04/21/2022
Felix, You Rock!!! ~
My amazing friend Felix and his friend Marvin hiked fifteen miles through Schneck mountain in the Allgaeu High Alps nature reserve of Bavaria, Germany, all while sporting his Caroline’s Crusaders t-shirt and bringing awareness to CF!!!! How awesome! Thank You So Much, Felix and Marvin!
Here is his story:
Hiking the „Schneck-Trail“ in the Allgaeuer-Alps Oberstdorf, Bavaria, Germany
Felix & Marvin, 04/18/2022
On Easter Monday, Marvin and I were planning to hike the beautiful „Schneck Trail“ in the Allgaeuer Apls. Our target: the Schneck peak in 2.268 m (7,440 ft). Starting point is the train station in Oberstdorf. An idyllic village with less than ten thousand inhabitants located in Bavaria. Gate to the Alps. Once a year the famous „Vierschanzentouree“ (Four Hills Tournament) starts here in front of a beautiful panorama. We started the hike at about 08:50 am after arriving the train station. The morning was crisp and clear at about 2°C (35° F). Perfect weather conditions for such a hike. Unfortunately, you never know exactly how the weather and snow conditions are up there in the mountains. So, you need to come prepared as we had to figure out last year…
Ahead of us was a 15 km (9 miles) hike. Beginning with an easy hiking trail for tourists and family members of all ages up to about 1.000 meters (3,280 feet). This part is an easy trail garnished with the nice view on the mountains. After about 6 km (4 miles) and 1:30 hours we arrived at the mountain inn „Oytalhaus Oberstdorf“.
The mountain inn is considered as an unofficial gate to the „Oytal“. A great natural reserve up high in the Allgaeu, where even until today the local farmers drive up their cattle for the summer season, to harness valuable herbs for their milk products and getting them back downhill in autumn. After passing the gate the real hike started. No phone or internet connection from here on. Meanwhile the sun reached a certain height, so we started to get some light down the valley. With that also the temperatures started to rise up to a level where gloves aren’t needed anymore.
Flanked by the mountain ranges west- and eastwards far in the distance we saw the Schnecks peak again with some part of its massive crest. Until then we still had to walk for some time.
Last year Marvin and I had to turn around when we were full of confidence and were surprised by the amount of snow three weeks earlier in time. So we decided to stop at the „Gutenalpe“. This year most of the snow was melted. At least at heights up to 1.100 meters (3,600 ft). Passing the Gutenalpe about 30 min. later we were sure reaching the peak. Boosting our confidence, we went on.
Our net goal was the „Prinzenkreuz“ (prince cross). Marking the point where landscape changes and the challenge switching gear. Earlier passing by some blooming meadows and massive old fir trees the landscape started to change ever quickly.
The trail became steeper, more curvy and ending up in switchbacks. Going back and forth, gaining height slowly but steadily.
Already here we noticed avalanches were coming down earlier in the month. Some have been more or less taking care of by park rangers, some of them the sun is currently taking care of. But since during night times they start freezing again, trying to get over them is quite a job. After some more, some less icy hurdles were passed we got rewarded instantaneously with a great view into the Oytal. Right next to us the „Stuibenfall“ (waterfall named after and fed by the melted ice and from the mountain „Stuiben“) rushing down into the deep.
After enjoying the view and collecting water from the crystal clear and (literally) freezing water for our water bottles, we continued following the trail ahead of us. A few switchbacks later we saw the end of the Oytal. Closing down by the mountains ahead of us. Our next stop was the unfortunately closed „Käseralpe“ where the local farmers ripening their cheese over the summer milking the cows by hand. The Käseralpe is a popular stop for hiking tourists during the summer times and according to their website usually opened around mid may. We saw why… At a height of 1.300 meters (4,265 feet) a perfect stop below many mountain peaks and enjoying the view. In front of us were mountains of snow and the trail was covered beneath it.
Following the GPS-Signal closely we managed to stay on the trail towards the Käseralpe. After a quick Brotzeit (Bavarian dialect for lunch. Literal translation: bread time) at the Alpe we were ready to take on the last bit.
In 1.692 meter (5,550 feet) we were planning to have a quick stop at the Wildenfeldhütte before climbing up the crest on top of the peak in 2.268 meter.
Unfortunately, we had to abort our plans at about 1.500 meters (4.920 feet) due to completely iced avalanches blocking and covering the slim trail up to the Wildenfelshütte. For safety reasons and without any special climbing gear it would have been too dangerous to cross this section. So, we decided to go back down to the Käseralpe and celebrating our new personal best for this year. Sadly, we didn’t manage to reach the peak again, but setting a new goal for next year a bit later in May might increase the chances of coming back and reaching the peak for sure.
The way back was way easier than the uphill battle. But, we took our time to enjoy the nature reserve and stopped by the Oytalhaus to regain our strength and mood with well cooled Bavarian Weizenbier (wheat beer).
Marvin’s and my dedication is not just limited due to our hiking hobby but we are also connected to our friend Caroline. She is currently fighting Cystic Fibrosis and is raising money and awareness to fight this disease. In honor and tradition to Caroline’s Crusaders we participated a little bit earlier this year remembering to fight for goals with dedication and dealing with setbacks. But failure is not an option, so our goal is already set for next year!
