Upsspitze
This started as a route up "Daniel", a mountain near Ehrwald,
Austria, just round from the Zugspitze. It finished as a route up Upsspitze via Grüner Ups,
as I chickened out before the last ridge to Daniel! It's a pleasant but hard
walk with some very steep scree sections, but the views across the valley, and
into the next valley, are worth it, and the hütte halfway up does home-made
"grey" cheese. They also had two adorable kittens! The path is steep
all the way, and the terrain is a mixture between woodland, grassland and barren
scree. If you're lucky, as I was, you might see some small mountain deer-like
animals on the desolate upper slopes. The route is written in diary form to give
a good idea of timings.
7.18 Leaving Spar, went down footpath to Moos and followed sign to Lermoos
7.19 The path bears left slightly then right slightly to aim between the Grübigstein and Daniel. In a little while the path bears left
again
7.31 Reach crossroads, where the "straight on" option takes you over a stream on a wooden bridge. Before taking this route, it's worth stopping on the bridge to feed the ducks and/or fish! Throw some bread in and watch the competition between the ducks and fish to see who gets it!
7.35 Finished feeding, continued straight on
7.41 Ignore the bridge over to your right towards the Füßballplatz - we're going to Lermoos
7.47 Reached main road, cross zebra crossing, then going right over concrete and metal railing bridge, following Panoramaweg straight on in the direction of the green summit below Daniel. Pass a campsite on left and Pizzeria Spencer is straight on. Follow the road round then take the left fork and follow sign for Daniel, Ups, 3½ hours. Shortly, turn right over the railway line. Follow the signs straight up the hill
7.56 Fork in road - continue to follow "Ups/Daniel" signs
7.58 Follow the proper path. There's a very faint red arrow painted on a boulder
8.14 Path is very steep and uneven under foot, except for the odd wooden step. Although it hasn't rained for a couple of days, it's also rather slippery
8.31 Just come out of the trees. On the tree on my left is an old sign pointing to "Ehrwald/Lermoos" behind me, "Daniel" ahead
8.34 Tuftlalmhütte
8.47 Left hut and kittens! Daniel is signed straight on, but I went left to Grüner Ups
9.05 The path twists and turns alternating between woodland and grass
9.25 Reached a big cross erected in 1994 - Grüner Ups. Turn right up grey hill signed "Daniel 1h, Upsspitze 1½ hours"
9.53 Very steep up from Grüner Ups, not particularly looking forward to the descent! The path peters out, so I just keep going up! Correction - the path becomes indistinct and goes up and to the right for about 10 yards. There are red spots to follow on the rocks
10.15 Just finished scrambling up from Upsspitze in a pretty straight line - that was hard work! There is a sign - Ups is still Up! Walk a little further and there's a footpath and some fabulous views
10.24 Reached the first little peak, not sure what it is
10.29 Reached Upsspitze. Heading back down as the path/ridge across to Daniel looks a bit too scarey
and the weather's a bit iffy!
11.36 Back at Grüner Ups
12.11 Hut
12.44 Left hut, went a little back up to the shrine and followed sign to Ehrwald
13.34 Road on the edge of Ehrwald. That was hard work! There's a stamp half way down the road, if you're collecting them!
13.36 There's a little path to cut off a corner down into the village
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