Bergführer Berchtesgaden & Chiemgau

Scope and focus

This Panico mountaineering guide gathers the best of the Berchtesgaden and Chiemgau ranges into one volume that bridges demanding mountain walking and classic alpine rock. Sebastian Steude curates an unusually broad spectrum: from T4+ scrambles and normal routes to airy ridge traverses and lower-grade alpine climbs. Expect both household names and quieter outliers—Watzmann’s East Face and traverse stand beside the Hocheis and Blaueis circuits, while lesser‑known lines on the Untersberg or Reiter Alm invite exploration.

Coverage includes:

• Untersberg and Lattengebirge
• Reiter Alm and Hochkalter massif
• Watzmann group and Hagengebirge
• Hoher Göll
• Eastern and Western Chiemgauer Alps (e.g., Hochstaufen, Kampenwand, Hochgern)

Structure and usability

The book opens with clear how‑to sections: difficulty scales (including SAC), protection and equipment notes, an “seriousness” rating, and planning pages on access, huts, and environmental etiquette—plus concise chapters on geology, flora, and the Berchtesgaden National Park. Each area then presents route overviews followed by detailed chapters. Individual routes list approach logistics, altitude gain, time budgets, character, and crux grades; long ridge days get broken into logical legs. The cartographic sketches and topos are a highlight—legible lines, pitch lengths, and key anchors, with practical descent diagrams and variants.

Route selection and quality

Steude states he has personally climbed every tour and it shows: descriptions are precise, hazards are called out (grass ledges, brittle rock, residual snow), and protection expectations are realistic—where belays are fixed, where normal pitons remain, and where cams and slings are indispensable. The mix is strong in the II–IV range: classics like Hochkalter via the Blaueis, the Hocheisumrahmung, Hoher Göll Westgrat, and the Untersberg traverse sit alongside well‑chosen normal routes and scramblings to lesser peaks.

Who it suits

• Ambitious hikers stepping into alpine terrain
• Scramblers and ridge aficionados
• Traditional climbers seeking long, lower‑grade outings with authentic character Specialists hunting hard modern bolted test‑pieces will find fewer targets here.

Verdict

A finely balanced, field‑tested selection with excellent topos and planning aids, this guide captures the region’s variety better than most. For a season (or three) of Gipfel, Grate, and classic lines between Watzmann and Kampenwand, it’s an easy recommendation.

Details

Weight

550g

Pages

248

Publisher

Panico Alpinverlag