Bischof and Krottenkopf Trial

I had Krottenkopf (2086 m) on my list of future hikes for quite some time, ever since my hike to Aiplspitz (1759 m). Scrolling through the list on Thursday evening, I stopped at Pyramidenspitze (1997 m) and Vordere Kesselschneid (2002 m), Soiernspitze (2253 m) over Signalkopf (1895 m), and Krottenkopf (2086 m) via Bischof (2033 m). The latter caught my eye the most, considering the previous visit to neighboring Hoher Fricken (1940 m) in March this year.

Despite the forecast of possible rain in the afternoon, I decided to go for it, and posted an invite in some of the hiking chats I frequent. Bohdan, a member of a Ukrainian hiking group in Munich, responded positively, and we agreed to take an early train to Garmisch-Partenkirchen on Sunday morning.

After exiting in Farchant, we set off towards Frickenkar, passing over a few dried-out mountain streams. The trail wasn't well-marked at times, but it was impossible to get lost, as there was only one main path leading up. The ascent was steady but not too steep, allowing us to gain decent altitude. I wasn't able to move up as fast as Bohdan, who is used to hiking longer distances and higher elevations, so I was the one setting the pace. We even got to see some mountain goats grazing on the slopes below us!

After reaching Niederer Fricken (1682 m), we turned north-east and continued towards the Bischof (2033 m) peak along Oberauer Steig. I took the shorter way up to the summit, going on top of some rocks, while Bohdan wanted to make a swift ascent along the longer trail that he skipped last time he was here. It was nice seeing Wank (1780 m) from this mountain, bringing back memories from a past adventure.

After reaching the peak, we took a few photos and quickly headed down to hide from the incoming wind and clouds. The weather was still holding up, but we knew that rain could start at any moment. We continued our descent towards Krottenkopf (2086 m), following the ridge line.

Around this point I started getting cramps in my legs due to the lack of sleep the night before and food in the morning. This slowed us down quite a bit, as I had to take frequent breaks to stretch and hydrate. Bohdan was very understanding and patient, waiting for me whenever I needed to stop.

Reaching Weilheimer Hütte (1946 m), we met a few other hikers standing there. Bohdan headed straight to the top of the mountain, trying to beat his ascend record from last time. I stayed and chatted with the others for a bit. Turns out, all the huts in the area were already closed for the season, so we couldn't get any warm drinks to fight the cold wind.

After saying goodbye to the others, I started my ascent and got to the top shortly after. The route to the summit of Krottenkopf (2086 m) was much easier and not nearly as steep as the way up to Bischof (2033 m). The wind was also not as strong, allowing me to enjoy the view for a bit longer.

On the way down, I recorded my descent with an action camera, although nothing breathtaking happened. I'm certain the Krottenkopf (2086 m) section of the route is possible even in winter after some fresh snowfall. The path is well-trodden and not too steep, with only 130 m of elevation gain from the hut.

We continued our way to Eschenlohe, passing by other peaks I left for another time, such as Oberer Rißkopf (2049 m), Schindlerskopf (1940 m), and Archtalkopf (1927 m).

After descending another rocky section, we reached Pustertal Jagdhütte, and after those the way down turned into a simple forest trail.

There is a horse ranch at the end of the route, where I stopped for a few quick photos, and headed to the train station in Eschenlohe. Of course, everything in the town was closed on Sunday, so we had to wait for the train at the station and board it without any snacks or drinks.

To sum up, this version of the hike is great for those looking for a bit more of a challenge compared to the standard route. For everyone else, I would recommend taking the shorter and easier path directly to Krottenkopf (2086 m), since the views from the summits are quite similar. Also, consider going in summer during the opening hours of Weilheimer Hütte (1946 m) to get some food and drinks there. Best of luck!