Hindelanger Klettersteig
Hindelanger Klettersteig is a popular - though long and alpine! - via ferrata over many peaks and towers above Allgäu. It starts close to the Nebelhorn summit, and is often done with lift support; the first gondola starting from Oberstdorf at 08:30 in summer. There is plenty of information available (see links below).
Note though, the estimations of time required are not always helpful. Some sources suggest a relatively short time (e.g. wikipedia: 3½ hours) for the stretch Nebelhorn - Grosser Daumen. This could be a good estimation for very fit and sure-footed people, but has little room for margin. We believe that most people will take significantly more time, say 5-6 hours to the saddle before Grosser Daumen, and that's not counting the 2+ hour path back to Nebelhorn lift station.
If, on the other hand, the party is very fast and endurance oriented, the ferrata may even be continued to Kleiner Daumen, Heubatzpitze, Hohen Gänge and Breitenberg, from where one descends to Hinterstein in Bad Hindelang. If so, make sure to catch the last bus with a connection back to Oberstdorf (17:10 at the current time-table). The bus connections are unfortunately not very well matched.
For our climb of the Nebelhorn - Grosser Daumen part, we brought along two friends with whom we did the Mindelheimer Klettersteig, as a one-day push from Mittelberg and back, a few years ago. Their ability to do that tour in one day served as an indicator that the group was fit enough for Hindelanger Klettersteig today. With an easy-going pace, and including all breaks and a little waiting, we completed the tour to the saddle before Grosser Daumen in approximately 5 hours. The hike back to the Nebelhorn lift took us another 2½ hours. In our case this was followed by a lengthy descent to Oberstdorf by foot, an additional 1100 meter altitude loss that added 2½ hours, again including breaks.
Our impression from the ferrata difficulty corresponds to most sources: It's never really hard, if you have some mountain experience and a good head for heights. The sections that are belayed do not always overlap with the sections that are exposed. In other words, there are both cables that seem superfluous, and scrambling sections where some people would appreciate belay. Overall, though, the greatest difficulty is in the total length of the climb with many up and downs over beautiful towers and summits. The magnitude should absolutely not be underestimated, especially with the long way back afterwards. That said, there are escape routes down to Koblat (leading back to the Nebelhorn lift area) if the weather turns bad or fatigue sets in.
Status 2017-06-22: Cables seemed to be in perfect condition. Everything completely dry, no snow on the climb, apart from a single patch of firn in the saddle to Grosser Daumen, covering the first few meters of descent towards Koblat. The firn could be avoided by keeping to the Grosser Daumen-side of the saddle.
Route and topo
Map with elevation profile
General info
Nebelhorn lift
Bus schedule, Bad Hindelang
Edmund-Probst-Haus (DAV hut)
Read MoreNote though, the estimations of time required are not always helpful. Some sources suggest a relatively short time (e.g. wikipedia: 3½ hours) for the stretch Nebelhorn - Grosser Daumen. This could be a good estimation for very fit and sure-footed people, but has little room for margin. We believe that most people will take significantly more time, say 5-6 hours to the saddle before Grosser Daumen, and that's not counting the 2+ hour path back to Nebelhorn lift station.
If, on the other hand, the party is very fast and endurance oriented, the ferrata may even be continued to Kleiner Daumen, Heubatzpitze, Hohen Gänge and Breitenberg, from where one descends to Hinterstein in Bad Hindelang. If so, make sure to catch the last bus with a connection back to Oberstdorf (17:10 at the current time-table). The bus connections are unfortunately not very well matched.
For our climb of the Nebelhorn - Grosser Daumen part, we brought along two friends with whom we did the Mindelheimer Klettersteig, as a one-day push from Mittelberg and back, a few years ago. Their ability to do that tour in one day served as an indicator that the group was fit enough for Hindelanger Klettersteig today. With an easy-going pace, and including all breaks and a little waiting, we completed the tour to the saddle before Grosser Daumen in approximately 5 hours. The hike back to the Nebelhorn lift took us another 2½ hours. In our case this was followed by a lengthy descent to Oberstdorf by foot, an additional 1100 meter altitude loss that added 2½ hours, again including breaks.
Our impression from the ferrata difficulty corresponds to most sources: It's never really hard, if you have some mountain experience and a good head for heights. The sections that are belayed do not always overlap with the sections that are exposed. In other words, there are both cables that seem superfluous, and scrambling sections where some people would appreciate belay. Overall, though, the greatest difficulty is in the total length of the climb with many up and downs over beautiful towers and summits. The magnitude should absolutely not be underestimated, especially with the long way back afterwards. That said, there are escape routes down to Koblat (leading back to the Nebelhorn lift area) if the weather turns bad or fatigue sets in.
Status 2017-06-22: Cables seemed to be in perfect condition. Everything completely dry, no snow on the climb, apart from a single patch of firn in the saddle to Grosser Daumen, covering the first few meters of descent towards Koblat. The firn could be avoided by keeping to the Grosser Daumen-side of the saddle.
Route and topo
Map with elevation profile
General info
Nebelhorn lift
Bus schedule, Bad Hindelang
Edmund-Probst-Haus (DAV hut)
