Travel

Hi

Im heading off to Germany and more specifically, the Allgau Alps in a couple of weeks. Im having a 'mare of a time trying to find any topographical maps of the area though, does anyone by any chance know where to get a hold of some? Ill be in the mountains around Obertsdorf in particular if thats any use.

Thank you

Here?

Woops sorry all out of stock

I've used German Amazon for this type of thing in the past.  If you already have an Amazon account you don't need a new one.  Delivery might be tight now, though. 

I have 1:50000 digital maps of Bavaria that I've tried to flog on ebay to no success, if you're desperate, but the software is nowhere near as friendly as we're used to here.

Have you tried The Map Shop?

http://www.themapshop.co.uk/europe/germany/germany.htm

They show a 1:50k map of the Allgauer Alpen on that page.

I find the website ok for checking on maps but not great for ordering so I've always phoned them up to order - they're very helpful and the service has always been first rate.

This is your best chance.

 http://www.kompass.de/

I lived in Oberstdorf for nearly 2 years and had some of best times of my life, and used these maps. The mountains and the walks are excellent, as well as the Berghuetten. You should go over to Austria and do a bit of the E5 which passes via oberstdorf through Austria and into Northern Italy.

Phil

 www.hotel-cauterets.com

The Kompass maps look the job, and reasonable enough price and postage rates on Amazon.de so thank you kindly guys.

Ps, Phillip, do you recommend any walks in particular? i have ice axe and crampons etc so winter walking isnt a problem. Ill be in the Nebelhorn / Grosser Daumen area probably

Hi,

just in case you didn't already order the Kompass map: They are generally not considered to be the most accurate maps. For the Allgäu region, I'd recommend the 1:50k map from the Bavarian surveying office: amazon link That is probably the one that the mapshop.co.uk has on offer (but you might want to check before ordering). If 1:50k is not precise enough, then go for the 1:25k from the German Alpine Club (DAV). Eitherway and planing aside, its probably easiest to buy the maps in Germany.

Concerning the huts: If you're planning on sleeping in huts, you should check here (in German) which huts have open winter rooms: DAV huts.

Finally, I don't know the Oberstdorf region, but could give advice on tours in the (austrian) Kleinwalsertal if you're interested. Otherwise, summitpost has some information in English.

Regards,

polo

I have polo's map and would agree that it's the best one for an overview of the whole area.  Good price too.

As for walks, I worked just up the road for a couple of years and had a few holidays as well and would say that the best walk of all is the Hochvogel, which just looks like a mountain should.  I didn't do it in winter, though. 

Also, the Hindelanger Klettersteig between Rotspitze and Breitenberg is another great walk, along with wandering to Laufbacher Eck near the Nebelhorn.

There are good walks down Kleinwalsertal as well, but polo could probably give more info on them.

You can't really go wrong anywhere there.

Must agree with the last couple of posts although I found the Kompass maps OK. But then I'm not too fussy as I go to Spain quite often and the maps aren't always the best.

Polo I'm surprised you don't know the Oberstdorf region but advise on Kleinwalsertal as it's an Austrian enclave only accessible by road from Oberstdorf, or maybe that's changed in the last few years.

If in Kleinwalsertal climb Grosser Widderstein. Never did it in winter but in summer in the morning the sunrise was spectacular.

If you have a chance go over to Garmisch Partenkirschen and climb Zugspitze (highest mountain in Germany).

Apologies, I was confusing my klettersteigs.  I was thinking of the easy Hohe Gänge between the Rotspitze and Breitenberg.  The nearby Hindelanger's a whole different ballgame and you'd need kit for that. 

I did the Mindelheimer Klettersteig down Kleinwalsertal without kit which was great fun, but wouldn't fancy it in winter without protection.

My experience of walking fairly extensively in the three main Bavarian resort areas is that Oberstdorf was the most varied and enjoyable (although also lowest) of the lot, but then I know my limits and just wouldn't do the big ones like the Zugspitze or Watzmann in winter.

Philip Lenaghan wrote (see)

Polo I'm surprised you don't know the Oberstdorf region but advise on Kleinwalsertal as it's an Austrian enclave only accessible by road from Oberstdorf, or maybe that's changed in the last few years.

Hi Philip,

I'm not sure why I never visited Oberstdorf area, although - as you correctly observed - I drove through Oberstdorf on my way to the Austrian Kleinwalsertal. Living in Germany, maybe I get more of a holiday feeling when touring in the Austrian Alps? (My second trip to the Allgäu was also on the Austrian side, namely the Hornbachvalley on the southern side of the Hochvogel.)

Concerning the Kleinwalsertal: Widderstein is a fine tour, as it is almost a complete round trip. And if you're not up for the summit in winter, you can easily just skip it. Another idea would be the Gottesackerplateau / Hoher Ifen. The Kleinwalsertal has a pretty good website with decent tour descriptions and a fancy map: http://www.kleinwalsertal.com/en/summer/interaktive-karte.html

Back to Oberstdorf: This English guide book includes several routes in the Allgäu. As far I as can tell from the tours I know especially in the Wetterstein/Karwendel, around Berchtesgaden and in the Bavarian Prealps, the descriptions are very good.

Oh, although the avalanche risk is low at the moment, you should keep an eye on this site here: http://www.lawinenwarndienst-bayern.de

Regards,

polo

Guys

A wealth of information here, thank you all so much.  I saw the Cicerone guidebook on amazon so ive ordered that.

As for the maps, are they freely available to buy in Oberstdorf itself because I would be worried that they wouldnt be delivered in time?

I reckon you'll be able to get all the maps you need in Obersdorf itself - it's a fair sized activity centre with several outdoor/ski shops, not to mention book shops/newsagents, so both walking and ski touring maps will be available.

I should have a look in my map boxes as I spent a month learning German nearby and cycling around the area. Unfortauntely I'd just had ankle reconstruction surgery and was still in rehabilitation phase so wasn't up to much in the mountains but I seem to remember coming home with a lot of maps for the future. But the future involved living in Switzerland and, surrounded by such a cornucopia of mountains, I never got back to Oberdorf.

Have you looked at the Austrian Alpine Club Maps?

They cover the Allgau Alps with 2 sheets at 1:25K. Members can buy them for £5.50, membership also includes good rescue insurance. See http://www.aacuk.org.uk/

Blacksheep, thats an excellent idea, thanks.

Does anyone know if its possible to hire mountaineering boots and crampons over there, i know they are personal items but i need to limit weight for the flights and ryanair are not the most forgiving of airlines if your over 15kg, buggers.

You could always wear your boots while flying - security will probably want you to take them off and X Ray them at the airport.

John Kilgour wrote (see)

You could always wear your boots while flying - security will probably want you to take them off and X Ray them at the airport.

Hi again stujbro

I checked the AAC maps (after I posted my message !) The easterly sheet just includes the Nebelhorn & the Hindelanger Klettersteig but nothing to the north of that.

Agree re wearing boots on plane, also wear your heaviest outdoor clothing & carry on anything that will go past security in a plastic carrier bag, books, camera, ipod, chocolate etc. 

Thanks guys once again, wearing the clothing on the plane is a great idea, think ill do that.

Blacksheep, i went for the alpine club maps, 1:25k is perfect for me so thanks for that gem