What could be better than spending the last calendar and weather-wise summer weekend outdoors – and this time not on a mountain, but on Lake Chiemsee, within sight of the Alps. At late summer temperatures, I was invited by a friend to go sailing and swimming on her sailing boat on the “Bavarian Sea”. Read more
Geigelstein in the Chiemgau Alps impresses with its great prominence (relative height) and its extensive dominance. With an absolute height of 1,808 m, Geigelstein rises about 1,148 m above the surrounding landscape. This is its topographic prominence, i.e. the difference in height to the lowest col or valley floor that separates it from higher mountains. Read more
After two relaxing days at Lake Chiemsee, we visited the Georgiritt in Traunstein to round off the Easter weekend. The Georgiritt in Traunstein is one of Bavaria’s largest horse pilgrimages. The procession takes place every year on Easter Monday and commemorates Saint George, who is considered the patron saint and helper of knights, riders, horses, and wanderers. Read more
There are many shore zones with large stands of reed grass at Lake Chiemsee. So, on a spring-like, warm Easter Saturday, I walk along the shore south of Seebruck, looking for interesting patterns in the reed zones backlit by the sun.
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During my last visit to the Bavarian Alps, I learned an old word: Schwenden. Schwenden is an old method of maintaining alpine pastures. It involves the laborious manual removal of unwanted bushes, shrubs, or young trees, especially mountain pines and alpine roses. This keeps the alpine meadows open as grazing areas for livestock. Read more
After climbing to the summit of Geigelstein, I reached my day’s destination, the Rossalm. It covers around 50 hectares and lies on a high plateau between Rossalpenkopf, Tauron, and Weitlahnerkopf at an altitude of 1,600 to 1,750 metres. This makes it the highest alpine pasture in Chiemgau and one of the highest in the Bavarian Alps. Its origins date back to the Sachrang Alpine Pasture Regulations of 1558, where it is listed as one of the three Sachrang ancient alpine pastures. The name Rossalm comes from the fact that the Schleching ‘Samerbauern’ (pack-horse farmers) used to be allowed to drive “Samrosse”, i.e. horses, onto the alpine pasture in addition to cattle *. The alpine pasture is an impressive alpine cultural landscape with a peaceful, quiet atmosphere. Read more
The hike up the Geigelstein was the start of an eventful late summer day in the Chiemgau Alps. The first few metres from the hikers’ car park at Huben in the Priental valley led steeply through dense, still cool mountain forest. I quickly gained altitude via the Jägersteig trail and reached open meadow terrain and the warming sun for the first time at the Wirtsalm. To the south, the morning mist was clearing over the Kaiser Mountains and the Kaiserwinkel. The path led past the huts of the Schreckalm and, after a northward bend, I could now see the summit of the Geigelstein (1,808 m) glowing in the morning sun.
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