From the Rappensee Hut to the Hermann von Barth Hut

The alpine hike from the Rappenseehütte to the Hermann-von-Barth Hütte is a long and demanding tour. Between the two very cosy huts, the path is clearly the goal.

The first part takes us along the Heilbronner Weg. This is one of the oldest paths in the Alps and was established more than 100 years ago. Absolute surefootedness and a head for heights are required on this trail, as it runs directly along the ridge of the Allgäu main ridge in some places. Along the way, there are numerous panoramic views over the Allgäu and into the Lech valley with its mountains. In good weather, you can always make out the Zugspitze and the Wildspitze on the horizon. One of the highlights is the Heilbronner Thörle. This is a crevice in the rock, which is already very narrow with a large rucksack. A short time later there is a 5 m high airy ladder to climb and we reach the highest point of the Heilbronner Weg, the Steinschartenkopf. Directly afterwards, a small bridge has to be crossed on the ridge. In the further course, there are repeatedly passages secured with steel ropes, until we finally reach the end of the Heilbronner Weg after the Bockkarkopf at the Bockkarscharte.

We then cross the - still remaining - rest of the Schwarzmilz Ferner. Up to the turnoff to the Großer Krottenkopf at the Krottenkopfscharte, the trail leads without any major technical demands, at first in an up and down and later sharply uphill through a varied landscape. From the Scharte, the path up to the Großer Krottenkopf becomes more demanding again, so that absolute sure-footedness and a head for heights are again required here. On the summit of the Großer Krottenkopf, which is the highest peak in the Allgäu, we have a wonderful 360-degree view.

We leave the highest point of the tour and descend into Hermannskar to the ice-cold Hermannskarsee. The trail continues on mostly rocky terrain towards the Hermann-von-Barth Hut.