Hey 48 percenter --

[gateley]

This can be your next outing!

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TRAVEL/getaways/07/18/germany.zugspitze/index.html

[Eurobabe]

1. Would you believe me if I said I can see that from my house?

Seriously. I live exactly 50 mi. north of the Zugspitze. I pass it everytime I go skiing in Austria, Lermoos, Ehrwald or Berwang (if I go to the Zugspitze Arena, it's a conglomerate of small ski areas that you can ski at with one pass)

However, the Zugspitze is not to be trifled with, this past weekend two runners died of exposure when the weather turned nasty on a summer day. :(

Two Runners Die on Germany's Highest Mountain, Spiegel Reports

July 14 (Bloomberg) -- Two German men died of exhaustion and exposure and a number of people had to be rescued by helicopter after an advancing cold front trapped runners in a race on Germany's highest mountain, Der Spiegel reported.

The victims, a 41-year-old man from North Rhine-Westphalia and 45-year-old runner from Baden-Wuerttemberg, died Sunday afternoon at 2,700 meters (8,858 feet) and 2,800 meters on the Zugspitze, Spiegel reported on its Web site, citing Thomas Griesbeck from the mountain patrol in nearby Garmisch- Partenkirchen.

About 550 runners, most of them clad in shorts and T-shirts, were caught between rest stops when temperatures fell below freezing and snow and strong winds moved in, Spiegel said. Runners had been warned that temperatures could drop to 3 to 5 degrees Celsius (37 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit) with winds of as much as 80 kilometers (50 miles) an hour, according to the magazine. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601100&sid=alGQMyk0_NH8&refer=germany

Edit: Okay, I found some of my pictures of the Zugspitze, took these on the way home last year from Austria. This is on the Austrian side crossing into Germany, taking the back roads.

[PatSeg]

2. What a bizarre story!

Beautiful picture.

[Eurobabe]

3. Gets even weirder by the day

German Prosecutors Probe Death of Zugspitze Athletes
Runners climb a slope during a mountain run towards the peak of Germany's highest mountain, Zugspitze
German prosecutors are investigating the tragic chain of events that led to the death of two extreme athletes taking part in an annual race up the country's highest peak, the Zugspitze.

Prosecutors opened their investigation on Monday, July 14, a day after freezing temperatures, snow and wind turned the organized endurance race up the Zugspitze into total chaos.

Two runners, aged 41 and 45, died of hypothermia and exhaustion as they neared the finish on the 2,962-meter (9,718-ft) mountain. Six other runners who were hospitalized for hypothermia have since been released, police said on Monday.

Runners were underdressed

The race took place despite weather warnings predicting rain and low temperatures. Many of the 550 participants showed up wearing only shorts and thin running shirts. "It was pouring rain," participant Dirk Schurig told the online edition of Der Spiegel magazine. "Futher up the mountain the rain turned to snow, and an icy wind was blowing." As yet, no concrete investigation of any one person is taking place, according to the head of Munich's state prosecution, Ruediger Hoedl. Officials are currently interviewing witnesses and participants, and checking weather data.

"We're checking the facts," Hoedl said, adding that at least one of the men had died from hypothermia, according to an autopsy. There is speculation, however, that the event's organizers could face charges of negligent manslaughter.

Organizer Peter Krinninger called off the race, which began at 9 a.m., at around 12:30 p.m. By then, around 100 rescue workers and four helicopters were in circulation among the athletes, many of whom had collapsed along the route. Krinninger would not comment on the investigation, but told Der Spiegel that he was "very depressed and deeply shocked." He said his thoughts were with the family members of the two men who died. http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3485345,00.html

[PatSeg]

6. That is absolutely crazy!!!

They knew the bad weather was coming and they ran anyway? Sounds like a Darwin Award moment.

[gateley]

4. Zow! Remember how I'd kid about moving to Germany and showing up on your doorstep?

I'm not kidding anymore.

Breathtaking!

Now THOSE are mountains. Kind of like our Olympics in Washington. The Cascades aren't too shabby, either, but these remind me more of the Olympics.

A friend from Seattle visited me in NC and we decided to drive through the Blue Ridge Mountains. We were warned it could be kind of scary if one is afraid of heights. We were in the middle of a severe thunder/lightning/rain storm, going "where are the mountains?". When we realized we were ON them, we couldn't stop laughing - we would call them foothills in Washington. Even with the storming weather, they were a piece of cake.

[Muttocracy]

5. I grew up in the Blue Ridge foothills and feel the same way about the "Iron Range" in Minnesota

It's all relative. I've been on the mountains in Utah and they were too brown and too sharp :P

[gateley]

9. We weren't dissing the Blue Ridge Mountains

as much as we were feeling superior. Makes a lot of sense, I know. :eyes:

[Muttocracy]

10. no offense taken

I think they're nice, but I'm also glad, culturally, that I'm not there anymore.

[Eurobabe]

7. Today was one of those picture perfect days

I wish I was toting my camera with me earlier...it was clear and low 70s no humidity. You could see ALL the way to the Zugspitze from the higher points of the county. Around 2pm I met my friend at our local ice cream shop, we sat in the sun until we couldn't stand it anymore and then we headed down to the lake where the ferry docks. There were TONS of sailboats on the lake today it was a gorgeous sight. :( Aber kein Kamera dabei.

We kept hearing all this ruckus from around the corner. Her hubby showed up and we walked along the breakwall (like we need one for my lake, LOL) and realized that the village "Fischerstechen" was underway. Damn, I wish I had my camera with me, this was pretty amusing. Men dress up in silly costumes and get on a wooden boat with a long plank for an on the water jousting contest, it looked like they were bopping each other with giant Q-tips! They had to hit above the waist and knock their opponent off his plank into the water. We found a seat among the crowd and proceeded to drink all afternoon (Radler: Half beer, half sprite, very good! :P ) The local wallpaper hanger won the contest around 6pm, by that time everyone was pretty well toasted. No worries though, everyone walks home half wasted. :rofl:

Next time I will take my camera, and hubby is entering the contest for July 2009. I told him we would train in the backyard, my friend is bringing her pressure washer to assist. :D

He remarked this evening that today was just one of those fun days when you still feel like a little kid. :hi: One thing I love most about life over here is the adherence to old traditions. Can't wait for Oktoberfest, I might buy a dirndl this year. Hubby says you will never, however, catch his Hanseatic ass in Lederhosen. :rofl:

[Muttocracy]

8. speaking of photos, seen this magazine cover of Obama in German?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6517158

[jillan]

11. What brings your family to Germany?

Is it work, family, military....or just great beer?

What's the scoop?


That pic looks like a postcard. Absolutely beautiful country.