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The Karwendel (bavaria) with its long valleys and high transitions silently screams for the e-mountain bike. We followed his call and made a large round trip from the Achenwald around the Demeljoch and to the Rotwandlhütte.
“Schleimsattel, Kotzenalm, Mantschenalm. The words don’t melt on the tongue, admittedly. This isn´t mean true of this tour, which leads straight into the lonely area of the Mondscheinspitze, where such names are at home.” These wise words are over 30 years old and come from a man named Elmar Moser. Moses led the Egyptians through the Red Sea, Moser the mountain bikers through the Bavarian mountains. Whether Chiemgau, Allgäu or Karwendel: The “Moser” was the bible of all mountain graduates in the late eighties and well into the nineties. So the ring binders with their meticulously precise directions – woe betide you, if the speedometer was incorrectly adjusted, you would inevitably find yourself in the forest! – and their witty texts led generations of mountain bikers on the right path.
Today, the Moser guides have long been part of the antiquarian bookshop, fetch amazingly tight prices on Ebay – but the modern mountain biker still follows his GPS receiver on the handlebars and does not longer drive into the mountains on its own, rather be pushed up the mountains by the electric motor. What remains is the nature and the dream routes, which even 30 years after Moser didn’t lose any of their fascination. Examples: the Karwendelrunde, the tour to the Halleranger or the big loop around Demeljoch.
Is the battery fully charged?
Then you’re ready to go! Almost Latin: on the “Via Bavarica Tyrolensis”. Contrary to expectations, this isn´t an old Roman road, but a modern bike path between Munich and Wiesing in the Tyrolean Inn Valley. But soon even after the start in Fall (Lenggries), e-mountain bikers on their way around the Demeljoch pass the Sylvenstein reservoir and the latinized bike path to the left and switch from eco to sport at the Gasthaus “Zum Hagen”. Past the chapel of St. Peter and Paul, a small mountain road – initially still asphalted, but soon finely graveled – leads past the Brettersbergalm Hochleger (1296 m) constantly steeply uphill. On the way to the highlight of the tour, the extensive Hochalm around the Rotwandlhütte (1525 m), shows the peculiar pyramid of the Juifen
(1988 m) from its striking side.
The battery has already lost a lot of juice, when the forest slowly clears and the slope leans back a little more than two kilometers before the small alpine pasture of the Rotwandalm-Hochleger. Finally on top! In the summer months, hungry mountain bikers (and of course hikers) get food and drink from the mountain farmers here at the Rotwandlhütte. In spring and late autumn, you have to bring your own snack with you. But in all three seasons, e-mountain bikers can use the sun terrace of the Rotwandlhütte for calmly sunbathe – and watch TV in the Cinemascope-Style. The view far towards the capital and opposite Birkkarspitze, Lamsenjochspitze & Co. is among the best that the Karwendel has to offer.
At some point, even the nicest rest has to end. Just as well that it goes straight downhill. Passing the agricultural alpine pastures Rotwandalm-Niederleger (1398 m), Baieralm (1370 m) and Zotenalm-Mitterleger (1290 m) you can head south in a roaring ride. One last, approximately two-kilometer-long passage with slight ups and downs, and then it finally descends into the Bächental valley. Next pit stop: the Forsthaus Aquila (919 m). The short driveway to the former hunting lodge in the Bächental valley is signposted very well and definitely worth it. After thirty-two kilometers of riding, man and machine can recharge their batteries at the forester’s lodge. From the forester’s lodge it’s another eight and a half kilometers, mostly downhill, through the shady Bächental valley back to Fall, the starting point of the Juifen lap. And next weekend? Then it is due, the giant tour over the Schleimsattel, Kotzenalm and Mantschenalm. As Moser said: “The words don’t exactly melt on the mouth, admittedly.” But aren’t words in the middle of nature just sound and smoke anyway?
Overview of all information
Whether with or without electrical support – this 40 km long lap with around 1300 meters of altitude is one of the most beautiful things that the Karwendel mountain bikers have to offer. You can expect around five hours of pure riding time on a mountain bike and one and a half hours less on an E-MTB. The lap runs on wide forest roads and offers no riding difficulties.
Start and finish: the hiking car park in Fall. Refreshments can be found at the Rotwandlhütte (highest point of the tour, entertained only in midsummer, no battery charging option!) And in the Forsthaus Aquila in the Bächental.
Matching equipment for women:
