Through the autumn forest at Lake Königssee

From the mouth of the Eisbach at Lake Königssee, the hiking trail to the Kärlingerhaus winds in steep hairpins through the vibrant autumn forest – the view is beautiful and reminds me of 1970s photo wallpaper. The scenery feels almost Southern Alpine and is comparable to previous hikes in Ticino in autumn. The rhythm of the ascent and the impressions of the landscape create a euphoric high in me; it is a perfect day in nature.

The Berchtesgaden National Park is inspiring with its varied topography and vegetation. In particular, the multi-day hikes, e.g. the Great or Small Reibn (circuit) or the section of the Via Alpina crossing the Steinernes Meer, belong in my opinion to the same category as world-famous hikes like the Great Walks in New Zealand – at times, the Berchtesgaden National Park reminds me of the Routeburn Track or Milford Track.

Soon after, the path climbs in many sweat-inducing hairpins up the steep Saugasse and through the Ofenloch, until Lake Funtensee and the Kärlingerhaus are reached in the bright evening sun.