A team of 7 Cadets and 5 Adult Volunteers embarked on an Adventure Training Exped to Bavaria and the Tirol region of Austria on 25 July 2016. The aim of the Exped was to climb both Germany’s and Austria’s highest mountains, Zugspitze at 2962m and Grossglockner at 3798m above-sea-level. After a long 2 day journey we reached the beautiful alpine town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria and set up camp.
Our first trek was to be over the Gartnerwand ridge 2377m just across the border in Austria. Setting off in fine weather from Lermoos we trekked to the summit of Grubigstein at 2255m and proceeded across the ridge towards Gartnerwand; unfortunately, a nasty weather front was closing in which obscured the summit. It was therefore decided to beat a retreat back to the valley, and just in good time before the heavens opened and a heavy thunder storm passed through.
With the weather forecast for 28th not looking too good, we set off on our long approach through the amazing Partnachklamm Gorge and the beautiful Reintal Valley to the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain. After 6 hours of trekking we reached our overnight stay at the Knorr Hut at a shade over 2000m. The next morning, after a good continental breakfast and with much improving weather, we continued up towards the mountain’s summit, which by now was getting much steeper, finally arriving at the summit 5 hours after departing the Knorr Hut. After a brief respite at the summit we took the easy way down by cable-car to the valley and returned to our campsite.
On the 30th August we had an R&R day by way of White-water rafting along the River Inn in Austria hosted by Outdoor Planet. This was a great day and unexpectedly rather challenging in what was to be very cold water and physically quite hard going; firstly having to get a very large dingy down to the river, 600 metres away and periodically get out of the boat in rapids to swim, albeit in a wet-suit, helmet and life preserver and the constant paddling required to keep the vessel going in the right direction through the rapids; great and challenging fun though.
The following day it was time to pack up and move campsite across into Austria on a 5 hours’ drive to the beautiful little town of Kals. Arriving once again during a downpour, which made setting up camp rather challenging. Once we had eaten, prepared our equipment and briefed the team on the following days’ activities, we bedded down for an early night. The following morning dawned a little dull and misty, though the forecast was improving, and was looking good for the following morning. After a good breakfast, we set off from camp to the Studlhutte at 2800m, arriving around midday. After lunch here, we meet our 3 UIAGM Mountain Guides who were to take us on to the Erzherzog-Johann Hut then on to the summit of Grossglockner. Splitting in to 3 teams each with a guide, we set off in crampons roped together and traversed the Kodnitzkees Glacier, a very different and real experience for most of the team. After 4 hours of climbing up ledges, ridges and cable-ways, we reached the EZ-J hut at 3454m, perched high on the east ridge of the mountain. The cloud cover was beginning to break up and the views across the huge range of mountains became very apparent as we looked down onto the glacier we had earlier crossed, some 500m below. After a hearty hut meal it was time for an early night in the huge dormitory before an early breakfast at 5.30 the next morning.
With a beautiful clear crisp cloud free morning we set off from the hut just as the sun was rising. The climb to the summit involves a very steep ascent of an iced up couloir to gain the ridge; initially in crampons, we made the ridge after around an hour’s climbing. Once on the ridge, the going was easier though the ridge is long and very exposed in parts with drops of 100’s of metres to each side. This proved very challenging to some members of the team; but after around 2.5 hours from the hut we were all on the summit.
The descent back to the hut was equally challenging; after a brief stop to rest and recover back at the hut, we continued back down the rock buttresses and across the glacier, finally reaching the Studl Hut around midday, where we said a fond farewell to out Guides; then continued back down to the pick-up-point another 2 hours away. A very physically and mentally challenging 2 days were had gaining the summit of Austria’s highest mountain, but we were all very pleased with our achievement. Back in Kals, we returned to the Guides’ Office and each received a personalised certificate for reaching the summit; a most fitting end to the expedition.
The following day we struck camp and started the 2 day trip back to the UK, staying over once again in Germany in Saarbrucken before crossing the Channel from Calais to Folkestone and arriving back in Cheltenham on the evening of 4th August.
In conclusion, the expedition was a great success in what proved to be a challenging introduction to Alpine Mountaineering.
Many thanks are hereby extended from all the team to the Ulysses Trust for their generous contribution towards costs for this adventure; it is very much appreciated and we are most grateful.
