Off the beaten track

This peace. This unbelievable peace. Winter reveals its quietest side far away from any paths and deep in the forest. Snow-covered branches weighed down to the ground. The thick blanket of snow painting soft contours. Like a shaken up feather duvet. A few rabbits have already been here. Or foxes. Their subtle trail winds across the otherwise untouched snow.
Exploring Ruhpolding’s mountains on snow shoes is simply magical. Whether it’s with a bright blue sky or constant snowfall. Pure sunshine or fascinating cloud formations. You often don’t come across another living soul. Just strap on the shoes and off your go, there’s nothing to learn, anyone can do it. Anyone out and about in a group will quickly notice how the chatter dies down. How silence sets in with the harmonious snowshoe single file. Become one with sleeping nature. This is called retreating into yourself.

It only gets loud when you run downhill, over little hills and slopes. When the snow sprays up to your right and left. When you simply have to scream really loud, out of joy and happiness. And how different everything looks in winter! Even the well-known hiking trail from the Urschlau over the Röthelmoosalm down to Weitsee: Where the cows usually sedately snack on the wild herbs, there’s now a vast, white sea. You stomp right through the middle with your legs further apart than when just walking. The snow shoes rescue you from drowning in snow. The poles provide balance and all your eyes have to do is look. And admire. Because the wild sparkling crystals are not just pretty but can also be dangerous, a snowshoer’s backpack must contain safety equipment, i.e. a shovel and probe. An avalanche victim search device is tied around your shoulder and waist.

Most alpine farms are also closed in Ruhpolding in winter. A peaceful, abandoned world. But it doesn’t matter at all. With the mountain hut wall behind you and the mountain scenery in front, the snack you brought with you tastes so much more delicious than in the valley. The hot tea’s steam rises out of the Thermos flask, forming funny little clouds. Then there’s the bacon, cheese and bread, maybe garnished with a few cheeky snowflakes.
You then head down to Weitsee along the Wappach. The glittering of the snow and reflections in the water are indescribable. The images are firmly engraved on your mind when you get back on the bus and on the way back to Ruhpolding. Food for the soul. With your snow shoes on your lap, you start planning your next tour. To the Weingarten. Or up to the Haaralm Schneid. There are so many possibilities!