The Stopselzieher is a popular climbing route to the summit of the Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany. This route offers a challenging way to reach the summit. The starting point can be either the Eibsee (slightly longer route) or the valley station of the Ehrwalder Zugspitzbahn. We first follow easy paths that lead us higher up to the cable car supports. From there it gets a little steeper. The path is partly secured with wire ropes as we climb to the Wiener Neustädter Hütte. The impressive rock cauldron at this location leaves a strong impression. The first 100 metres of the via ferrata are equipped with stepping sticks and steel ropes. We cross a narrow chimney known as the "Stopselzieher". As we continue, we cross the wide, rugged western flank of the Zugspitze. There are always steel ropes for belaying, but it is no longer as steep. Then we reach the west ridge to the Zugspitze. We walk the last secured metres to the mountain station and the summit of the Zugspitze.
After a break at the summit, we take the cable car back down to the valley.