The Lembergschneid in the Chiemgau Alps in Germany is basically the little sister of the Dürrnbachhorn. The technically easy and relatively avalanche-safe snowshoe hike rewards you with a wonderful view from the summit. You can find all the information and GPS data here:
I haven't skied for many years. The winters are getting warmer and warmer and in the Odenwald (the low mountain range right outside my front door), where cross-country ski trails used to be regularly groomed, there hasn't been enough snow for a long time to operate ski lifts or go cross-country skiing.
Can you still practice winter sports with a clear conscience?
I asked myself this question when I travelled to the Chiemgau Alps for a snowshoe article. After and especially during the research I was enthusiastic:
The Chiemgau Alps are easy to reach by bus and train. And you can also stay mobile on site using public transport. No cross-country trails, no slopes, no gondolas and no ski lifts. As long as you stick to the protected areas (see 10 DAV (German Alpin Club) tips for nature-friendly snowshoe tours below), snowshoes offer an environmentally friendly way to do sport in winter.
The reward? A fantastic mountain panorama: from the Sonntagshorn to the Wilder and Zahmer Kaiser, from the Kitzbühler Horn to the Großvenediger and the Berchtesgadener Land.
Click on the first picture to start the photo gallery
The most beautiful snowshoe hikes in "Bavarian Siberia"
Even the rising temperatures still seem to be ignoring Reit im Winkel. It is considered a snow hole - a valley basin that is only open to the west and in which the cold air remains stable. In the past, "Bavarian Siberia" was cut off from the outside world for long periods by the large masses of snow, and skiing began out of sheer necessity. Foresters, postmen, doctors and customs officers tied wooden planks under their shoes so that they could do their work in winter.
Wherever there was snow, snowshoes (made from a wooden frame and a leather grid) were used. Snowshoes are now more modern and sophisticated, and have turned hiking into a trendy winter sport in its own right. Climbing aids and metal spikes mean that even steep mountains are no longer an obstacle. Anyone who has ever dragged touring skis over impassable terrain will be pleased with the light weight of snowshoes.
In the next three blog posts I will share my favorite snowshoe hike with you:
Here is number 1:
Through the Dürrnbachtal to the Lembergschneid 1597 m
If there are ski tourers queuing up at the Dürrnbachhorn or the risk of avalanches is too high, the summit of the Lembergschneid usually offers a quieter and avalanche-safe option . Even when there is little snow, the less-graded mountain is easier to climb. However, the Lembergschneid is more than an alternative summit. The climb through the forest from Seegatterl over the Dürrnbach Almen is varied and rewards with a magnificent view of the surrounding mountains. The last short, steep climb to the summit makes the tour a real highlight. From the Winkelmoos Alm, the gondola takes you back to the valley.
Chiemgau Alps snowshoe hike Lembergschneid Germany
Chiemgau Alps: Snowshoe hike to Lembergschneid a summit in Germany
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Walking time : 4:00 h
Altitude : 820 m uphill and 440 m downhill
Length : 9 km
Accessible by public transport?
Yes. You don't need a car in Reit im Winkl. Get there by train to Prien am Chiemsee and then by bus 9505 (approx. 1 hour). The free ski buses start at the Tourist Information (Dorfstraße 38). All timetables: reitimwinkl.de/anreise .
Refreshment along the way:
Berggasthof Winklmoos Sonnenalm , 1153 m, Klammweg 2, 83242 Reit im Winkl, Tel. +49 8640 79720, sonnenalm.de
Seegatterl Alm , 760 m, private, Berger family, Seegatterl 4b, 83242 Reit im Winkl, Tel. +49 8654 48820, seegatterlalm.de
GPS data: I have uploaded the GPS data for the hike to the Outdoor Active website
Start and end point: Reit im Winkel
Directions: From Munich or Salzburg on the Munich-Salzburg motorway (A8 to Grabenstätt exit no. 109), continue towards Marqartstein and on the well-developed German Alpine Road (B305) to Reit im Winkl. There, follow the signs to the Seegatterl car park.
Parking: Seegatterl car park, 760 m.
Hiking guide: Walter Wolfenstetter, Tel. +49 176 251 239 01, w-wolfenstetter.com
Evamaria Wecker: Snowshoe guide to the Chiemgau Alps with the Berchtesgaden Alps and the Kaiser Mountains , Rother Bergverlag, 2024.
Tip: To shorten the tour to 6.2 km and 434 meters of ascent, you can also take the gondola directly to the Winkelmoos Alm and start from there.
Directions:
At the Seegatterl car park, the winter hiking trail leads past the toll station on the left. After about 300m, turn right onto the marked ski and snowshoe trail. Follow the markings to the Dürrnbachalmen. When the view opens up after the forest and you enter the alpine pasture area, the rest of the path is clearly visible. Past a large DAV information board, a path on the left edge of the forest leads to the Dürrnbachgraben between Dürrnbachhorn and Lembergschneid. Please do not use the existing ski touring trail . At the end of the valley, continue left over a evenly sloping slope towards Lembergschneid. The last few meters up to the summit get a little steeper again, but technically the tour remains easy. On the way back, turn left at the Dürrnbachalmen towards Winkelmoos Alm (signposted). From here you can take the gondola back to the valley.
10 DAV tips for nature-friendly snowshoe tours
1. Respect protected areas for plants and animals, avoid noise.
2. Observe markings, instructions and route recommendations of the DAV campaign “Naturally on Tour”.
3. Follow designated snowshoe routes, if available (e.g. in new BY-AV maps).
4. Identify and avoid habitats, observe wild animals only from a distance, stay away from game feeding areas, keep dogs on a leash.
5. In mid-winter, avoid summit ridges and ridges before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m.
6. In forest areas and at the forest boundary, stay on the usual ski and snowshoe routes, forest and hiking trails, and keep sufficient distance from groups of trees and bushes.
7. Protect reforestation and young forests.
8. Travel in an environmentally friendly way: travel by public transport or carpool, use designated parking spaces, do not block access roads. Tour tips on alpenvereinaktiv.com → Tours → advanced search “by train and bus”
9. Prefer stays of several days to frequent day trips, make use of the local gastronomic offerings, and obtain information about the nature and culture of the destination region.
10. Plan tours with guides and maps that carry the DAV seal of approval “Nature-friendly ski tours/winter tours”. Join a group led by local experts
Further information and links
On the homepage of the municipality of Reit im Winkel you will find accommodation, webcams, further snow tours and the snow report.
Tourist Info Reit im Winkl, Dorfstraße 38, 83242 Reit im Winkl, Tel. +49 8640 800 20
You can check the avalanche report here :
ACCOMMODATION
In Reit im Winkl there is a large selection of accommodation , from the 4-star Hotel Unterwirt with wellness area to holiday apartments and a simple room with private hosts.
REST
Berggasthof Winklmoos Sonnenalm, 1153 m, Klammweg 2, 83242 Reit im Winkl, Tel. +49 8640 79720, sonnenalm.de
Seegatterl Alm, 760 m, private, Berger family, Seegatterl 4b, 83242 Reit im Winkl, Tel. +49 8654 48820, seegatterlalm.de
HIKING GUIDE
Walter Wolfenstetter, Tel. +49 176 251 239 01, w-wolfenstetter.com , Walter provides the snowshoes on his tours.
WEATHER
If the winter is kind, snowshoe tours in the Chiemgau Alps are possible from December to the beginning of April.
ARRIVAL
You don't need a car in Reit im Winkl. Get there by train to Prien am Chiemsee and then by bus 9505 (approx. 1 hour). The free ski buses start at the Tourist Information (Dorfstraße 38). All timetables: reitimwinkl.de/anreise .
CARDS
AV map, 1:25,000, sheet BY 18 Bavarian Alps, Chiemgau Alps center.
EQUIPMENT
Snowshoe and avalanche transceiver emergency equipment.
Snowshoes and ski poles can be rented from various rental stations and equipment shops in Reit im Winkl (for example at Sport Dorner ). This is a cheap alternative, especially for beginners.
For the snowshoes you need at least ankle-high hiking boots.
Anyone who wants to go on tours alone outside of secured terrain also needs complete avalanche equipment.
The local ski schools offer various guided snowshoe tours every day