Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Garmisch- Partenkirchen are two separate alpine towns that over the years have merged to create Germany's premier ski resort in the Bavarian Alps. Situated amoungst stunning high alpine mountains dominated by the Zugspitze Garmisch flys under the rader for many British skiers. There are two ski areas - Garmisch Classic with lifts rising out of the resort and the Zugspitze Glacier area - connected to Garmisch by train and cable car.
Garmisch- Partenkirchen is just 1 1/2 to 2 hours south of Munich Airport. Transferscan be by hire car, taxi or train.
The Skiing
Garmisch has two ski areas - Classic - ski lifts rise up from the south of the resort accessing the north facing slopes of Hausberg, Kreuzjoch and Osterfelderkopt. The second area is on Germany's highest mountain the Zugspitze
Garmisch the resort is relatively low at 700m - the Classic side skiing goes p to 2057m offering an impressive 1300m vertical drop.
The Hausbergerbahn gondula rises out from the eastern edge of Garmish upto Hausberg. Here there are a number of blue runs and great nursery slopes. Red piste 1 dropes down through the woods back to Garmisch. The Dremoser 9 chairlift opens up blue 7 and 9 and also provides access over to the Kandarhar Express chair which goes up to Kreuzjoch.2 blacks 5a and 5b which also form part of the classic World Cup mens downhill run fall down the mountain to the Kreuzjoch base station. There is also a piste that ends up back at Hausberg. From the Kreuzjoch base station the cable car rises up an impressive 1200m to the summit of Osterfelderkopt opening up some delightful high altitude red pistes 15 and 16 over the back side of the mountain and then on down the the Hochalm chairlift. Classic Garmisch is ideal for intermediate and adavnced skiers with plenty of reds and three long black runs to keep everyone happy!
The Zugspitze glacier offers high altitude skiing with stunning views. The area is easily connected by by the Zahnradbahn (train) from the centre of Garmisch to the Zugspitz base station. From the base station there are two ways up to the glacier - the cable car or the rack and pinion railway.
The Zugspitz offers 20kms of perfectly groomed blue and red pistes connected by 2 6 man chair lifts and 4 T bar drag tows.
For those with their own transport - rental car then the Austrian resorts for Ehwald and Lemoos are easily accessible for an alternative days skiing or snowboarding