Hiking in the heat

Hi,

I've read the threads on suggested hikes - there are some nice routes suggested.

However, I'm looking for a recommended route for a hot day - it should get up to 33degrees on Sunday but I have a craving for fresh mountain air! Can anyone suggest a shaded (forest) route in the vicinity of any of the lakes? Not too easy, not too hard...something for a relatively experienced hill-walker, duration 5-6 hours...

Thanks

the higher you go, the cooler it will get

it's getting up there that's the problem though!

Hmm... forest, in the Alps... difficult...

Just to the north-west of Kufstein are several small- and medium-sized lakes, with lots of trees inbetween. That's a nice area for a stroll - start at Hechtsee and head via the Thierberg ruins to Thiersee, and then down into Kufstein for an ice tea.

Thanks!

...and I never mentioned the alps in my post

True, but you mentioned hiking!

Ettal, down near Garmisch, is good for a yomp. I've done it in 30+ and <0. The walk up involves plenty of forest.

What other mountains have we got around here?

OK, OK, change post to read "a couple of trees/anything providing a bit of shade from the sweltering heat!"

And there are some wooded routes in the Voralpen...which I wouldn't call the Alps...

you could always cheat and take a cable car up a mountain and walk around at a higher altitude for a bit before descending. I believe there is a nice cable car up to the Rotwand, just the other side of the Spitzingsattel. It makes for a nice walk up there, although you won't have much in the way of tree shade up above the tree line but it should be a good few degrees cooler (and windier) than at lower altitudes.

Jochberg, at the Kesselberg and close to Walchensee.

Two lakes nearby, two hours up going fast, under forest cover most of the way, alm below the peak.

Olympia Berg
Giesinger Berg

Hi

About half a month ago(the last time we had summer weather), we took a hike up to a hut called Aueralm, close to Bad Wiessee (Tegernsee). The good thing is you can also get there by taking the public transport. It's about a 4 hour hike to Aueralm, if you want to continue up to Fockenstein you need to calculate an extra 2 hours or less. The way to Aueralm leads past a stream (the Zeiselbach) and is in the shade most of the time due to all the trees. The Aueralm lies at 1260 meters. The hike itself is very pleasant and excellent for a hot day. The last bit gets a bit stressy as you do most of the 450 meters in altitude on the last stretch which is very steep. The Aueralm itself also offers good food. Try the yoghourt with fresh strawberries, excellent on a hot day after sweating and very tasty. The road to Fockenstein is not shady. It's up to you whether you want to continue up there. On the way down to Bad Wiessee, take the other path (Maximiliansweg via "Waxelmooseck" and the skiing slope). You have a beautiful via of the Tegernsee on the way down.

The hike is listed in a book called "Bergtouren für Langschläfer". It's hike nr.16. in the book. You get to Bad Wiessee by taking the train to Gmund via Holzkirchen and from Gmund via RVO bus to Bad Wiessee.

MB we know Aueralm! We wenmt up there on bikes years ago.

Tölzerhutte is a great trip up through Krottenbachtal. Also there's Galaun out of Tegernsee which a kind TTer recommended to me. One of oyur faves is Schwarzentennalm which is outside Bad Wiesee beyond Kreuth.

Lenggrieserhütte is also good as is Denkalm. I am sure if you google you will find them.

Bauer in der Au in autumn has rutting deer nearby anf is another fave.

Enjoy.

The Schliersee/Spitzingsee area is home to a few good walks, not too high and wooded, and with lakes to swim in on the way down. Trouble with going anywhere out of the tree cover is that while the temperature may go down a little as you climb the intensity of the sun goes up and you need to carry lots of water or rely on finding springs. My favourite hot-day mountain activity is swimming in the lakes, then relaxing looking at the peaks, wiessbier in hand. Walking up them is best when it's below 10C. Check out Oberbayern)" target="_top">Kirchsee for a nice lake surrounded by forest.

PS: Good book (in German only) is Muenchener Hausberge, available from Hugendubel & others. It's got a good list of walks of all levels, not too far from Munich. They tend to be busy at weekends, especially Jochberg & Heimgarten, but this is because they're good...

Start off by 7 a.m. then. Seriously. You'll be walking in the best part of the day and get back when others are beginning to sweat and you can hit the beer garden with a clear conscience.

Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
Hikers Rescued Via PLB Call

A personal locator beacon (PLB) signal was detected in Surprise Valley, a remote location on the north side of the park, by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida on the evening of July 2nd. The park received a call about the signal at 6:26 p.m., and park staff responded by helicopter. A hiking party of four people, who had set off the beacon, was found in the area. One person was suffering from dehydration and heat exhaustion and was transported out of the canyon via helicopter. The patient was later transported from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon to Flagstaff via ambulance. The other three members of the hiking party remained in the canyon and were given ice and water by park staff. This was the first use of a PLB in the park and the first legitimate use of this technology anywhere in the state of Arizona. When manually activated, a PLB sends out a distress signal, which is detected by satellite and transmitted to the AFRCC, which can then determine the approximate location of the signal. As search and rescue personnel head toward and get physically closer to the signal, they can determine a more specific location. Ken Phillips, the park’s chief of emergency services, thinks that SAR groups will see more of PLB technology, which is now widely available. The use of satellite (SAT) phones, which have the advantage of offering two-way communication, is also on the rise. Although PLBs and other technology, such as SAT phones, can be helpful to people who are in trouble, this technology should never replace planning ahead and being prepared, especially when accessing remote areas, such as Grand Canyon’s backcountry. At Grand Canyon, the Hike Smart educational campaign encourages visitors to follow certain precautions when hiking into the canyon, especially during the hot summer months. These precautions include drinking and eating often, not hiking during the heat of the day, and when possible, staying wet and cool. For more information about hiking at the Grand Canyon and Hike Smart, go to http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/backcountry.htm. [Submitted by Pamela Walls, Public Affairs Officer]

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. We went with MajorBummer´s tip of Fockenstein. Left the flat at 7.30, started hiking at 8.30 and reached the Aueralm around 10-ish. Then onwards and upwards to the Fockensteingipfel and back down along the shady Zeiselbach. Finished up at 2 with a nice meal in Bad Wiessee Great route for a hot day!

Don't forget Müll Berg.

Future reference: Around Tegernsee and Oberammergau/Murnau there are lots of trails that are nice. I love the fact that they have beirgartens along them.