ran, in all probability partly out of curiosity and partly out of disorientation, unceremoniously the flawed facet of the mountain a bit bit downhill. The following signpost informed us that there was no means again to our car parking zone. So we went again and up the small piece once more, previous the Jäger monument and the transmission tower. Right here we then turned proper taking a look at Sonthofen and ran down many stairs by way of the forest, on the finish of which we then got here throughout the Grüntenhaus hut. For the reason that climate was not very inviting for our snack exterior anyway and increasingly more clouds had been coming, which clouded the view a bit, we determined with out additional ado to cease there.
We took off our climbing boots filled with mud on the backside of the hut and slipped right into a pair of slippers supplied for the company of the Grüntenhaus. Up the steps we went into the country visitor room, the place we had been instantly greeted in a pleasant method. There wasn’t a lot happening there – how might there be when there are hardly any hikers on the street. We felt proper at residence and the hut had a heat, cozy environment. We will additionally advocate the meals with a transparent conscience. Our favorites: Pancake soup and Dampfnudel with vanilla sauce After the unplanned second refreshment and a few petting for the little canine of our neighboring desk, we slowly pulled ourselves collectively to start out the descent.
After some time by way of the forest, passing small streams, we reached a large forest street.
We adopted this for a brief distance till we got here to a fork on the right-hand facet onto a slender, stony path. After we reached the tip of the descent, we acknowledged the tarred street that led to our car parking zone. Solely, sadly, we had ended up a bit additional down than we had deliberate. So ultimately, our plan to be sensible and save altitude meters by driving the automobile to the very finish of the street took revenge
In conclusion, I can say that our first hike of the 12 months was in all probability not essentially the most spectacular, however the journey was undoubtedly price it. Right now of 12 months, the Grünten is an efficient compromise when the unsure snow and avalanche state of affairs within the increased areas doesn’t enable a relaxed climbing tour there.
