There were 11 Polyramblers for this 14th snow walking weekend. We were back in Bad Reichenhall in Bavaria where the club went in May 2018. Our journey there was quite long. Our flight was delayed by over an hour then some people (me and another) missed the train which was then delayed, resulting in a missed connection and an hour’s wait in Freilassing made bearable by the station cat. But Kim and Siew Kee arrived even later as their flight had been cancelled and then re-booked two hours later and then they took the wrong train.

The next day, we were finally all reunited after a bit of a mix up as we were due to meet at Bad Reichenhall-Kirchberg train station but a few people went to the main station. It was sunny but cloudy later and not as cold as the UK (no frost on the cars). We followed the river Saalach for a short while and then climbed through the woods, following an undulating path with a number of steps. We were walking along the long-distance footpath Salzalpensteig (Alps Salt Path) which is also the Bad Reichenhall Elves Path designed for children -but enjoyed by all – with lots of little buildings for the elves. Danny left us to take the bus to lake Thumsee. We walked around the lake before stopping for lunch at the restaurant Seewirt am Thumsee where Danny was waiting for us. Unfortunately, as I still suffer from plantar fasciitis, I can only do short walks and Danny and I took the bus back to Bad Reichenhall as my heel (and his knees) was quite painful. The rest of the group had an enjoyable walk back along the valley and nobody got lost (although there was a tense moment when someone was left behind). After a nice rest, we all met for dinner at the restaurant Hunn’s.

Sunday was cloudy and small snowflakes were fluttering down until early afternoon. We took a train to Berchtesgaden and a bus to Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden where there was more snow than in Bad Reichenhall. First, we went to the Ramsau parish church – St. Sebastian (built from 1512) – which is quite reknown. Painted by artists and photographed thousands of times, it features in countless calendars. But, today, the weather did not do it justice. Then we followed the Ramsauer Ache river on the Mill Path and through woodland. There were 27 small mills on this river when farmers were growing wheat in the area. We entered Zauberwald (the magic forest) which – I read later – is a geological peculiarity created by a giant rock fall 3500 years ago. The path runs along the Ramsauer Ache between boulders and moss-covered trees. We finally reached lake Hintersee and our lunch stop at Seeklause restaurant. There were people walking and ice skating on the frozen lake. But we were not brave or foolhardy enough to try. Danny and I took the bus and train back to Bad Reichenhall while the rest of the group walked back to Ramsau following a different path. From the photos, it looked like a very nice walk and it ended with blue skies. To drown my sorrow for being unable to do the whole walk, I went to Cafe Reber for a coffee and cake. We all met for dinner at the Kammerer Brau restaurant.

Our last full day was more leisurely and we were lucky with the weather as there was not a cloud in the sky when we travelled by bus to Lake Konigssee. We did not pay for public transport during our stay thanks to the wonderful guest card. We pay the tourist tax but it brings benefits. There were different walks on offer as well as a trip on Lake Koningssee but Danny had found out that the Jennerbahn cable car had reduced rates that day. So the programme was abandoned and four members of the group went up on the Jennerbahn and did two short walks on Mount Jenner. The other seven did a cruise on Lake Konigssee to St Bartholoma church and back and went up with the Jennerbahn. We were going up as the other group was going down. We had lunch with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and four of us walked up to the summit of Mount Jenner (1874m). The descent was quite steep and we were glad there were cables to hold on to. It was too late to do a second walk from the middle station of the cable car and we returned to Bad Reichenhall by bus. For dinner, we went back to restaurant Hunn’s which was empty. We were served by a surly waiter who could not be bothered to look after us and wanted to go home. We did not get a dessert because he said it was too late to order.

Our journey back was uneventful but, as we were changing train at Munich East station, I realised that, had we done this on the way in as per my itinerary – and not indulged Danny who wanted to buy a special offer lunch at his favourite cafe in Munich Main station – I would not have missed the train.

Next snow walking trip in January 2026 – probably Northern Italy or Austria which means purchasing flights early.

Dominique.  Photos by Ida