Jubiläumsgrat ascending

The following description focuses on the particularities of ascending the route and on a time schedule that allows safely catching the last cable car descent at the summit. A pure walking time of 7:30 hours is assumed, to which breaks totaling at least 30 minutes are added. This leaves a buffer of 0:30 hours in September and 1:30 hours in July and August between the first cable car to Osterfelderkopf and the last cable car from Zugspitze.

• 0:00 Start at the top station of the Alpspitzbahn (approximately 8:15 am). From here, follow the signs south to the Alpspitz ferrata.
• 0:15 Start of the Alpspitz ferrata. Follow the cable securing and climbing traces, moving rather slowly (not exceeding 75% of maximum pulse). About 60 meters below the summit, a shortcut branches off to the right towards the Jubiläumsgrat and Matheisenkar, but it is not recommended here.
• 1:30 Summit of the Alpspitze. A short drinking break is advisable here. From here, descend the west ridge towards the Grießkarscharte. After the turnoff to Matheisenkar, cross at the second "Jubiläumsgrat" sign or the red dot at approximately the height above wild goat tracks to the Grießkarscharte (the lowest notch of the ridge, not the turnoff to the Matheisenkar as shown on some maps).
• 2:00 Grießkarscharte. Anyone who felt the need to secure themselves until this point or who did not easily manage 2 hours of walking time should urgently turn back or descend via the Grießkar. For all others, proceed upwards, first over a scree path, soon better avoided on the right side by climbing over slightly inclined rough slabs and grooves to the notch that forms the steeply falling northeast edge of Hochblassen and the ridge rising towards it. From the notch, descend into a gully, go north around Hochblassen, and ascend again to the connecting ridge between Hochblassen and Vollkarspitze. From here, the path is partly secured by cable, descending into another notch and ascending again to the Vollkarspitze.
• 3:00 Vollkarspitze. A nearly vertical descent on the west side of the Vollkarspitze (via ferrata "D" difficulty) follows, as well as the climb over another steep ridge tower. Afterwards, continue up and down, always along the ridge and partly secured by cable, ascending to the Outer Höllentalspitze. On this section, it is advisable to take a somewhat longer rest on one of the inconspicuous sub-peaks. A few minutes behind the main summit, you then reach the Höllental ridge hut (bivouac box).
• 4:00 Bivouac box. A last checkpoint: Anyone behind schedule, feeling unwell, or worried about the weather should consider alternative options: bivouac here, descend to the Knorr hut, turn back and descend through the Grießkar. If all signs are "go," continue along the ridge following the route up and down, with increasingly less cable protection and more difficult climbing spots, past the Middle Höllentalspitze and the turnoff to the Knorr hut, to the Inner Höllentalspitze. The ridge towers are usually bypassed on the south side, as commonly on the Jubiläumsgrat.
• 5:05 Inner Höllentalspitze. The Höllental summit trio is done; now descend steeply, initially with cable protection but also over some exposed and brittle parts for climbing down. Markings are sparse, and orientation is not always easy. Further ridge towers and several quite exposed climbing sections follow. After about 40 minutes, a notch at slightly above 2600 meters altitude is reached, from where the ridge visibly ascends over several unnamed summits towards the Zugspitze. One of these summits is again suitable for a break to gather strength for the final sprint. Then continue along the ridge, and the path becomes increasingly easier up to a gently pronounced summit (marked "2808" on AV maps) with a view of a striking inclined chimney, also referred to as a "gully" in topographical maps.
• 6:50 P.2808 with a view of the "gully." From here, descend about 25 meters into a notch and climb up opposite to the prominent chimney with iron pins (III- difficulty). After this, the essential climbing difficulties are overcome, and continue along the ridge towards the now clearly visible Zugspitze summit. Finally, a path on the north side leads towards and just below the summit. If you do not want to join the seemingly endless queue of cable car users eager to take selfies, simply climb directly to the summit about 15 meters from the north via the cable.
• 7:30 Zugspitze summit. From here, descend on the west side of the summit via a short polished section of via ferrata to the viewing platform of the cable car station and follow the signs down to ticket sales and the cable car. Please do not be disappointed; the gastronomy on the Zugspitze closes about an hour before the last cable car descent.