Sunrise over Lake Königssee

After a perfect autumn day in Berchtesgaden National Park with the morning boat trip across Lake Königssee, the impressive panoramas at St. Bartholomä, the climb through the colourful autumn forest and the peaceful evening atmosphere at Lake Funtensee, I head up the short path through the still dark mountain forest to the Feldkogel the next morning to experience the sunrise panorama with the Stuhljoch, Hagengebirge, Watzmann massif, Lake Königssee and the Steinernes Meer.

Hardly have I arrived back at the Kärlingerhaus when dark clouds suddenly push in from the north, making the mountain peaks disappear in a grey veil and creating dramatic light changes over the basin with Lake Funtensee, which now looks completely different than it did yesterday in the light of the warm evening sun. Under the soon-to-be closed cloud cover, the diffuse lighting reduces the contrast and depth of the landscape, making the colours that were just glowing brightly appear pale and washed out.

Three hours later and back at St. Bartholomä, the weather has completely changed again and the afternoon sun is shining at an angle onto the Watzmann massif – only its peak is shrouded in clouds, as is so often the case. With these varied and intense impressions, I say goodbye to St. Bartholomä, end a wonderfully relaxed hiking tour in the Berchtesgaden National Park and take unique memories home with me.

More pictures from Berchtesgaden National Park in the Germany Gallery.