On another day with a slightly uncertain forecast we set off to climb the Aiplspitz via the easy scramble up the north ridge, something which we last did a few years ago. The advantage of this route is that it is very easy to get to with pubic transport, but there is also much less descent than ascent as the walk finishes at Spitzingsee. Last time we did the route from the valley to the east of the Heißenplatte, so for a difference we approached from the valley to the west, and also made the detour out to the Heißenplatte. I think overall the ascent we did last time was more enjoyable as you get out of the forest earlier, however the detour that we made to the Heißenplatte was absolutely brilliant as it gave wonderful views up the valley towards Bayrischzell and towards Austria. We made good time on the ascent until the path deteriorated with lots of big steps up wet and slippery roots. When we got to the col between the Heißenplatte and Aiplspitz it would have been very easy to just continue up the Aiplspitz, however. Read the full article…

With a slightly uncertain forecast we headed early to Jochberg so that we could park and hopefully miss any afternoon storms. It was pretty cloudy when we parked, but this didn’t matter as the ascent was all in the woods. As we emerged from the trees it was partly clearing and this gave us some pretty spectacular views across the Walchensee. We made good time to the summit, not quite my fastest ascent but given my recovery I was pretty pleased with the time. After enjoying the views from the summit we headed down the long way via the Walchensee. It was pretty warm by the time we were there and the water enticed us in for a swim which was wonderfully refreshing.

While the previous few outings into the mountains had been enjoyable, they were not proper walks by any stretch of the imagination. However as they had been so successful, combined with some other longer flat walks around Munich, I was keen to step up the recovery and head out on something with some proper ascent and distance. The obvious choice for this step up was the classic walk between Tegernsee and Schliersee, something I’ve somehow avoided doing in my 6 years living in Munich. We decided on the Prinzenweg version of the route so that it also included the Gindelalmschied summit and a bit more time above the tree line. As it was a sunny Saturday in August we decided to head out early so that we could guarantee a seat on the train in both directions and also so that we would be done before the main heat of the day. I should note that while I haven’t done Tegernsee to Schliersee, I have walked all of the route until the start of the ascent as part of the Baumgartenschneid circuit. The walk from the station to the start. Read the full article…

After the success a few days earlier on Taubenstein, I was keen to do a bit more, but still definitely taking it easy. James and I planned todo something together, so it was both of our first time back in the mountains after our respective accidents. Our plan was actually to head to the Herzogstandbahn and then make the short walk up to the summit, however due to a packed train we changed our plans in Kochel as the first two busses were full and it looked like the third would be as well. So instead of fighting our way onto the third bus, we took a bus in the opposite direction to Blomberg. Getting onto the chairlift was relatively smooth as they slowed it right down, and put a flag on the lift so that it would also be slowed down at the top. While the walk from the top of the chairlift to the summit of Zweisel is not that exciting, it was again nice to be in the mountains and to have a better stretch of the legs and the body when compared to a few days. Read the full article…

My team at work had their annual Wandertag around the time I was planning on getting out and doing a bit more after my accident, so I decided to join them for the summit and the lunch stop as it was possible to get a Seilbahn almost all of the way to the summit. Meeting my team ended up working perfectly despite me arriving an hour later than planned. While the walk from the Bergstation to the summit was short, it was really great to be back out in the fresh mountain air, with wonderful views – even if it was cloudy. My pelvis coped admirably with the ascent, and subsequent descent. We enjoyed a drink and some lunch at the hut below the Bergstation, before they headed down and I headed back to the Bergstation to take the Seilbahn back down.