Gaisalpe

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Page Type: Route

Location: Allgäu, Germany, Europe

Lat/Lon: 47.42350°N / 10.31496°E

Route Type: Hiking

Season: Summer, Fall

Time Required: Half a day

Difficulty: Hike and scramble

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Page By: Gangolf Haub

Created/Edited: Mar 27, 2007 / Mar 27, 2007

Object ID: 281635

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Table of Contents

Overview

Rubihorn as seen from Entschenkopf. The route follows the couloir to the left of the spur at the edge of the picture

The hiking route across Gaisalpe (sometimes Geißalpe) is probably the most popular tour Rubihorn. There are no difficulties except for moderate exposure near the summit and there are several points along the way which offer good resting possibilities. There is a small gorge, Gaisalptobel, which cuts short the tedious maintenance road and which offers some good scrambling along wet rocks. However, after the downpours and landslides of summer 2006 the Tobel trail has been closed and I'm not aware that it has been reopened yet.

Most of the hikers either turn around at Gaisalpe at around 1450m, after having refreshed themselves at the restaurant up there. Another popular destination along the way is Unterer Gaisalpsee, where the hiking trails to Nebelhorn and Rubihorn split. The former heads across Oberer Gaisalpsee to the challenging Nebelhorn west ridge, while the Rubihorn ascent follows a wide cirque directly to the Rubihorn summit.

The character of the route is an easy hike up to Unterer Gaisalpsee and a bit of a scramble to the Rubihorn summit.

It's been quite a while ((13 years) since I have climbed the route. Any additions and corrections are more than welcome.

Getting There

Follow the instructions on the main page. The trailhead is at Reichenbach right underneath Entschenkopf. There is a parking lot to the south of the village. Be early!

Route Description

Unterer Gaisalpsee as seen from Entschenkopf

General data
  - Start altitude: 867m
  - Summit altitude: 1952m
  - Prevailing exposure: E
  - Type: 3-4h one way
  - Protection: None

Effort: 1100m elevation gain

Power: 2 - Long and tiring

Psyche: 1 - Easy up to the summit ridge

Orientation: 1 - Marked and easy

From Reichenbach a forest road leads in the direction of Gaisalpe. After several switchbacks, the Tobelweg through the Gaisalptobel gorge turns off to the left. If it is open (depending on the weather and the current conditions of rock- and treefall) rather follow the Tobelweg, which leads you into a dark narrow valley, overshadowed by old trees. The trail is rather slippery in several places, especially at the back of the gorge where it steeply ascents towards Gaisalpe itself. If the Tobelweg is closed (oor in unsure lighting conditions) follow the support road to Gaisalpe.

At Gaisalpe one third of the crowd will stay to have a coffee while you can head onwards through the valley in the direction of Unterer Gaisalpsee. The lake is invisible at first because it is located above a huge step in the valley. After having climbed to the lake, pass it on its eastern side and soon the Rubihorn trail will turn off on the western (right) side. It avoids a spur which heads down from the summit to its east and climbs a steep couloir south of the spur. Some 100m underneath the summit a couloir turns off to the north which directly heads for the top of the mountain. Rubihorn has two summits, the main one at 1957m, the northern one at 1952m. Both are connected by a short ridge.

Essential Gear

Hiking gear is sufficient.