any chance you could give me the details about climbing zugspitze through the Höllental route??? I plan to rent the gear (crampons, harness, etc) and ill plan a day with good weather in early September. so ive been having a tough time finding the route info. time, distance, etc. I see people on youtube videos carrying backpacks... are they spending the night? could i realistically do it in one day? I plan to take the tram down and i know the last ride is at 430pm.
also more importantly is there other recommended climbs like this where you need the gear but dont take as long? I really can only afford to make it a day trip as my wife is gonna spend the day shopping.
i am also spending a week in the salzburg area, so any great climbs that way would be much appreciated

Donny

Check out the Garmisch Partenkirchen website, www.gapa.de,or http://www.gapa.de/Garmisch-Partenki...ering_Climbing.

Lots of relevant links.

That is quite an adventure. I took the easy way out and rode the tram up AND down. Even in July, it was snowing crazy at the top!

LittleZ, my experience was the same as Vol's - took the tram up and down. Fantastic views at the top. Staff was shoveling snow on the top deck when we arrived. This was in July 2008 - unfortunately two climbers had died the day before in a snowstorm as they made their ascent.
Good luck in your adventure.

Information can be found here:
http://www.summitpost.org/zugspitze/150322
http://www.summitpost.org/alps-eastern-part/152667

That site also has a forum where you can post or search for questions:
http://www.summitpost.org/phpBB3/europe.html

Good luck!