Astrid knew from the very beginning, when we knew we'd go to Austria for her 65th birthday, that we'd get to the top of the Zugspitze by hook or by crook. And we did.
The Zugspitze is Germany's tallest mountain at 2,962 meters (9,718 ft) above sea level.
Here's what it looks like from below in one of our many views of it on the Austrian side.
Remember that our home base for the week was in Ehrwald, in the valley/shadow of the mountain.
There are two cable car stations for going up, in Ehrwald and in Germany at the Eibsee Lake.
We obviously chose the one in Ehrwald, Austria, only 4 km from our guesthouse.
The ride up took all of 10 minutes...on a gorgeous day!
We purposely sat in the back to take pics looking down instead of up,
knowing we'd do the the same on our way back, looking up.
We arrived at the top on the Austrian side of the mountain, which is at only 2,950 meters.
Later you'll see how the extra 12 meters/34 ft get you to the top on Germany's side.
So, yes, you heard me...there are two sides at the top because this mountain belongs to both.
It's a huge complex of levels with restaurants, cafes, museum, platforms, etc.
[Wikimedia photo]
The first thing we did was look out at the views of the Austrian mountain/countryside.
From there we walked to the German side for our hot chocolate break,
with apple strudel soaked in warm vanilla sauce...an Austrian delicacy, in Germany!
These were the views we had right outside the cafe's terrace.
Going down from that level we caught another cable car taking us to a part of the mountain
just below the top of the mountain (are you following me?).
Not everyone at the top opts for this added cost but we decided to do it all, our only chance!
We especially enjoyed seeing the chapel, where a service was taking place.
I was able to grab the inside views through the outside door windows.
And yes, there was enough (dirty) snow for Astrid to make a snowball for Chris' birthday!
(Happy Birthday, Chris!)
(Happy Birthday, Chris!)
Even enough snow for modern rodel sleds!
And while we were there, a helicopter made a drop-off of supplies.
Thankfully, it was not a rescue stop.
Going back up by cable car, we saw the full breadth of the top,
with the gold cross marking the tallest point of the mountain/Germany (bottom, right side).
THAT gold cross!
This is where those extra 12 meters come in.
A tourist guide in Ehrwald told us to not even think about climbing it,
though Astrid was sorely tempted the longer we stood there and watched. HA!
At least we got to see it...Germany's tallest point.
If that doesn't make you hungry, what will?
Flanked by the cross outside on our right, we looked out over the countryside below...
where Germany's Eibsee Lake graces the landscape
(from where the other cable car takes you up and down the mountain).
After eating lunch, we walked back to the Tyrol/Austrian side for our descent down the mountain.
Once again, we sat in the back and looked up to see from whence we came.
Ha Ha. We did it, thanks to all of Astrid's careful planning.
From going up to coming down, we were there for 6 glorious hours!
