Hochsalwand

The Hochsalwand rises 1625 metres above sea level in the Mangfallgebirge range of the Bavarian Pre-Alps. It stands north-east of the Wendelstein, towering above the village of Brannenburg. From the summit cross walkers look down on Rosenheim, the Inn valley, the Chiemsee and Simssee lakes, the Chiemgauer Alps and the Kaisergebirge. Unlike the nearby Wendelstein, the Hochsalwand sees fewer visitors, yet several marked routes lead to the top. The shortest and easiest ascent starts at the Mitteralm, 1200 metres up, which can be reached by the Wendelstein cable car from Brannenburg. From the Mitteralm it takes under two hours along the Reindleralm to the summit. Other routes include the three-hour walk from Sankt Margarethen via the Breitenberghütte and Lechneralm, or the three-and-a-half-hour climb from Aich through the Schlipfgrubalm and Schuhbräualm huts and over the 1422-metre Rampoldplatte. Routes from the north-west Jenbachtal also reach the summit in about three hours. All paths except the Mitteralm–Reindleralm route include short climbing sections secured by wire cables. Walkers need a sure foot, a head for heights and good stamina. The Reindleralm path is the only one without cables or climbing, yet still demands careful footing. On clear days the outlook from the summit cross stretches across the valleys and lakes to the distant mountain ranges.