Photo: Jim Sumrall Hiking the Alps of Bavaria and Austria Highlights:
Includes:
Trip Number: 09670A Price: Deposit: $200 Capacity: 15 Leader: Cathy Dezendorf
The Trip  Photo: Cathy Dezendorf The German and Austrian Alps are a scenic region of pristine lakes and rivers, high mountain pastures and green meadows filled with wildflowers. Quaint villages dot the hilly countryside and the most famous castles in Germany are located here. The locals are fun-loving people who take pride in their laid-back lifestyle, capacity for enjoyment, and efforts to preserve their environment. We’ll visit Berchtesgaden and Berchtesgaden National Park, Salzburg, Innsbruck, the castles of King Ludwig II and Fuessen in southern Germany, and the mountains of the Karwendel and Wetterstein ranges in nearby Austria. Based in comfortable, locally owned hotels, we'll set out each day to explore this breathtakingly beautiful part of the world. Our day hikes will range from relaxing strolls on groomed country paths to awe-inspiring and exhilarating treks via well-established climbing routes. We'll visit historic and cultural points of interest, including pilgrimage churches, castles, and a marble grinding mill. We'll reach some trailheads by boat or by the Jenner cable car while hikes in Austria will sometimes begin with a chairlift ride. Our visit to Austria will include an historic walking tour and Mozart dinner concert in Salzburg and dinner in Innsbruck. We travel in a comfortable air-conditioned bus. There will be some free time available at each of our destinations for you to explore on your own or to just relax. If you enjoy both hiking and visiting cultural and historical sites, this may be the trip for you. Expect congenial leaders who look forward to sharing this adventure with you.
 Photo: Cathy Dezendorf Day 1: From the airport, we will transfer by bus to beautiful Berchtesgaden, a two-hour drive from Munich. We’ll stop along the way for lunch at a lovely hotel located in a typical small village. Upon arrival at our charming, family-run hotel we’ll settle in and then take a short walking tour of the town center, including the castle square, medieval marketplace, and Berchtesgaden National Park information center. Overnight: Berchtesgaden Day 2: After breakfast at our hotel we will transfer to Lake Konigssee for a short cruise to our first destination, St. Bartholomew Church, a world-famous chapel that has become a Bavarian landmark. Our boat, powered by an electric motor, will glide noiselessly over the water. After about 45 minutes of travel bordered by green forest and sheer mountain walls, we’ll see St. Bartholomew on the small peninsula at the foot of Watzmann Mountain's impressive east face. We’ll hike for an hour or two in the forest behind St. Bartholomew and then re-board the boat to continue on to Salet, the dock at the far end of Koenigssee where we'll begin our hike in the national park. From the end of Lake Koenigssee, the trail leads to Lake Obersee, one of the most beautiful places in the world. A rather rough trail leads us to an idyllic mountain pasture and hut at the Fischunkelalm where we’ll pause for a cold beverage. Choices here include freshly made buttermilk, thanks to the cows grazing near by, or Radler, a popular bottled drink made from beer and lemon lime soda. We will return in the afternoon for dinner and conversation at our hotel. Overnight: Berchtesgaden. Day 3: We'll begin today’s hike at Maria Gern Pilgrimage Church, reputed to be the most beautiful church in Berchtesgadener Land. From here we will hike up to the Ettenberg Pilgrimage Church perched high in the hills on a panoramic plateau against Untersberg Mountain. Perhaps we will choose to eat our packed lunch here before hiking on through the dramatic Almbachklamm, a dramatic and deeply-cut chasm, with rock overhanging thunderous, swirling waterfalls and clear pools. Our hike will conclude at the bottom of the gorge at the Kugelmuehle, Germany's last remaining marble grinding mill. This mill was founded in 1683 and is one of the oldest business enterprises in Bavaria. We may wish to sample a brew and a local pastry called the "Windbeutel" at the adjacent beer garden before returning to Berchtesgaden and our hotel. In the evening, we will enjoy a dinner concert at Salzburg's Peterskeller.
Selections of Mozart's works will be performed in the elegant Baroque dining
room. Overnight: Berchtesgaden.  Photo: Cathy Dezendorf Day 4: Following breakfast at our hotel, we will depart for a walking tour of historic Salzburg and The Sound of Music film locations. We’ll then have some free time for visiting the Mozart Museum, the Mirabell Gardens and palace or the old city fortress. Chocolate lovers may want to stop by the Sacher Hotel to sample the famous Austrian torte. After we return to Berchtesgaden there will be a free afternoon to explore or to enjoy a soak at the Watzmanntherme fresh and saltwater pools. More active pursuits are also possible including a hike in the Wimbachklamm, a visit to the local heritage museum, the nearby salt mines, or taking a tour of the Eagle's Nest. We'll walk to a nearby hotel to enjoy a traditional dinner and Bavarian folk music before strolling back to our hotel. Overnight: Berchtesgaden. Day 5: After breakfast, we will depart for Mittenwald, a typically pretty,
southern Bavarian town, Our hike will begin by taking the Kranzbergbahn chairlift up the slopes of the Hoher Kranzberg to St. Anton Haus. We will continue uphill to the Kranzberg summit, walk through meadows, descend through woods, and pass two lovely lakes. For much of this hike we'll walk through an attractive pine forest. The views over Mittenwald and the Karwendel are spectacular. We travel on a short distance, crossing the Austrian border into the province of Tyrol, to the town of Seefeld for our dinner and cozy hotel. Overnight: Seefeld. Day 6: Seefeld sits on a sunny plateau cooled by mountain breezes and rimmed by rocky crests The Tyrolean Wetterstein and Karwendel mountain ranges form dramatic backdrops to the north and east. After breakfast, we will depart for a daylong hike covering varied terrain. We’ll begin with a ride on a funicular train up to the Rosshutte where we’ll board a cable car and ride to the top station. Next we’ll hike up hill for approximately an hour to reach the summit of the Seefelder Spitze for specular views of the region. Finally, we’ll wind our way down the mountain then walk back to our hotel. Those who wish to shorten the hike by several hours may re-board the cable car at the Rosshutte for a quicker return to Seefeld. Tonight we enjoy a stroll and a special dinner at a historic restaurant in
nearby Innsbruck. Overnight: Seefeld.  Photo: Cathy Dezendorf Day 7: Today we will travel by bus to Neustift for a full day of hiking. We will begin our hike by taking the Elfer double-seat chairlift to the top station for an exhilarating view of Neustift and the valley below. We may choose to ascend to the Elfterhutte or to walk down the back of the Elferspitze on a scenic mountain trail to Pinnisalm. From there we can follow a lovely stream and proceed to Neder, then back to Neustift. You can expect to see dozens of brightly colored paragliders and hand-gliders soaring overhead. After a day of hiking through spectacular mountain scenery, we’ll relax with dinner at our hotel. Overnight: Seefeld. Day 8: Following breakfast we depart for the short journey back across the Austrian border to Fuessen, Germany, a center of Bavarian folklore. On our way we'll stop to tour King Ludwig II’s beautiful Linderhof Castle and to enjoy the gardens of geometric shapes, Baroque sculptures, and elegant fountains. Up the hill is Venus Grotto, complete with stalagmites and stalactites. The main chamber contains an artificial lake and a shell-shaped, gilded boat tied to a platform called the Lorelei Rock. We may choose to take a short hike to the king's hunting lodge. We'll have dinner and stay the night at a locally-owned hotel near the River Lech. Overnight: Fuessen. Day 9: This day will be our two-castle day. After breakfast, we will hike
from the historic city center, across the River Lech, and up and down Mt. Kalvarienberg
to the Schwansee, where some may enjoy a refreshing swim. Next we’ll
visit Schloss Hohenschwangau, the boyhood home of King Ludwig II. After a short
castle tour, we will hike to a scenic overlook of Neuschwanstein, the inspiration
for Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty castles. We'll ascend the steep Pollat Gorge Day 11: After breakfast at the hotel, we will head for the Munich airport
and our return flights to the United States. Getting There Our trip begins and concludes in Munich. If you are arriving in advance of the trip, you will be met at a central Munich location near the train station at 8:30 a.m. on June 17th. We will then drive to the Munich airport to meet the rest of the group. Flights arriving this day must arrive no later than 10:00 a.m.
We stay in charming Bavarian and Austrian hotels with exquisite views of the mountains. Rooms are double-occupancy, with a roommate assigned for solo travelers. Participants who prefer to have a single room and are willing to pay the extra cost should contact the leader well in advance of the trip to check availability. Buffet breakfasts are served in our hotels. Typical spreads include coffee, tea, juices, muesli, a variety of homemade breads, German style sausages, cheese and eggs. For dinner in the hotels expect hearty local cuisine with many braised or roasted meat dishes. Deserts are plentiful and especially delicious. Vegetarian options are available. Please note that while all meals are included
in the trip price, drinks, including bottled waters and soft drinks, are
not. Bavaria is renowned for world class
beer while the wines of both Austria and Germany are excellent and varied.
This trip is suitable for all ages as long as you are in good health and get regular hiking exercise. Participants need to be comfortable hiking up to eight miles per day over varied terrain while carrying a day pack with water, a rain jacket, and lunch. As with all hiking trips, your enjoyment of the trip will be greatly enhanced if you are fit and well prepared. While our days will be filled with interesting activities you will always have the option of simply relaxing in this alpine wonderland. This trip is suitable for those seeking an active vacation and for those looking for something a bit more relaxed.
Conservation Bavarians and Austrians have a long and committed history of protecting their natural environment. Approximately 46 percent of Austria remains forested, and the German/Austrian alpine clubs serve as guardians of the mountain pathways, balancing the enjoyment of nature with erosion prevention and watershed conservation. Recycling is well-established here, and leaded petroleum products are banned. Berchtesgadeners are actively involved in preservation efforts. Since 1983 the national park has been involved with UNESCO in a scientific project called "Man and the Biosphere." The two basic building blocks of UNESCO's project are, first, to teach each generation to use nature in a sustainable way, and second, to study the ways in which nature provides for its continued existence. In 1990 the area bordering the park, which includes Berchtesgaden's villages
and hamlets, was included in the biosphere reserve. The zone is subject to
strict regulation in order to reduce pollution of every kind. Garbage has to
be sorted before being thrown away and there are separate containers for paper,
glass, aluminum, plastic, and compostable matter. No chemical or polluting
industry is permitted in the buffer zone and even visual pollution is avoided,
thanks to strict building rules and regulations. Farmers generally use natural
fertilizers and people are not allowed to use detergent when washing cars.
This trip requires a $200 per-person deposit. An additional payment of $300 per person is due six months prior to trip departure. International trip prices are subject to change and are based on double-occupancy or group accommodations as described above. Single rooms may not be available or may cost more than the listed price. If you have any questions regarding double occupancy, please contact the trip leader. See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy. The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner. The Sierra Club accurately and fairly budgets and prices our trips. However, unforeseen costs such as devaluation of the dollar compared to other currencies and fuel surcharges assessed by our international providers, may necessitate adjustment in trip price. We will make every effort to mitigate and absorb these fees. If a price increase is necessary, however, you will have 14 days after announcement to cancel without penalty.
 Cathy Dezendorf has been leading Sierra Club National Outings backpack trips in California's Sierra Nevada mountains since 1996. She also leads snow camping, hut and hostel trips for the San Francisco Bay Chapter backpack section and is certified as a Wilderness First Responder. A hiking trip to Spain a few years back convinced her that it was time to expand her horizons and she looks forward to new adventures as an International Outings leader. This will be her second summer hiking in the Alps. After growing up in Oregon, Cathy moved to Northern California in the early 70's and raised her family just a few minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge. She loves to take early morning walks in the Marin Headlands before heading off to her job as a sales rep. Email: cdezendorf@mindspring.com
General Notes About Sierra Club Trips
|
