(as is the case with many Category I huts). Cat III – accessible by car or cable railway, catering mainly for day visitors. Facilities for an overnight stay are usually limited. Bergsteigeressen and Teewasser are not available.
Appendix C lists those huts mentioned in the route descriptions. On the Internet a complete database of AV huts (in German) is available at www.dav-huettensuche.de or www.alpenverein.at/huetten (English).
There is a full listing of NaturFreunde (Naturefriends) huts at the German-language site www.naturfreunde.de. For more information visit the UK website www.thefriendsofnature.org.uk.
The Austrian Alpine Club is affiliated with the German Alpine Club, and its members are entitled to all the privileges mentioned above. Postal address: Unit 43, Glenmore Business Park, Holton Heath, Blackhill Rd, Poole, Dorset BH16 6NL; tel (01929) 556 870, [email protected], www.aacuk.org.uk.
TRAVELLING WITH A DOG
Coming from the UK you will need to make sure your dog is inoculated against rabies, which is prevalent in many parts of Europe including the Bavarian Alps. Information on other necessary inoculations (and formalities) can be obtained from your veterinarian.
Depending on the discretion of the hut warden or the rules of the alpine section to which the hut belongs, dogs are not usually welcome in mountain huts belonging to the Alpine Clubs. Your best chance will be in those with rooms for two or a Winterlager (winter quarters separate from main hut), but check beforehand. If you come when demand is relatively low (spring or autumn) your chances will increase. Those huts only offering Matrazenlager (large dormitories) do not permit dogs.
You will usually be able to find a place to stay in the valleys, and most establishments charge a small extra daily fee.
With a bit of planning, nothing stands in the way of taking your dog on a walking holiday
In Naturschutzgebiete (nature reserves) or the Nationalpark Berchtesgaden, dogs should be kept on a leash. The same applies to areas where sheep or cows are grazed. Avoid cows with calves; they will react aggressively if they feel their young is threatened. If attacked (rare), drop the leash!
Note that public transport in Austria requires the dog wear a muzzle, as do some large gondola lifts in Germany.
Climate
The climate in the Bavarian Alps is characterised by relatively cool summers (although temperatures can go past 30˚C) with high rainfall and mild winters which usually bring plenty of snow. This is largely due to the influence of the prevailing westerly winds which deposit moist oceanic air masses in the form of clouds on the northern fringes of the Alps. Precipitation in the valleys can be as high as 1500mm per annum and in the alpine regions as high as 2500mm. In other words, waterproof gear is essential.
A guarantee for fine weather, however, is the Föhn (known as Chinook in the American Rockies). This dry, warm wind brings crystal-clear air and blue skies to the mountains when the lowlands to the north are hidden below a thick blanket of cloud. It makes its presence felt especially in autumn, one of the best times to go walking.
Note When walking in the Alps remember that with every 100m of altitude the temperature drops by up to 1°C.
Walking season
The walking season starts in the valleys in April, and with a bit of luck peaks up to 1500m are free of snow by the end of May. The mountain walking season proper begins in June and finishes in September/October. However, the summer months can be hot and afternoon thunderstorms are common. September usually offers cooler, more stable weather and although October is also often pleasant, shorter days and the danger of snow at higher altitudes must be taken into account. Most lifts stop operating by, at the latest, mid October.
Clothing and equipment
When walking in the mountains, always carry wet weather gear and warm clothes as an insurance against sudden changes in the weather. Good walking boots are essential, although trainers are sufficient for some valley walks.
Despite the fact that there are usually huts en route where you can buy refreshments it is nevertheless important to carry some kind of light snack (chocolate, dried fruit, nuts, and so on) and plenty to drink. Small alm huts serving food have irregular hours and are only open for a few months in summer. They may also be closed if the alpine herdsman or shepherd has work elsewhere.
A passport should always be carried where routes run close to or cross national borders. You will probably never be asked to show it, but if you are you’d better have it!
For most walks in this book a small, light inner-frame rucksack is all that is required. For longer tours a narrow inner-frame rucksack with a volume of up to 40 litres should be sufficient. Wide packs with external frames can be very cumbersome, and even dangerous on narrow alpine paths.
Those staying in huts need slippers of some kind as boots are not permitted in the sleeping areas. If staying in a Matrazenlager it is wise to bring ear-plugs. There is always somebody who snores! A light cloth sleeping bag liner is normally required in all AV huts.
As most alpine trails in the Bavarian Alps are usually very well waymarked, many people do not bother with a compass. It is, however, a wise precaution to carry one and to know how to use it in conjunction with a topographical map. Also useful is a GPS device, although as they require batteries it is sensible to carry an ordinary compass as a back-up.
Other useful pieces of equipment are sunglasses, suncream, a hat (the sun’s UV rays should not be underestimated in the mountains), a whistle for emergencies and perhaps gaiters if you are expecting to encounter snow on the trail. A pair of spiked walking poles (known in German as Wanderstöcke and available at any local sports shop) aid balance and help ease the strain on the knees when going downhill. On longer excursions a head torch can be very handy.
Safety in the mountains
The trail above Knorr Hut, near the Zugspitzplatt (Walk 27)
There are mountain rescue (Bergwacht) teams based near all the main resorts in the Bavarian Alps.
Emergency telephone number: 112
Weather report: tel 089 295070 (German), or see www.bergfex.com (English)
Mobile phone coverage can be patchy in alpine regions, so do not rely on your mobile phone alone.
Safety checklist
Inform somebody of your intentions before departure
Do not walk alone, especially in remote alpine regions
Check the current weather forecast (your host, hut wardens or the local tourist office can help here)
Make
