I climbed the highest mountain in Germany so you don't have to...
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- čas přidán 25. 08. 2022
- The Zugspitze is the highest mountain in Germany. Would you climb it?
Karim (of my GR11 video) and Young Benji join me on backpacking trip in Germany.
We had a lot of fun.
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Well that looks like a nightmare.
It’s nice seeing people enjoying the place, in their own way, but that’s everything I go outdoors to escape
the key is to be up there before the first cable car. This mountain many great routes besides the main one
still... i guess it's nice to be rewarded with a freshly grilled hot dog and beer after that climb
As a local the rule is to only visit on a weekday. And best is to hike through the Höllental starting latest 5am across the glacier up the via Ferrata. Very beautiful but the end is not exactly the highlight of the trip. Thanks for the video!
Yeah to be fair this was a Saturday in the middle of July 😂 on a long weekend
@@ChaseMountains That is just asking for trouble 😂
@@ChaseMountains yeah there are few cool routes.. could have done the Jubiläumsgrat .. way more rewarding
Why give away the local secrets? LOL
@@antsy_does because not all people gatekeep everything!
Try hiking up peaks in East Switzerland -- lots of empty places there, especially in Cantons Graubunden, Glarus and Uri. No crowds there!
What are best routes/peaks to hike there? Doable in max 2 days?
Loving the mountain review format Chase. Such a fun video to watch, especially you hiking with your mates.
I would LOVE a video for someone who is out of shape / overweight (I'm slightly overweight and have been sedentary for the past year) on how to get back into training. I often have waves of enthusiasm but find it difficult to modulate - then I hit it too hard and hurt myself.
A great adventure you had out there ;) I wanted to do the Zugspitze this year but I think I am gonna go in autumn cause it's always packed (like all southern german trails) in summer ;)
There is a video about building this restaurant. Pure superlative and crazyness. As a german I am a little ashamed about this kind of tourism. But on the other hand there is no such huge wilderness here. I am really envious on PCT, AT, etc. Wild camping here is not that easy, cause there is no real wilderness. Civilization is always just around the corner. So no need for 8 days of food ;D
People in the UK complain about Snowden and how busy it is with it’s queues to the summit. We take it all back as that looks like my idea of hell 😅. I think you should send them your music and let them play that at the summit as they sell their hotdogs 😂
Yeah exactly why I avoid it. Unfortunately seems to be more making their ways to the other mountains in the area as well now.
Glad you were able to keep a smile on your face at the summit, after all that effort. Very surreal situation.
Noone would steal your packs if left next to the trail. However, this is a signal that you went off trail for some reason, and plan to come back so someone might get worried. :D The hut didn't take them because they don't want to be responsible. Regarding the infrastructure, wars were fought in the Alps so all this could be built on the remnants of military outposts, and I think I saw some communication equipment. You can see this on many peaks. But I blame the gondola for the crowd. There would be no sausages and giftshops and this much people if not for the gondola.
Definitely a tourist destination. I hiked it about fifteen years ago. Trails and summit were packed with casual hikers. It was July, and a snow storm came in out of the blue. The storm left two extreme runners taking part in an organized race up the mountain dead and sent a half dozen more to the hospital for hypothermia. I suppose I'm happy to be able to claim having summitted the Zugspitze, but have no plans to do it again.
Hey Chase, the footage of Zugspitze reminds me of the Everest traffic jam photo but way way less dangerous hehe. Enjoy the trip buddy!
8:09 I’m so glad that most, if not all, mountains of any size where I live are in wilderness areas where commercial activities are prohibited.
Conditions were awful and had to turn around, haha love it!
Fun vid. Pls do more of these
I’ve done this hike a few times. Profi tip: end of October is less crowded if you don’t mind snow. Did it with wild camping and full pack the whole way
That's legal?
As a german theres obviously something in me that would like to be up there, but after watching this it unfortunately went much lower on the list. I am also generally scared of the bavarians calling the cops on me for wild camping and not willing to spend so much money on a bed hahaha
Thank you for your videos though, i really love your videos and learn a lot and even though i get that you dont want to film yourself climbing mountains all the time and turn this channel into mostly that i enjoy these from you very much as well.
I also listened to you on the kraig adams podcast recently and thought that you were fantastic and that a podcast from you would be fantastic but theres obviously only so much time in the day.
I am looking forward to hiking the same route kraig recently did in switzerland, pretty touristy as well apparently but it looked fantastic, absolutely stoked.
Just get up there after 5pm and you can put your tent on the top. Or wherever on the mountain you want. Nobody is gonna be calling the cops as long as you leave it clean!
@@guidodaatselaar4870 thanks for the tip, ive heard some things about camping in bavaria but of course if you set up late and set off early theres always little risk. I am probably too scared
@@jonathankobbe6073 the chance of getting caught is indeed very small if you set up late and leave early again. And the price of such a bill is so little compared to how often you can camp for free with such a view in the middle of nowhere!
@@guidodaatselaar4870 ive heard of very high bills, like maybe four digits though
I can only advise to become a member of the DAV (German alpine club), it makes staying at the huts much cheaper (1/2 prize ca.) and most importantly you will be insured if something ever goes wrong and you need to be rescued, they'll pay for it. We're talking four to five digits amounts of money here, that otherwise you'll pay for yourself.
The huts are generally very good and hiking gets much more enjoyable (and safe) in the Alps when you go light.
Love it, wait what is the water situation? Bad hmmm maybe we should fill up….great video enjoying the documentary 🤙🏽
I've been there two times. Last year also over the far less traveled route through the Höllental, where you'll need glacier gear and some climbing skills.
Imagine you and your buddies going up there in relative solitude for hours, then getting to the top and on the last few dozen metres you got this huge crowds, some of them with fine coats and dress shoes all getting to that cross...absolute madness. I really wonder how much foreseeable "accidents" happen there every week.
In my opinion they should really post someone there on that access to the top to see if people are fit enough and have the right equipment (at least sport shoes) to go to that last bit of the summit. It's a high alpine environment, if you want to go there you should be a little bit prepared and bodyli able to. Thats not about restricting anyone's freedom, it's about common sense and preventing accidents.
Because for some reasons when you put all these people on the bottom of the mountain and told them to climb up they'd be scared to fall off. But they aren't when they got up there by cable car, but the fall is ever so deep...
Thank you 🙏
Went up there in the 80's and it certainly has changed at the top. Scree running was also fun. Spent a night in a snow hole, but I suspect the snow field doesn't exist anymore.
Respect ✊
We just hiked up a few days ago, started early at the Wiener Neustädter Hütte and when we arrived at the summit around 9am it was quite alright. But arriving late in the day, especially on the weekends is obviously a bad idea.
I thought "...so you don't have to..." refers to the difficulty of the climb. At 7:13 I was like "ohh..." 😬 Not even Germany's highest hotdog is worth facing those crowds. Thanks for the video!
Loved the video and editing 8:49
I did the Zugspitze just to do the Jubiläumsgrat. This ridge is amazing. It makes you forget the crowdy top.
My dad was there in 1956, and yeah,it was crowded then too. A bit more snow though. Thanks for the update nearly 70 years later!
Wow even then it was still crowded? Amazing
You should visit Slovenia's Julian Alps. If you don't climb the highest mountain Triglav, you're not gonna meet much crowd :D I recommend mountain Škrlatica. Big fan of you'r videos
That mountain was maybe not so crowded as when I went to “The Great Falls of the Potomac”. There were hundreds of people swarming on the rocks, in the water, and looking over from the bank. The water fall is great, but, it’s like 10 ft high. There are unnamed rapids in the west of the US that are higher, and no waterfall in the west, accept the absolutely most accessible and incredible comes close to that when it comes to the crowds.
You should climb the Jubiläumsgrat from Zugspitze to Alpspitze real exposed scrambling aways from tourists
You’re a better (and more patient) man than I Gunga Din!
It looks like you went up the Reintal past the Bock Huette, then up to the Schneeferner - I've always wanted to go that way, but I'm too old now.
This is an amazing mountain and there is away to do it and enjoy every step. But not in July and not on a weekend.
Thank you for your Videos
I think your donations are probably better spent elsewhere, but I do have Patreon :) links for stuff in description. Thanks so much for the lovely words tho! That is enough :)
Been there. Stayed in Bavaria at edelweiss resort on RR with my hubby 20 yrs ago.
The Helicopter rescues mostly on theJubiläums Grad which is a verily difficult ridge climb from the Zugspitze to the Hochblassen
The Zugspitze is definitely on my list
that reminds me of my trip to Yosemite... big "destination" places like that almost always let me down. Niagra Falls, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon... they all just feel like shopping malls with trees. i never have a good time. got to the bottom of the grandcanyons most famous trail and was surprised there wasn't a food court at the bottom with a gift shop... the only "destination" trip I took that for some reason wasn't flooded with people was Monument Valley. i recommend that one, on a weekday in late summer at least.
That's probably because Monument Valley costs extra and isn't included in the National Parks pass. :D
I can relate to your feeling but then I focus on my own accomplishment hiking a mountain or reaching a destination and enjoy that part over the others who "cheat" (if one wants to call it that).
The most annoying thing I can't get over is that people like that actually climb the last bits of the summit and block the way for everyone who actually hiked it.
@@evelynh.4235 i feel that. or when there is a road or trolly to the summit. you put in all the work to reach the summit and then you get there and you can't even enjoy it because of the hoards who drove taking selfies. the serinity is just lost where the masses congregate.
@@GoodMorningHikers Yes. On the other hand, it's great that with trolleys or other means peoplw with disabilities have the chance to enjoy the views (like a colleague of mine who drove up Zugspitze). Although it might be disappointing to not be alone, it's the mindset that can make the difference. No one can take away your experience of hiking a summit even though there is an easier way up. :)
Oh c'mon man, I wanted to do that. Now you've spoiled it!
A freaking shopping mall on top of the mountain, what a sight 😂😂
wanted to do the Zugspitze a couple weeks ago but didn't go because of weather conditions. We ended up doing Kramerspitz (which is right across Garmisch) and it was absolutely stunning, with hardly anybody up there. It is ridiculous how everybody NEEDS to do the Zugspitze apparently.
The answer is simple: there's no cable car on the Kramer! ;-)
Try the Osterfelderkopf next time, even less crowded and more beautiful!
Also the Friederspitz is worth a visit... I think. It was very cloudy when we went, that means foggy at the top.
Have you been on the Watzmann? Second highest mountain in Germany, much prettier imo, pretty overdone too but nowhere near as bad. It is extremely beautiful and technically much more interesting than one would expect.
It's not the second highest mountain, it's the third, the second highest ist the hochwanner, who is waaaay less known and crowded then both of zugspitze and watzmann. Watzmann is also not technical in the slightest, the traverse is so overhyped, only called technical because they have to rescue 1037266262 people every year who have never been to the mountains an be like:"let's do the watzmann traverse".
I can't believe how beautiful and completely empty the surrounding area is. I guess there's some folly in human nature that makes us want to always get to the top of things?
If I ever end up in that neck of the woods I'll be glad to aim for a side peak where you can see the majesty of the summit...from just far away enough not to see the people.
My partner said it was the same in Indonesia when she did the Rinjani summit. Ques of people, and every other direction was completely empty...so it's probably universal!
what camera are you using
OMG the amount of people there made it look dangerous!
I'm so used to backpacking in the Western US, it is very surpring to me to see a gift shop and resturant at the top of a 2,000m tall mountain.
Mountaineering is much stronger in Europe, so seeing a mountain hut that resembles a small hotel is pretty common. But this is definitely an extreme example.
@@theoriginalLP I wouldn't say it is more popular (by % of population) just the population density & number of people on the mountain is much higher (in EU) to support building those falacilities. We have mountaineering huts in the Eastern US.
As context states like Wyoming & Montana have an average of 2 or 3 people per km^2 (counting cities), with more populated states having 10-50. Nobody is around to build the huts for. While Germany has 240per km^2 and Switerland has 219. The mountain ranges out west are simply extremely remote.
@@hugmynutus I get it. Even here, unpopular mountains don't have mountain huts that offer food and drink. There are only shelters or they offer drinks and/or lodging, mostly not for profit. But that's not what I meant. I meant that mountaineering as a sport in a broader sense (i.e. climbing peaks) is much more stronger. It's in our culture. After all, alpinism started here. If you come here and ask about mountain trails, they will direct you to the nearest peak. Hiking trails without a peak as a destination are scarce. Perhaps in national parks.
I don't think you were trying that hard to not make fun of the mountain haha
Wow didn´t expect that much buildings in there. Definitely not what I´m looking for when I go to the mountain
Yeah the Zugspitze is pretty much a mountaintop Oktoberfest as it is. And since there are 3 ways with little to no effort involved to come up (2 Cable cars and - believe it or not - a train), its packed up there in the summer months.
The mountain is a destination for hikers and skiers. The buildings are there because of TOURISTS.
Hi Chase who climbs mountains ;) Which route did you take to climb the summit?
What has been your fav mountain or hiking toure until now?
Thanks mate, everything not the peak looked very nice...no cmaping equals no me:-D
you should have tried Jubiläumsgrat, LOL
Yeah... this is why I'll avoid the Zugspitze and look for slightly less touristy mountains on my holiday next month. Hoping the Nebelhorn and Rubihorn are less crowded..! They're 1,5 hours drive away from the Zugspitze.
Those are popular too but.....Once the German School holidays are over you'll encounter less people on the trails. Avoid weekends!!
Are you still wearing your olympus 4s or do you wear different shoes now for your trail runs and hikes?
Nope the Olympus 4s are dead 💀 I’m wearing Altra Superiors in this video. Vivo barefoots as well for some things
Hahahahaha...thanks for this horror movie 🤣
Super glue and duck tape--I never leave home without it.
I guess you won't find anything close to untouched nature in most of Germany, especially not in the alps and certainly not on the Zugspitze. It's extremely touristy and extremely accessible (and trashed). Most people on the Zugspitze won't be caught dead on a regular 3000 m mountain let alone one you'd have to do a multi day tour on.
I'm not going to say it's not beautiful though. At least once all the people are out of the picture.
The German Mittelgebirge (medium height mountain ranges?) have a lot to offer and are less crowded if you exclude some hotspots.
that tasmania shirt is sick could you share a link to where you got that?
basecampmerch.threadless.com
Speaking of clothing... The hoodie you where wearing while hiking looked like a perfect base layer to protect you from the sun while not beeing to warm - Do you remember the brand? All the best ☺️
There are a few boot producers that use the "good glue", that lasts at least 20 years. and there are some, which use the 50cent cheaper glue - it lasts almost exactly 7 years, then the sole falls off. doesnt matter if you used the boot or not. #lessonlearned ;)
Overcrowded mountains are one of the suckiest things in the world. Something that cold be great but is ruined. The Zugspitze is known to be overcrowded and also has way too much infrastructure (Bahn), but at least it is so big that there are quite a number of routes which climbers can take to have less crowding.
The Matterhorn is another one that is a victim of its own beauty. There can be way too many people on it at once. I got a bit lucky when I climbed it and there were relatively few, but still more tan any other high peak I have climbed.
It generally pays to find another mountain that is less famous.
Haha very fun Video!
Like your personal bettering video's bud this is just plain fun and I like it!!
lol, the cable car going down the Austrian side is MUCH cheaper. And nicer. And broken down less often.
OK. And which one is Siemens?
For Not-Germans: Siemens. A famous big technoligy firm. Nowadays: Still big, but Crazy engineers, eccentric mechanics only invent rubbish (S pinnerte I ngenieure, e xzentrische M echaniker e rfinden n ur S chrott)
Man, you are in my turf! If you need any help or hike ideas, let me know, I know the area quite well
What did they expect? It's not really a secret that the peak is crowded, that there is plenty infrastructure up there, that there is a gondola carrying masses of your average tourists up. If you don't want that (I know I wouldn't), go somewhere else.
We did it because Benji is German and we where in the area. I knew there was a cable car, but this is next level. I didn’t expect magnets and key rings.
I just took the gondola and made the summit in record time
Is that a merino sunhoodie? :D
sadly not.
Don’t like it when huts are the only accommodation. I’d rather go and spend my money in Nepal or India, at least the huts are reasonable prices and the money helps the people more. Plus high altitude.
Would you climb it?
I did once and I'll never do it again, there's way too many people up there. By now I switched to France, there are way less people and though I'm German, I have to admit, that Germany really doesn't have any high or lonely mountains.
No
Prob not with all the tourists and easy access up
Of course. It's nice for a quick training or tour. Because of the different hiking and climbing routes you have a lot of choices. The easy access is nice if you have to go to work before or after the tour 🙂
Not for me - but thanks for the video.
In Germany, every hiker/climber knows about that "dead" Summit. He's not dead because of a lack of people, but because of far too many people - including people who have no business up there.
You can do it once in your life, but that's enough.
I'd have to be REAL dedicated to bagging all the peaks to go anywhere near that mess. And that's partly why I'm not dedicated to such collections... I'd prefer doing a Babe Ruth any day. (Point at a random peak that looks good and send it.)
Yes, the Zugspitze is very crowded. Must of them are not from Germany. But they are complaining ...
bratwurst is NOT "hot-dog" 🤣🤣🤣
Cross THAT one off any of my list
I know its hella ableist to say I wish there wasn't easy access to places like this that you actually have to work to get up there, but I do. It takes away from the whole feeling when you hike up to somewhere that's supposed to be secluded like a mountain top. And there's like a whole village amount of people up there.
Try the Alpspitze, second highest mountain in Germany, right across from the Zugspitze,only reachable by via ferrata or really high alpine hiking (which I would recommend downwards).
Tsook-Shpit-seh. Less difficult to pronounce if you know the Z is voiceless.
Much appreciated 🤣
Imagine getting drunk up there and having to make your way back down.
That’s what the cable car is for lol
Could you please show people there's no need to go to Antarctica either.
As a filthy casual who took the gondola up to the trail during the off season, it was still quite challenging to do that stretch without experience. I understand a lot of the complains the expert community has about the building up there but it offered me an opportunity to test the waters of mountaineering and scare my mom half to death lol.
Doesn't look like my type of place
hmmm...
Wild CAMPING is (unfortunately) most definitely illegal (not "not strictly legal"). Bivy-ing is tolerated. Essentially, don't get caught with camping equipment, you'll have a hard time painting it as an emergency bivouac.
Personally, I'd rather see people with a love for nature camping on the mountain, than this absolutely absurd consumerist abomination they put on the summit. Oh well...
Long time follwer here, and from Germany: If you hike in Germany, you don't need food for days, but I think you have learned that. But you seemed surprised by the infrastructure up there, so I ask myself what your preperation was? Second: Please respect that wild camping is forbidden. There are reasons for this. 3rd: If you take too much stuff for whatever reason, please don't leave it on the way. Chances are high this is found and search & rescue services start to look out. Most of them are unpaid volunteers, and you are giving them a hard time. Please respect this. Usually I like and enjoy your videos but this time I am left with the impression of someone unprepared to what you could have found out with Google (that a popular tourist attraction surprisingly has infrastructure and a lot of people who visit it), and a little lack of respect for local rules and people who choose to make their visit in a different way you do. If the cable car makes it possible for elderly people to reach the top, and a restaurant prevents them from carrying food all the way up, why bother? Really, why did you choose this mountain at all? It was absolutely clear what to expect there, and with all your experience, you should have known.
Excellent comment. The short answer is: entertainment. I try to make a video that is engaging and, as much as reasonable, informative. Trying to find a balance. I really appreciate your comment and 100% agrees with everything you said. The true is, I knew exactly what I was in for.
Disgusting
As an Austrian who has nothing to do with climbing, this video comes across a bit rude. From the title, comparing landscapes to presumably better countries, shit talking people around you and their needs and interests, and a high up nose in general. You'll be more successful if you tweak the presentation, even if it means bullshitting around a bit. Donno what the best approach is here.
That was exactly his angle and to get comments. It worked, right?
i mean, zugspitze works like usual eu ferrata experience - for best experience get up in 3 am and visit on tuesday. through hollental it's one of the moest enjoyable experiences i've had in germany. you just did it completly wrong. same goes for matterhorn, triglav and many other landmarks.