From Pfronten, follow the road in the direction of Pfronten trail station. Just after this comes the valley station of the Breitenberg cable car station (Tel. +49 /(0)8363 392 and 5820) on the southern side of the main road. The Wandweg trail branches off to the west of the car park. It first heads over meadows on a gentle incline to the south until crossing a forest road. Follow this road to the left. Cross the stream and immediately afterwards, a narrow path turns right uphill following the course of the stream. Take this path on a steeper course uphill through the wood until reaching the mountain station of the cable car at approx. 1,500m, from where the chair lift continues uphill. Here, keep slightly to the west in the direction of the Ostler Hut. Pass a small cross at approx. 1,600m and continue uphill until reaching the fork in the road marked “Ostlerhütte – Aggenstein”. Here, keep to the left heading southward and follow the signs for the Aggenstein mountain and Bad Kissinger Hut. Once again, there is quite a steep climb to the Aggenstein. On the southern side, cross the German-Austrian border and head in hairpin bends down to Bad Kissinger Hut. From Bad Kissinger Hut, first head for a short while to the east before the trail turns steeply down to the right into Tannheim valley. At the start, it passes below pine trees and over open terrain, but soon dips into the wood, where a narrowly winding trail leads rapidly downhill. Finally, you will come onto a forest road, which must be followed for a short distance to the south. At the curving turnoff to the east, follow the trail that continues to the south down to the fields of the hamlet of Enge. Here, continue into the hamlet of Lumberg. After the bridge, turn right to the chapel of St. Michael and cross the Gräner road. Keep heading westward on the “Vater unser Weg” circular hiking trail. This meditation trail was built on the occasion of the 200-year anniversary of Tyrol’s vow to the Sacred Heart of Jesus (1796-1996). Next, continue on the Höhenweg trail towards Tannheim mountain and from there southward to Tannheim. In Tannheim, the St. Nikolaus cathedral is worth a visit. It is the second biggest church in Tyrol. The local history museum is located in Kienzen. From Tannheim, head westward to Neu Kienzen and on to the Wiesle. At the Wiesle, leave the circular hiking trail and walk on over the Älpele valley to the Älpele at 1,529m on trail no. 59 (the alpine hut is open in summer.) From the Älpele, head southward until the Geißhorn turnoff, and from there turn west again on trail no. 59a to the Zirleseck standing at 1,872m.
(Christina Schwann, OeAV)

The complexity of the geological structure of the Alps is reflected in the Allgäu Alps, which are composed of several geological units of varying rock types. These rocks – far away from each other before orogenesis - underwent different development processes, after which they were united into one single range when the Alps came into existence. The landscape forms are therefore so small in scale yet so diverse that they are incomparable to those in any other region in the Northern Alps. The highest and southernmost tectonic unit of the Allgäu Alps is the upper eastern alpine nappe (limestone alpine band Oberostalpin - Kalkalpin), which boasts very striking and sheer peaks such as the Mädelegabel (2,645m) and the Große Krottenkopf (2,656m) and comprises a large part of the Allgäu Alps (Allgäu limestone alps). The famous Allgäu “grass mountains” with their sharp, steep ridges and crests cover a many-faceted zone of medium altitude. Their most well-known representatives are the Höfats peak at 2,259m and the Schneck at 2,268m. Made from aptycha limestone and spotted marl (Allgäu nappe), which weathers easily, they are rich in vegetation. A zone of hard Schrattenkalk limestone, the Allgäu Helvetic nappe, forms the peculiar shapes of the Hohe Iffen, the Gottesacker plateau and the Grünten mountain on the western edge of the Allgäu Alps. The Gottesacker is one of the most impressive karstic deserts in the Eastern Alps and is like a “sea suddenly frozen in the throes of extreme excitement and turmoil.” The Nagelfluh mountains in the north, with the Hochgrat at 1,832m as the main summit, are composed of massive conglomerates of molasse on the other hand. The rounded, slight and green flysch mountains of the Allgäu Alps reach their highest elevation with the Riedberger Horn, 1,786m. Due to the most varied living conditions (terrain, altitude, climate) over a short space, a very rich range of flora has been able to develop. In the valleys, agricultural meadows and mixed deciduous forests predominate, followed by the mountain forest in which the spruce prevails. On the grazed alpine meadows – cultural landscape that people reclaimed by clearing the mountain woodland – the alpine flower world is displayed in all its beauty. In the springtime, for instance, the southern side of the mountain flanks are carpeted in deep blue, stalkless gentian, and next to them grow the impressive pinky red birds-eye primrose and golden yellow mountain aven. Probably the most beautiful Allgäu orchid, the lady-slipper (cypripedium calceolus), can be found in early June. This orchid up to 40cm in height has in the meantime become quite rare and has even disappeared from the alpine species list in many areas. The only site where the sulphur-yellow anemone grow in the Bavarian Alps is the meadowland zone of the alpine steppe, at the Laufbacher Eck summit plateau and the southeastern slopes of the Himmeleck.
(Michael Kleider)