All Peaks from Bichl to Bad Tölz
After the semi-successful hike to Sonnenberg (1622 m) where I lost my hiking pole, I was on the lookout for a sunny weekend to go back and retrieve it. I've also monitored Kleinanzeigen for the exact same model, but only found a few overpriced offers. Although the weather seemed ok at first, it drastically changed on Saturday, with strong north-facing winds and 8 cm of snow. Remembering my previous struggles on the ridge, I had to fall back to this Blombergbahn route instead.
Ever since I went sledging near the Blombergbahn with David Bilan, I was excited to visit the surrounding peaks, although I haven't prepared much by looking at the map and other peoples' routes. I had a plan to visit everything on the ridge, then come down to the bus station near Blombergbahn and head home. But fate had other plans for me...
The beginning of the hike was a walk through the forest. Tall pines and light snow reinforced my belief that I did the right choice. Higher up, around 1200 m of elevation, the whole area was covered in ankle-deep snow.
My first checkpoint on the hike was Hollerkopf (932 m). While walking along a wide dirt road onto the hillside, there was a detour uphill with deep muddy tractor tracks. I instinctively knew that they led to the peak. Following them and getting my shoes dirty, I pushed to the top and got there soon after. There was no cross and no marks there, just a barely visible unmarked trail and some metal poles sticking from the ground denoting some administrative borders.
I traced my steps back onto the bigger road, and continued onwards. Although I noticed a few footsteps in the snow along the road and came across a few huts and hunting stands, there were no people to be seen, so I just kept walking. I did see some rabbit and goat footsteps though, making me feel like a hunter out for some game.
Soon after, I approached Enzenauer Kopf (1205 m) and decided to simply take the direct way uphill instead of following the road. Climbing up past some bushes and young pines made me question my decision, since although I did my best to avoid damaging the nature, I wasn't sure I pulled it off completely. In any case, the peak showed itself to me soon after, again with no cross (and the highest point on the map was actually down below in the bushes on the other side of the hill), and I turned back onto the main road onwards.
My next destination was Fahrtkopf (1203 m). I tried to follow the GPS, since the trail wasn't visible under the snow and I didn't see any markings either, but very quickly I got lost. In reality, the trail was there, but there were other trails and dried streams one could follow to get to the same place, so I just winged it and hiked in the general direction of the next peak.
After reaching a bigger road and turning off of it to get to the peak again, I was greeted with a hilltop covered in artificially planted young pines overgrown with spiky wines. Considering my previous fall at Vordere Kesselschneid (2002 m) and Sonnenberg (1622 m), I didn't want to risk damaging my jacket and pants any further, so I tried my best to either walk around or fully step on the wines. While this worked, there was again no mark at the top, so I had to aimlessly wander around looking for the actual highest point so that I can claim I reached the peak.
After this confusing detour, I came back to the road and noticed that the easiest way to the next peak is straight up. The barely visible trail was overgrown with planted pines again, so I just climbed up the hill on the edge of the plant area, joining the trail closer to the top. The peak itself, Angerlkopf (1249 m), was yet again without markings (or they were covered in snow), but at least it was an open area and there were multiple footsteps from other hikers trying to figure out where the highest point is.
Some of the footsteps around were fresh, and I followed them along the ridge to the next peak on the route, Stallauer Kopf (1322 m). Now this can hardly be called a peak. It's basically a crossing of several trails connecting surrounding mountains and forest roads, with signs everywhere pointing in all directions. I didn't overstay my welcome and hurried to the next target.
The route to Stallauer Eck (1213 m) completely changed the mood of the hike. Immediately after leaving the crossing, I met an elderly couple hiking from Stallauer Eck (1213 m) towards Blombergbahn. Soon after, I came across a trail runner. Then came a mom with two young sons, then a father with an infant in his backpack. I was overflowing with joy to see actual people after following footsteps alone for several hours.
When I reached Stallauer Eck (1213 m), there was a proper cross with a sign and some benches there, and some people enjoying a break and talking about their previous hiking experiences. I greeted them, but couldn't stay long, realizing the long way left ahead of me. When I turned around and started going back to Stallauer Kopf (1322 m), I started catching up with everyone I met before (in reverse order, of course).
The kids were excited to see me again, the father gestured me to stay silent near his infant sleeping in the backpack, and the elderly couple wanted to rest and chat for a bit, but I apologised and kept going. The trail to Zwiesel (1348 m) was very easy and well-marked with footsteps from other people. But I had to stay alert, because the snow there was already deeper than before, and sinking into it meant I'd get it inside my shoes and pants for certain.
The Zwiesel (1348 m) peak itself was the most exciting one in the area. The view from the top covers all surrounding mountains, there are no trees there to cover the sight, and I could see all my targets from there. Although initially I aimed to go to Blomberg Westgipfel (1248 m) next, something prompted me to keep going straight down in the direction of Heiglkopf (1218 m) instead.
I don't know how the descent looks like in summer with dry weather, but at this time of the year, the whole slope is muddy and slippery, which slowed my down to a crawl. It took quite a while to reach the Großbach river at the bottom of the hill, and it took even longer to climb onto the next mountain. There was a barely visible steep dirt track, probably laid out to carry cut down trees back to the town. I didn't want to take the long way around to the official trail up Heiglkopf (1218 m), so I went on the dirt track instead.
The route was great, with some slight overgrowth here and there, but totally safe to traverse. There were a few turns here and there, and I was choosing random directions trying to keep walking uphill. Eventually, I reached the highest point on the road and went off to just climb up the slope. This proved to be difficult given the barbed wire on the fence, but after some twiddling around I found a weaker spot and climbed under the wire, managing to not scratch myself or tear my clothes.
From there on out, it was a normal hike to the top. There were tons of people on the rocky road, mostly adults and elderly hikers. I saw a shortcut on the map and tried following it, but the road was closed to preserve local nature, so I had to rejoin the main trail. There I met an older local couple hiking up Heiglkopf (1218 m) and joined them. They were very fast and I barely managed to keep up. When we reached the top, they told me they had a house at the base of the mountain and hike it multiple times a week to walk their dog, so this was just an evening walk for them.
I paid my farewell and continued onwards to Blomberg Ostgipfel (1237 m), which had a viewing platform but no cross. I didn't linger there and didn't pay for the binoculars, instead walking further past the cable car and towards the restaurant (Berggasthof Blomberghaus).
I also wanted to keep going to Blomberg Westgipfel (1248 m), but apparently the route to the top was a part of privately owned land and I had to skip it. Later on, I checked the heatmap on Strava and saw that some people did manage to climb over the fence and reach the top.
After a quick meal at the restaurant, I went downhill to the base of the cable car, then walked to Bad Tölz and boarded the train. It felt weird walking through the tourist-filled town being covered in mud and sweat, while the visitors were strolling along the streets taking photos of the architecture, occasionally having me in the picture.
Overall, this is a great area for hiking, especially for beginners. I wouldn't recommend following the track I took, as there wasn't much to see on most of the "peaks", but otherwise hiking up Heiglkopf (1218 m), Zwiesel (1348 m), or Blomberg Ostgipfel (1237 m) is a great way to spend a day. The routes are always filled with hikers and the restaurant at the top is open most of the year!