The Trettachspitze is a

mountain A mountain is an elevated portion of the Earth's crust, generally with steep sides that show significant exposed bedrock. Although definitions vary, a mountain may differ from a plateau in having a limited Summit (topography), summit area, and ...

in the

Allgäu Alps The Allgäu Alps (german: Allgäuer Alpen) are a mountain range in the Northern Limestone Alps, located in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg in Germany and Tyrol and Vorarlberg in Austria. The range lies directly east of Lake Constance. Character ...

in Germany. Due to its striking appearance (a very steep, narrow horn of rock when seen from the west and east) it is one of the best-known mountains in the Allgäu Alps.

Location and area

Together with the Mädelegabel (2,645 m) and the Hochfrottspitze (2,649 m) it forms the often admired triumvirate of mountains rising above Einödsbach. It is the only high rocky summit in the Allgäu Alps that lies entirely on German soil. It is situated north of the Mädelegabel and usually ascended from the Waltenberger Haus. At the foot of the Trettachspitze, at the lower end of the Trettachrinne, is the source of the

Trettach Trettach is a river of Bavaria, Germany. At its confluence with the Breitach and the Stillach in Oberstdorf, the Iller is formed. See also *List of rivers of Bavaria A list of rivers of Bavaria, Germany: A * Aalbach * Abens * Ach * Afferbach ...

river.

Ascent and climbing history

The Trettachspitze was first climbed in 1855 by the brothers Urban, Alois and Mathias Jochum from the Birgsau in the

Stillach Stillach is a river of Bavaria, Germany. At its confluence with the Breitach and the Trettach in Oberstdorf, the Iller is formed. See also *List of rivers of Bavaria A list of rivers of Bavaria, Germany: A * Aalbach * Abens * Ach * Afferbac ...

valley. The youngest was just 13 years old. The Trettachspitze may only be attempted by experienced climbers. The usual ascents are the UIAA grade II approach on the northwestern arête, or the frequently used crossing of the northeast and northwestern arêtes using safety equipment which is UIAA grade III in places. There are other climbing routes on every rock face. However the only ones that are regularly used are the ''Schwarzer Riß'' (grade V+), ''Spiel der Geister'' (VII) and ''The show must go on'' (VI) on the western face. The other routes are rarely attempted as they have long and dangerous approaches over often crumbling rocks. Next to the route ''The show must go on'', Robert Jasper and Stefan Meineke opened up other climbing routes on the western face in summer 1991.

Gallery

File:Trettach_Westwand.jpg, West face of the Trettachspitze File:Trettach_von_Hierenalp.jpg, The Trettachspitze from the ''Hierenalpe'' File:Guggersee Trettachspitze Maedelegabel Hochfrottspitze.JPG, The Mädelegabel Group from the

Guggersee The Guggersee is a small mountain lake in the Southeastern Walsertal Mountains (''Südöstliche Walsertaler Berge''), a subgroup of the Allgäu Alps. It is located at a height of 1,709 metres,Kompass walking, cycling and ski touring map: She ...

File:Maedelegabel.jpg, The Kratzer, Mädelegabel and Trettachspitze

Sources

*Ernst Enzenperger: ''Die Gruppe der Mädelegabel'', München, Jos. Köselsche Buchhandlung, 1909 * * *Thaddäus Steiner: ''Die Flurnamen der Gemeinde Oberstdorf im Allgäu'', München, Selbstverlag des Verbandes für Flurnamenforschung in Bayern, 1972 * Thaddäus Steiner: ''Hieß die Trettachspitze einst Giis(t)kopf'' in Unser Oberstdorf, Blätter zur Oberstdorfer Heimatgeschichte. Heft 9/1986, S. 68. * *

Alpenvereinskarte Alpine Club maps (german: Alpenvereinskarten, often abbreviated to ''AV-Karten'' i.e. AV maps) are specially detailed maps for summer and winter mountain climbers (mountaineers, hikers and ski tourers). They are predominantly published at a scale o ...

1:25.000, Blatt 2/1, ''Allgäuer- Lechtaler Alpen, West''

External links

TrettachspitzeAllgäuer Matterhorn - the story of the first ascent of the Trettachspitze
{{Authority control Mountains of the Alps Allgäu Alps Mountains of Bavaria Two-thousanders of Germany Oberallgäu