Germany’s highest peak at nearly 3000 meters above sea level offers a 360 degree view of 400 mountain peaks in 4 different countries.  Den had been on top in 1994 with his brother, Scott, and sister-in-law, Paula, and he was excited to share it with us.

There are three ways to get to the top: hike it, in which you would need some serious gear, take a cog train or a cable car.  I was hoping to take the train but the lines were shorter for the cable car.  We waited in line for about 90 minutes.  It was fun to look at all the different people, their gear, their clothes, their dogs.  The time passed quickly.  The kids were fortunate enough to get a bench.

The cable car held about 25 people and moved at a pretty quick pace for the 10 minute journey.  It was quite the experience to see our surroundings get smaller and smaller and the detail become just blurs of color.

I thought it seemed a bit pricey for a family of six to take the cable car, but once I was on my way I was happy to pay for the maintenance of all the mechanics.  I cannot imagine dangling at that height or being stuck in a car with that many people.  It’s a bit hard to tell where the cables are coming from by the picture, if you look at the town in the center of the photo, just to the right of the lake, that is the starting point.

When getting off the cable car we entered a very modern building with several levels, restaurants, a gift shop.  This is the top viewing deck which also had a few different dining areas.  Quite spectacular.  I envied the people walking around that had their climbing gear, weathered faces and muddy shoes.  I felt like I cheated, riding up in a cable car.  I’d like to climb it with Raleigh in about 10 years.  The temp was 34 degrees, sunshine and no wind.

There were heavily feathered black birds flying around with some serious claw type talons.

So there’s the look out area and then there is well, the death walk.  There are signs posted at the top of the stairs saying go at your own risk.  Actually, I don’t know what the signs say because it’s in German but Den basically said, “Hey, you have to do the death walk and then we’ll get something to eat!”  I didn’t even question him, I just started going down these cold, wet, metal steps with the girls right behind me.  We get to a little area that just drops off but there is a gate swinging open.  I peek over the edge and there is a ladder fastened to the side of the mountain.  Sigh, we start down, it’s a bit awkward, then another flat area with a drop off and a ladder going straight up.  That got us to this point.  Our hands were freezing from being exposed to the cold air and handling the metal ladders.  From the point in the picture above there is even another little climb to get to this golden cross.  Annie and I decide to go on while the girls stay nestled on a perch and wait for us.  It was intense.  Climbers were coming up from the back side of the mountain hooking their karabiners on to the rail from their harnesses as Annie and I are grabbing on with bare hands.  I did not really celebrate the moment of getting there, I was too rattled inside and was ready to just get back down.

Annie and I heading to the cross at the tip top.

 

 

The girls enjoyed split pea soup with sliced sausage.  Den is showing off his beer and brot.  The thin air and stressful climb made us tired and HUNGRY.  You would have thought we climbed the mountain.

Soup maker?

 

Me- contemplating my very own harness, karabiners, cute hiking boots…….and where in Nebraska would I use them?

Right when we decided to head back down a huge cloud came.  It was fun standing in a cloud with the girls!

AHHHHHHHH!  The trip back to reality.