Guidebook: distance 10.4km (6.5m) | ascent 569m | descent 877m | time: 5hr
Us: distance 13.2km | ascent 909m | descent 1,212m | time: 5hr
Peaks: Hoher Ifen (2230m) | Hahnenköpfle (2085m)
Walk number 11 in our guidebook Walking in the Bavarian Alps.
We were away early to get supplies from the Aldi store in Immenstadt before driving to Oberstdorf for the essential walking gear now that the stores were open again. We spent longer shopping than expected and didn’t arrive at the chairlift of Ifenbahn until 13:00. Our first excursion across the border into Austria.
This afternoon’s walk on a very hot day would summit Hoher Ifen (2230m) and then cross the Gottesacker Plateau before descending through forest back to the van. This was karst country.
Hoher Ifen was an amazing mountain. We’d seen its distinctive form when driving to and from Oberstdorf. A flat-topped plateau surrounded by high cliffs. There were only two paths up to the summit one from our east side and another from the west. We would ascend and descend on the same eastern route.
The summit plateau was broad, flat and sloped up gently to the north and the highest point. Above high cliffs the views north were of a spectacular cliff edged valley and the pale, hot, sun soaked Gottesacker Plateau extended to the north east.
We arrived at the summit at 15:30. A little late and perhaps the hottest part of the day. We descended back down the cliff the way we’d come. I was keen to complete the rest of the walk described in the guidebook because I wanted to experience the karst landscape. Linda wanted to wash her hair. We decided that I would complete the walk and she would descend using the path and wait at the van.
I was certain that leaving Linda to wait too long at the van would be a mistake since she was getting a little fed-up. A run was required! Fortunately I had the right shoes and gear on. Ascending quickly to Hahnenköpfle (2085 m) arriving at 16:30, I made a couple of nav mistakes piecing my way across the Gottesacker, but successfully avoided falling into one of the many large cracks and holes that made this landscape so distinctive. The limestone was easy to run over, generally flat and smooth, but wow was I hot! There was nobody else here, so I was conscious that an accident wouldn’t be a good idea just now.
At the Gottesacker Alpe the path headed down and the scenery changed to youthful woodland and then denser forest on the lower slopes. Eventually I left the forest on to the valley road lined by large guest houses and inns. A run up the valley back to the van arriving at 18:15. Fortunately Linda had only just beat me back having stopped for a cold beer at the chairlift station. I was buzzing after my run, but had my bubble burst soon enough.
Another late finish back at Grosser Alpsee (19:40), but time enough for a lake swim before it got too dark.
Shotley Walker 