12 Apostles Ridge

In general, you have the choice when approaching the Säulinghaus. You can take the normal route or, like me, do the whole thing as a bike and hike tour and take the access road to the material cable car with the mountain bike. Here you always follow the road and the signs until you reach the end at an altitude of about 1500 meters. At the large parking lot, you can park your bike and walk the remaining approx. 200 meters of elevation to the Säulinghaus. Past the house, head directly to the emergency shelter and choose the path towards Hohenschwangau directly below the 12 Apostles Ridge. First, descend about 150 meters, until you reach the state border directly at the west ridge of the Pilgerschrofen. Head directly for the white-blue border post; well-visible trail marks can already be seen here. Now follow these. The first meters are still flat, but the path quickly rises, and the terrain becomes noticeably steeper and more exposed. From about 1700 meters altitude, you find yourself directly below the Pilgerschrofen and now climb steep rubble terrain on the first ridge on the south side. Just below the summit, keep westwards and climb directly to the lower summit cross. In a short surge in the grade III climbing ridge, you go up to the cross and continue to the Pilgerschrofen.

Now route finding is relatively easy. You follow well-visible steps directly along the ridge. Here the terrain constantly alternates between short walking sections and ascents and descents on the permanent grade II climbing ridge. Where steps end, it mostly continues on good rock. Nevertheless, here and there a stone is loose and especially after rain, the terrain is very slippery. Along the ridge, you come to several rappel points. At the time of creation, there are a total of 4 prepared rappel/safety points, mostly on pines, but also on fixed bolts. If you do not want to rappel, you encounter short climbing sections at grade -IV here. It is always important to check the rock quality. Especially after prolonged rain, rocks can break off and rappelling is recommended. It’s also more fun that way. After about two-thirds of the ridge, rappel to the summit register. Then, in a short slightly overhanging climb of grade III, climb again to a pinnacle and continue up and down in grade I and II. Directly after the summit register, you have to descend a narrow and steep larch groove. No problem in dry conditions, but after rain, it can become very slippery here. After rappel point 3, shortly afterwards comes the last rappel point. If you want, you can also downclimb here a short overhanging section of grade IV. After the rappel point, the ridge ends. Now head directly to the Gamswiese and first squeeze through a short rock needle, alternatively you can also bypass it in rubble terrain, and then follow the trail marks again through steep rubble terrain. Here, in the lower part, do not go too far north but keep slightly right on the ascent. Avoiding visible trails can quickly lead into steeper terrain. After about 150 meters of elevation, you arrive at the Gems or Gamswiese. If you want, you can then still go to the summit of the Säuling. You follow the wide hiking trail uphill and join the crowd in easy terrain or descend via the secured path directly to the Säulinghaus and thus back on the familiar route.