Getting to know the Bavarian Alps, from A(ustrian Border) to Z(ugspitze)
When you live in Munich, there’s no excuse for not living the high life. What other major city in Germany can boast of being a mere 30-minute drive from the mountains—complete with their world-class scenery and the skiing, hiking, climbing and countless other activities they have to offer? Indeed both the die-hard outdoor expert and armchair nature lover alike will be delighted to know that a bountiful resource exists to help you make the most of every facet of the German Alps, whether you’re after maps or avalanche training. Yes, the Deutscher Alpenverein (DAV), or German Alpine Society, is well worth checking out for anyone keen to discover the hills.
The DAV is the world’s largest mountain sports association, as well as being one of the biggest environmental protection groups in Germany. Founded in 1869 by a small group of climbers who wanted to promote education and safety in the mountains, membership soon grew. Now members include everyone from weekend hikers to serious adventurers, mountain-bikers, sport climbers, back-country skiers, mountain-hut proprietors, families, environmentalists and cultural enthusiasts. As if that were not enough, the DAV is itself part of a larger group of alpine associations that span Austria, Italy, Switzerland and France. As of 2005, membership in Germany was at 700,000 and climbing. Its main purpose has always been to promote the enjoyment of the outdoors and of outdoor activities as well as to preserve the natural environment for generations to come.
So what does it mean to be a member of the organization? First of all, as with most good things German, there are numerous rules and regulations. Although the German headquarters is in Munich, the DAV is broken down into 354 local chapters (called Sektionen). Munich alone has 28 chapters, the largest of which are the Sektion Oberland and the Sektion München, which includes the English-speaking hiking group “Munich Wanderers” (see www.munichwanderers.de). Annual fees and rules vary between chapters, depending on the courses offered and the interests of fellow members. As a general rule, membership costs between € 44 and € 80 for one year.
Membership benefits are seemingly endless. Information appears to be the most flowing commodity within the society, and for members it is by and large free. Maps, travel guides and books from the DAV library may be borrowed either free of charge or for a minimal fee. And, six times a year, a glossy copy of the DAV-published Panorama Magazine—the “mountain lovers journal”—arrives in your mailbox, as well as flyers and newsletters galore from your local section.
Here in Munich, one has the added bonus of discounted admission to the Alpines Museum, located at Praterinsel 5, which was founded by the DAV in the early 1900s. The museum offers both permanent and temporary exhibitions on current issues, historical topics, cultural and even political subjects pertaining to the Alps and alpinism. The DAV also organizes and sponsors a full range of educational courses on mountain sport, as well as seminars on subjects such as outdoor survival, first aid, leadership training, meteorology and GPS navigational courses. In fact, browse the DAV’s downloadable 52-page course catalogue and you may well get the impression you’re dealing with a “University of the Mountains.”
As if that weren’t enough, the association also provides infor-mation on how to plan a trek across the Alps and book beds along the way in some of its many mountain huts. With some 40,000 km of trails and 2,000 huts to discover, you’re unlikely to exhaust the possibilities. As a member, one gets “VIP treatment” at the huts, which includes better bed allocation, re-duced-price Bergsteigeressen and free hot water for making tea. The DAV not only ensures the upkeep of its alpine huts, investing nearly € 10 million in them every year, but also supports the maintenance of the trails. Based on one of the founding principles, members are also welcome to help in the preservation of the environment in which they love to play. And since safety and education are top priorities of the DAV, membership fees include comprehensive insurance for all mountain accidents. <<<
