Distance: 24 km
Moving time: 6h40′
Difficulty: medium
This hike has been completed on 25th August 2019 according to Outdooractive description.
Another classics of the Bavarian hikes: the beautiful Benediktenwand ridge in the Bavarian Forealps. We were looking for a long hike to train ourselves in preparation for coming St. James path in Spain and this long trail seem perfect for our needing. We parked the car at the parking place near the city swimming pool of the pretty village of Benediktbeuern from which the trail starts.
The first part of trail ascents easily through a forest road, which is used by the Bergwacht and by the local farmers. Luckily, there were many shortcuts now and there, cutting through the forest.
Once reached a large field, we went left following the indications for the Tutzingerhütte. At this point the trail goes aside a river, with spectacular reflections of the light through the woods. Once out of the forest we walked into a pasture till the Bergwacht outpost.
From the outposts a mountain trail brings us to the beautiful Tutzingerhütte (1327m), at the bottom of the Benediktenwand. From the hut we turned left, starting our ascent to the peak via the west path, which is the easiest. Indeed after about 1 hour walking we reached the peak, where we stopped for our lunch break.
After a short break we started to climb down via the east path, which is the most difficult. To add a bit more entertainment Bavarian weather decided to delight us with a refreshing summer storm. Luckily it didn’t last much and in about one and half hour we were back at the hut.
Just a few hundred meters from the hut, we encountered the highlight of this hike. A wild steinbock was waiting for us on top of a rock, greetings all the hikers walking underneath.
Back at the hut, we stopped for a refreshing radler and a delicious cake, ready to walk back towards the parking lot.
We followed our steps up to the Bergwacht house, from which we followed the trail to Benediktbeuern, this time along the Leinbach forest road. Surprised once again by a thunderstorm, we arrived at the car safe and wet after about 2 hours walking from the hut.
Thanks for reading and stay tuned for the next adventures!