Border experience on the Blauberge

A few kilometres south of Lake Tegern lie the Blauberge, whose east-west ridge line marks a border not only geographically but also politically – specifically, the one between Germany and Austria.

Wildbad Kreuth is an ideal starting point for a scenic circular tour over the Blauberge, which is quite a demanding day hike. The route takes you past the Siebenhüttenalm towards the steep ascent through the Wolfsschlucht. At the saddle, I follow the path south to the Blaubergalm and finally onto the over 4 km long, shadeless ridge through dwarf pines and mountain meadows. The highlight of the traverse is the Halserspitz (1,863 m), from whose north face the return journey later begins.

The views from the path are consistently magnificent; the Schildenstein and the twin peaks of Buchstein and Roßstein with the Tegernsee Hut to the north, or the steep and forbidding north face of the Guffert to the south, are prominent nearby peaks. The horizon, however, stretches far beyond Wetterstein, Karwendel or the Kaiser Mountains.