Halfway to heaven on Mt Watzmann

The last day with my Transalpine partner, Gine, arrived and what better way to finish a perfect week than with another mountain crossing! 

Mt Watzmann is Germany's 3rd highest at 2713m, and has 3 peaks along a precariously narrow ridge which you cross with the assistance of ropes in some sections. 

We started at Wimbachbruecke (in the town of Rasmsau), heading up to the Watzmannhaus hut via a fairly well established walking track. From the hut things got steep, and we freestyled up rocky slopes to the first peak. 

Gine getting good use out of her poles heading up to the hut:

Watzmannhaus hut in the clouds:

Starting our last 800m of climbing up the steep rocky slope to the summit:

Relaxing on the highest peak of Watzmann:

From the highest peak we crossed the ridge to Middle Peak, and lastly to South Peak. The clouds helped to hide the steep drop on either side! Amazing amazing feeling up there!

The cross marking South Peak:

Finally a steep descent into a valley waited for us as we came down the other side of the mountain. The rocky scree slope made for lots of sliding until we hit a glacier moraine that we followed back to the car. 

Running down the rocky scree slope:

The Lake Königssee round

Continuing my training with my Transalpine partner, Gine, we spent another day in the beautiful Berchtesgaden Alps, home of the mountains around Lake Königssee.This is a beautiful glacier-formed lake tucked deep in the mountains (Germany's 3rd deepest!), with aqua blue-green waters reflecting the peaks above and white sandy beaches to take a nap on and enjoy the view. 

The plan: to run around the lake, starting and finishing at the town of Königsee, travelling through the mountains ringing the lake. The stats: 35km, 2600m+ elevation gain, around 8 hours of hiking, scrambling, taking in the views, enjoying a beer at the Kühroith hut and finally a good soak of the legs in the lake at the finish.

Hiking up to Hochgeschirr, a stony mountain pass:

  

 

Seeleinsee, a tiny glacier-formed lake tucked into the rocky peaks: 

 

Hochgeschirr pass: 

  

 

The descent down into the valley on the other side of the mountain pass - nice and steep! 

  

 

Obersee, a lake formed when a landslide cut off a part of Königsee, flanked by cliffs on 3 sides:

  

  

Peaceful mountain pasture next to the lake:

 

In front of Obersee: 

  

Quick water stop for Gine: 

 

Running along Lake Königsee towards the chapel of St. Bartholomew:

View from the trail above Königsee:

 

 

 

The town of königsee at the tip of the lake, a good place to soak tired legs: 

Fairytale castles and storms in the mountains

The days spent in the mountains around Füssen (Germany) have been filled with intense summer sunshine, afternoon storms with hail, lightning and thunder, beers in the mountain huts, and the joy of standing on tall peaks looking out across endless green valleys! The numerous trails, easy access and signage have made for excellent training, while my campsite next to Banwaldsee has given ample time for relaxation, napping and reading!

Neuschwanstein Castle, the inspiration to Disney's fairytale castle:

MarienBruecke viewed from the Pollatschlucht:

Summer alpine flowers:

Geiselstein viewed from the Ahornreitweg: 

The start of my run up to Säuling, beautiful blue skies soon to change:

Half way up, the clouds moving in fast, promising thunder and lightning:

The 2038m summit of Säuling:

Dark storms thundering during an adrenaline-fuelled descent:

Playing in the German Alps

The last couple of months have been a hectic kaleidoscope of work in the hospital, establishing my business - Summit Sisters, and trying to fit in time for training, and with family and friends! I hardly had time to dwell on the fact that I had a trip to Europe booked.
I had initially planned to race the Ultra Trail Mont Blanc again, but an opportunity arose to partner with a Salomon German runner, Gine, in the TransAlpine race! The event has been on my bucket list for a while, but finding another girl to partner with, and finding the funds for the start fee made entry more difficult. I didn't hesitate when the chance presented itself! The race itself is also a completely new experience: 8 days of running through the Alps, starting in Germany and finishing in Italy, 250km of trails through 4 countries and about 15000m of elevation gain. Racing in a team is also a first for me, and I am looking forward to the shared experience of working together with a partner, of sharing the ups and downs, the challenges, and the emotions that are sure to come (sounds like a relationship!).

I decided to start my trip in the German Alps, an area I have never explored despite spending lots of time in the country. Bavaria is a culture and country unto itself, and what better area to train for big hills than in the shadow of the beautiful Neuschwanstein Castle and Tegelberg mountain.

The pictures are from my first trip up into the mountains - the trails literally starting as I step out of the campground I am based in. I did a loop, covering  the 1703m Schoenleitenschrofen, Tegelberg, and up to the 1880m Branderschrofen. On the run down back to camp I ran with a couple from the area. The woman, Monica, had already cycled 60km that day and shared her belief that 'sport keeps you young - not only the body, but also the mind.' Finishing our run together, sitting out in the fading summer sun, and enjoying a big Bavarian beer, I am feeling very young!