Section 1
Kompass Maps (www.shop.kompass.de):
180 Lake Starnberg – Ammersee and 182 Isarwinkel, Bad Tölz, Lenggries (1:50,000)
Freytag & Berndt (www.freytagberndt.com):
WK 322 Wetterstein – Karwendel – Seefeld – Leutasch – Garmisch Partenkirchen (1:50,000)
Section 2
Freytag & Berndt (www.freytagberndt.com):
WK 322 Wetterstein – Karwendel – Seefeld – Leutasch – Garmisch Partenkirchen (1:50,000)
WK 241 Innsbruck – Stubai – Sellrain – Brenner (1:50.000)
WK 152 Mayrhofen – Zillertaler Alpen – Gerlogs – Krimml – Zell im Zillertal (1:50,000)
Tabacco TK 037 Pfunderer Berge/Monti di Fundres, Hochfeiler/Gran Pilastro (1:25,000).
Section 3
Freytag & Berndt (www.freytagberndt.com):
Tabacco TK 030 Brixen/Bressanone, Villnössertal/Val di Funes (1:25.000)
WK S5 Grödner Tal (1:50,000)
Section 4
Freytag & Berndt (www.freytagberndt.com):
TK 015 Marmolada – Pelmo – Civetta – Moiazza (1:25,000)
TK 025 Dolomiti di Zoldo, Cadorine e Agordine (1:25,000)
TK 024 Prealpi e Dolomiti Bellunesi (1:25,000)
Section 5
Map Fox (www.mapfox.de)
Cartine Zanetti – 5 Vittorio Veneto (1:30,000)
Cartine Zanetti – 3 Conegliano (1:30,000).
If you need to ask the way, German is the language spoken locally in Bavaria, Austria and South Tyrol, with Italian becoming the dominant language on the approach to Alleghe. Signposts also include a third language, Ladin, in a small area to the south of the Italian border with Austria. Germans, Austrians and Italians all speak good English and indeed many Italians and Germans communicate with each other in English.
Using this guide
Alpine lakes below the Alpeiner Scharte (Stage 12B)
The 569km of the journey from Munich to Venice has been described here in five sections each broken down into a stage which correlates to a day’s walking. Sections begin with a brief introduction, overview map and summary information including your options for varying the itinerary. Each stage begins with an information box – giving basic data including distance, walking time and total ascent/descent – and a brief introduction to give you a feel for the day’s walking. Each stage also has a difficulty grading:
easy – essentially flat
moderate – could involve physical exertion but with no exposed walking
challenging – a head for heights required and could involve exposed sections.
There then follows a step-by-step description of the route including information about the facilities available along the route.
The route descriptions should be read in conjunction with the route maps which are reproduced at 1:100,000 scale, with a handful of maps at 1:50,000 for greater clarity. These show all the features highlighted in bold in the route descriptions, as well as using occasional numbered points for reference where a navigation decision is required at a place without an obvious feature. The maps and route descriptions, used in conjunction with printed maps or GPS information, should help you make sense of what you see on the ground.
Also included are profiles of each stage of the route that show the climbs involved and the time taken to get from one key point to the next. Once in the mountains it should be easy to see how your performance compares with the timings given and adapt the guide timings to your own pace.
The route summary table at the start of the book gives a quick overview of the distance, walking time and ascent/descent for each stage and section. Various appendices are also provided to help you get the most out of your Munich to Venice experience. Appendix A– the trek planner – provides a schedule of stages along with points with accommodation along the route, giving distances and estimated walking times between them. This is designed to help you plan alternative itineraries. On some parts of the route the limited amount of accommodation means that the German schedule described in the 30 stages in this guide has to be followed but on other parts you have a real choice. Appendix B brings together the contact details of the facilities referred to in the route descriptions and the trek planner and Appendix C is a list of other useful contacts to help you plan your perfect Munich to Venice mountain pilgrimage.
Panorama Hohenweg (Stage 12A)
1 MUNICH TO THE INN VALLEY
Descending to Peteralm (Stage 4)
First sight of the Alps (Stage 2)
This first section of the route is an ideal way to start a major multi-day hike. The first two days are uncomplicated and give you a chance to warm up for the alpine adventure ahead.
The walk starts in Munich, Germany’s third biggest city, dynamic, fast growing and very accessible. Most walkers travelling from abroad will probably arrive a day early in time for an early start next day and, if so, there is plenty to see. Consider looking at St Johann Nepomuk, better known as the Asam Church, a beautiful and very sumptuous Baroque church or, if you want to limber up, take a walk through the English Garden, one of the largest urban parks in the world.
Section 1 could be broken down into three distinct legs. The first takes two and half days and follows the River Isar south from Munich to Lenggries. Despite starting in the middle of Munich the route is surprisingly quiet and for the most part follows a pretty riverside walk. It travels through the Isar Tal Verein a ‘citizens’ park’ acquired through money raised by subscription in 1902. A response to concerns that the environment was being damaged by industrial development, it was one of the first parks of its kind in the world. The walk is a long one so expect hot feet and blisters if you’re not careful.
The second leg crosses the Benediktenwand, part of the Bavarian pre-Alps. The term ‘pre-Alps’ suggests ‘foothills’ but these are proper mountains. After two and half days of flat walking an 800m climb will come as a shock, a shock compounded by arguably the most demanding ridge walk of the whole Traumpfad.
The third leg leaves Germany and heads into Austria, crossing the Karwendel and tackling another exciting climb up to the Birkkarspitz. A long and stunning descent down the valley to Kastenalm follows before climbing next day over the Lafatscherjoch and into the Inn Valley.
Access and accommodation
If you want to walk this first section in isolation, getting to and from the Inn Valley, a main transit route through Austria, is easy. Options include (from either Hall or Wattens) a train to Innsbruck airport or a train to Munich for a return flight.
Accommodation is in a mix of mountain huts and small alpine hotels. The Karwendel Haus, just before the Birkkarspitz, is particularly good, and you can get a two-person room if you book early enough.