Pürschling - a perfect winter hike

Winter Hikes in Bavaria

What can you do on a perfect winter day when there is avalanche warning grade 4 to 5 and you want to breathe mountain air ?

There are not many safe hikes under those conditions. One of them is hiking from Unterammergau up to Pürschling with the August Schuster Haus, a mountain club hut in the Ammergau Alps.

The hike requires about 700 m of altitude difference on a mountain road, which is maintained in winter to supply the Pürschling huts. This road starts at the ski lifts of the village of Unterammergau, north of Pürschling. There are enough parking lots for skiers and hikers.

Winter hikers, ski hikers and people with sleds are using the road together. Ski hikers will follow the north ridge up to Teufelstättkopf, a safe route even with high avalanche warning grades.

Those with sleds and those with only boots on their feet follow the road up to the huts. August Schuster Haus is open the whole year round and offers food and drinks and a sunny terrace.

If there is a foot track or snow good enough to walk on you can summit Teufelstättkopf from Pürschling. This time (mid-february 2009) there was too much snow for that, we gave up half way up from Pürschling and returned to the terrace to savour the sun and the winter scenery.

I hope you enjoy the pics and feel animated to visit this beautiful place some day.

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