Zugspitze climb

The plan is to catch the 5:40 train out of Weiden to Munich and from there on to Garmisch for some climbing in the good weather they're having. The main goal of the trip is to climb the Zugspitze and hike down to Ehrwald. Once there I well hitchhike my ass back to Garmisch in time for dinner.

Once I got on the train from Weiden I was told by the ticket checker that my ticket wasn't active until 9 but he let me ride the rest of the way to Regensburg for my transfer. I made the transfer to a train to Munich but my luck ran out when the next ticket checker told me to get off at the next stop(Landshut?) and that is where I am now, sitting in an Internet cafe not paying for Internet waiting for a 9:00 train to Munich. Playing stupid American is getting harder and harder everyday! It's only 7:40 now so I have some time to kill people watching.
Back on a train, this time heading to Garmisch with blue skies overhead!
The mountains just became visible as well as the first mountain cows with their big bells.
Started hiking at 4 going through the Hollental gorge and past the hut. Once past the hut I got pretty lost trying to find the start of the kletterstieg in the dark with only a headlamp so I waited for the sun to rise and sat on my backpack.
30 min later I was on trail passing the first section of kletterstieg up onto the last flat section before the glacier. The glacier was a sheet of ice so I put on my crampon compatable boots with crampons and went up the 5 switchbacks to where the kletterstieg resumes.


The crux of the whole route is regaining the kletterstieg after the glacier ends because it is 20 feet over a blank section of rock. Once over this section the route goes easily for the rest of the route up to the summit. It took me way too much time on this last section and was passed by one guy. The last 40 meters were covered in ice but I didn't feel like putting on crampons so I took very carefull steps to the top. Once at the top I ate a bratwurst at the Muenchener Haus and started the long descent to the Knorr hutte and then to Ehrwald Alm via the Gatterl. It was a super long hike but well worth the effort with great views the whole time. By the end I was super tired and knew that I need to be in better shape for ski season! Next up is card training so ski season isn't a complete jolt for my body...