Zugspitze

The Zugspitze (2,964 m) is not only Germany's highest peak but also the country's only glacier. On its southern slopes there is a ski area (a few easy pistes on the flat upper part of the glacier and a few lower down marked red). In the upper part of the glacier ski area there is a snow park with a halfpipe. The base for skiing on the glacier is the town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Skiers and tourists are carried up by the carriages of a well-worn cog railway, which stop at 2,588 m, already on the glacier. The last section of the line runs through a tunnel named after Rosi Mittermaier. From here the Gletscherbahn cable car takes you to the summit of the Zugspitze. From this height (2,964 m) there is an impressive panorama of Alpine peaks. The resort has pistes of varying difficulty. Beginners will find a good option in the almost flat part of the Schneeferner slope, which has two parallel double T-bars. Advanced skiers can prove themselves on the red Weißes Tal and Sonnenkar pistes. For the brave who like steep slopes there is the upper section of the slope by the Neue Welt chairlift, and for mogul fans the Wetterwandeck. The Zugspitze has two very long runs. The first is the Super G, from Wetterwandeck (2,700 m), and the second is the FIS run, which goes from the summit of the Schneefernerkopf all the way down to the Brunntal valley. No cross-country trails have been laid out on the slopes of the Zugspitze. Cross-country skiers can, however, use the extensive network of trails around Garmisch-Partenkirchen. A ski trip here is worth combining with a visit to the many historical and natural sights for which the Ga-Pa region is famous. There is a fairly wide range of après-ski entertainment. You can go skating, swimming or tobogganing, among other things. And of course there is a wide choice of restaurants, pubs and bars for a pleasant evening after skiing.