Zwölferkopf Recon

Published on 2006-7-9 by Michael Stanton

Zwölferkopf recon

July, 2006

I had a few hours one Sunday morning to check out the start of a climb on the Zwölferspitze which rises above Garmisch. I hiked up through forest to a long steep trail in scree to reach old snow below the ridge. One couloir went left, another right. I was searching for the start of the rock climbing, but made a mistake and roughly followed the couloir on the right. Continually, there were little plaques embedded in the side of the mountain, and I thought "ah that must be the start of the route." But no, they were markers for when someone had died. Many were very old. After more scrambling, I realized my route would reach a saddle, with still a long ways to the top. So I descended carefully. I met and warned another party heading up, but they roped up and seemed to be making the same error I did. Oh well, they had the full day to puzzle it out. I meanwhile hastened away.

The Zwölferkopf from the Mittagscharte...with moon. July 2006.

Some fellows looking for the start of the Northeast Ridge rock climb. I could tell them it's not to the right, but they went over there anyway. :D. July, 2006.