Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Mittenwald, Take 2

debs/ November 25, 2017

It’s a new day……  and you know what that means! Another chance to tackle Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Mittenwald!

There’s really no reason why I should be so determined to do this.  It’s not supposed to be a hard hike or anything.  Somehow having it denied from me yesterday, made me want it more today.  Also, having it denied from me yesterday made me want to make it longer today. I’m convinced that irrationality like this is what makes me human.  I’ve learned to live and breathe it.

On the map below, yesterday’s “desire path” would have been from approximated (2) to (6).  Today, I wanted to take advantage of the nice trail close to my AirBnB called Philosophenweg (1) from Farchant to Garmisch-Partenkirchen before walking from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Mittenwald.

Philosophenweg was beautiful.  Everything is more beautiful at 6am on a Saturday morning.  I don’t want to desensitize you with all the pretty mountain pictures that the next couple of trip-related blog posts will surely be saturated with, so I’ll leave you with the flora and fauna instead.  Check out the periwinkle bell sprout flower and the tiny wild strawberries above! Check out this little buddy below!

The poor thing obviously couldn’t fly and I really hope my getting-close-and-harassing-it-with-my-camera didn’t give it PTSD.


At (2), I reentered the web of trails that I failed to master yesterday.  The dotted line leading to (0) in the map below was where I got stuck yesterday.

The path from (2) to (3) was incredibly scenic.  Rolling pastures intermingled with sections of forest. Mountains in the background. Microsoft’s default green pasture desktop‘s got nothing on this.

At (3) there was a little town (more like a collection of buildings, really).  I stood by a signpost trying to decide which way to go when an English-speaking man with a little beret-like cap holding briefcase came by.  I really had no awareness that anyone was there until he questioned my desired path.  I told him where I planned to go, and he said he was heading in the same direction. He was walking to paint in the mountains, and I was walking to Mittenwald. He told me that the crucifix that marked where his path diverges from mine is especially beautiful and special.  I suggested to walk with him until that point so he could show me himself.  He kept encouraging me to go ahead on ahead without him as since he went at a slower pace.  I reassured that he was fast and that I enjoy the pace.  He has been a resident in these parts for a while, but I theorize that he must have been in the UK or something in a distant past based on his accent. He is some age between 80 and 90 (he told me the exact age, but I don’t remember!) I was the about the same age as his granddaughter in London.  It is my wish to you, dear reader, that you too will be able to carry yourself and paint in the mountains if you ever get the chance to be 90.

As we walked, he told me that the church within that collection of buildings is the oldest in the area.  We talked about the crucifix in general, the man named Jesus on the crucifix, and who people think that man is.  He encouraged me to stand before the crucifix and say a prayer when I get there.  The conversation ventured to back to other places too … He asked me how I thought of Trump, Obama, and Trudeau as a Canadian.  And so, I, uh, answered questions about politics on behalf of all Canadians? (LOL).  I also asked him how well Germans receive Trump. “He’s a silly man”, he said.  At one point, a car was driving up from behind us on the same path.  I step aside, and the old man steps aside as much as he could.  The car couldn’t really pass through.  The old man on the side of the road (patiently) exchanges a few words, in German, with the young man in the car (who responds angrily) and then the old steps aside even more.  The old man explained that the young man thought we were in the way.  “Nevermind”, he says, “he’s young.” I wish I had the sort of perspective to let things like that go.

We finally reach the much-hyped crucifix.  He explained how this one was made of limewood, how it’s especially well-crafted.  It really wasn’t anything special compared to the more extravagant ones I see on other trails.  Heck, I saw a more elaborate one before I reached the little town where I met the man!  But at the same time, I think that’s the reason he was drawn to it.  Out of all the crucifixes I saw on this trip, I would probably liked this one most too. But if it wasn’t shown to me, I also would have walked past it for the same reason I liked it most.  At this point, the old man really sternly encouraged me to pray in front of it, we said our “nice meeting you”s, and he went on.

I was left with no choice but to pray before the crucifix.  I was praying, at first, out of respect for the man and then, as I went on, out of my own great need, weeping profusely.


On wards, I reach Elmau (4). It’s a plateau of sorts on higher ground.  The main landmark was this resort.  I tried to trespass into its property by stepping on rocks over a creek… but I fell in it.  I found my composure and went across anyway.  Here’s a picture of the resort coming from the creek.  My panorama was corrupted with evidence of my slight mishap in the creek. HAHAHA, I love it.

I chilled on one of the resort chairs and ate my packed lunch as if I belonged there.  Then I went and snooped around the other parts of the property.  The resort is called Schloss and check out this description:

100 km south of Munich tucked deep in the calm of the Bavarian Alps is Schloss Elmau. A sanctuary framed by lofty mountains & rushing streams. A spa escape & cultural hideaway, a yoga retreat & romantic haven. Relax in six separate spas & pools for adults & families. Unwind with Yoga, Taiji or TCM. Recharge your batteries with sports. Enjoy outstanding food & service. Encounter great authors & artists on the pulse of time.”

 

This isn’t only on their website.  I read that same description on a plaque or something somewhere on that property. This oasis in the middle of nowhere must be the capitalist’s vision of escapism … I mean, let’s just forget about racism, refugees, and all those pesky annoyances of life.  In fact, let’s Yoga all that stress out of our systems at this shrine of White privilege.

But I digress…


Approaching Mittenwald at (5), there were two lakes, Ferchensee and Lautersee.  Both stunning.  Too bad the condensation on my camera after my *ahem* mishap, kind of made the pictures foggy…

The downhill path between (5) and (6) into Mittenwald was also very nice.  But I lack pictures for the same reason as above.


Mittenwald, finally. 

It was a quaint as promised.

Every single resident had perfectly groomed  front yards, back yards, and perfectly tetris-ed firewood.  How? How??? Are there rules to becoming Mittenwaldian? Do you have paint your house name on your house? Do you have to have your house name on your house with that exact font?

There are some deep, unresolved mysteries in the universe.  And I just have to console myself for not knowing their answers over apple cake.

 


In the evening, I took the train back to Garmisch-Partenkirchen (see dashed line on the map) and walked back to Farchant.

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