Wank hikers demand fair ticket prices for seniors!

Wank hikers demand fair ticket prices for seniors!

The senior hiking group of the DAV Augsburg section recently set out to climb the Wank in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. At a height of 1,780 meters, the ascent of 1,030 meters was a nice challenge, but the descent turned out to be a trickier affair. Hiking leader Hans Klusch wanted to make this easier for group members and planned to take the train from the mountain station to the middle station. However, this project turned out to be problematic as there is no corresponding ticket for this section of the route. The ticket regulation is perceived by many as “age-discriminatory,” as merkur.de reports.

The Bavarian Zugspitzbahn (BZB) offers various ticket variants, but not for the route from the mountain station to the middle station. If you want to use this trip, you have to buy the entire ticket for the descent, which is not understandable in many cases. The reason given is often abuse by passengers who got cheaper tickets in order to travel to the valley station without getting off at the middle station. However, hikers can purchase a ticket for the descent from the middle station into the valley for 10.50 euros, which can be purchased directly from the engineer.

Popular hiking destination with fantastic views

The Wank, known as “Sonnenberg”, attracts not only hikers, but also families and nature lovers. The view from the summit plateau is breathtaking and extends from the Wetterstein Mountains over the Zugspitze to the Alpspitze. The Wank is particularly popular with hikers in autumn, when the leaves change color. The entire hike, including the circular route at the summit, takes about six hours and is an impressive experience.

The path to the Wankbahn is well signposted and leads past the Dax Chapel, which is dedicated to St. James. Hikers can take a short break there and admire the atmospheric interior. Afterwards, it is advisable to take a break on the Wankhaus terrace to enjoy the wonderful view and perhaps have a snack on the sun loungers.

• Höhe des Wank: 1780 Meter
• Gesamte Höhenmeter im Aufstieg: 1100
• Aufstieg: 3,5 Stunden, teils steile Serpentinen
• Alternativ: Abstieg an der Mittelstation in ca. 2 Stunden
• Sicht vom Gipfel: Beeindruckende 360°-Ausblicke
• Anreise: Zug nach Farchant oder Garmisch-Partenkirchen

The region around the Wank offers various hiking opportunities, even without cable cars. Hikes through the Ester Mountains between Farchant and Eschenlohe invite you to discover the beauty of nature. For interested hikers, there are numerous routes that require good footwear and sure-footedness, as described by sueddeutsche.de.

Overall, the Wank remains an outstanding destination that also appeals to families and nature lovers with its wonderful views and the opportunity to go on various hikes. However, the challenges of the descent should not dampen the joy of the hike, even if the ticket problem is still waiting to be solved.