Biberkopf
Encyclopedia
The Biberkopf is a 2,599 m high mountain in the Alps
on the border between Germany
and Austria
.
on the border between the Bavaria
n district of Oberallgäu
and the Tyrolean district of Reutte. It is around 15.5 km south-southwest of Oberstdorf
and only about 2.5 km east of the Schrofen Pass (as the crow flies
).
The Biberkopf is sometimes described as the most southerly point in Bavaria and Germany, although its summit lies 110 metres further north than the Haldenwanger Eck 4,088 metres further west as the crow flies.
s. The very pure dolomite is the reason for the lack of vegetations on the mountain, because the content of clay minerals in the weathering products is insufficient for the formation of soil. By contrast, in the areas on marl strata there is a rich flora.
).
An ascent is not advisable in wet weather or conditions of snow and ice. Patches of snow remain all-year round on the northern slopes.
The routes to the summit are maintained by the German Alpine Club
's branch at Obergünzburg, which belongs to the section
at Kempten/Allgäu.
The south face of the Biberkopf was first climbed in 1922 by the Allgäu alpinist, Hermann Grosselfinger.
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
on the border between Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
.
Location and area
The Biberkopf lies on the main crest of the Allgäu AlpsAllgäu Alps
The Allgäu Alps are a mountain range in the Northern Limestone Alps, located in Bavaria in Germany and Tyrol and Vorarlberg in Austria. The range lies directly east of Lake Constance.-Principal summits:-External links:*...
on the border between the Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
n district of Oberallgäu
Oberallgäu
Oberallgäu is a district in Bavaria, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Unterallgäu and Ostallgäu, the Austrian states Tyrol and Vorarlberg, the district of Lindau, and the state of Baden-Württemberg...
and the Tyrolean district of Reutte. It is around 15.5 km south-southwest of Oberstdorf
Oberstdorf
Oberstdorf is a municipality and skiing and hiking town in southwest Germany, located in the Allgäu region of the Bavarian Alps.At the center of Oberstdorf is a church whose tall spire serves as a landmark for navigating around town. The summits of the Nebelhorn and Fellhorn provide...
and only about 2.5 km east of the Schrofen Pass (as the crow flies
As the crow flies
"As the crow flies" or beelining is an idiom for the shortest route between two points; the geodesic distance.An example is the great-circle distance between Key West and Pensacola, at either end of the U.S...
).
The Biberkopf is sometimes described as the most southerly point in Bavaria and Germany, although its summit lies 110 metres further north than the Haldenwanger Eck 4,088 metres further west as the crow flies.
Geology
Its fascinating shape makes the Biberkopf (literally: "beaver's head") one of the most striking mountains in the German Alps. Geologically the body of the summit is made of severely folded dolomite that was thrust up over marlMarl
Marl or marlstone is a calcium carbonate or lime-rich mud or mudstone which contains variable amounts of clays and aragonite. Marl was originally an old term loosely applied to a variety of materials, most of which occur as loose, earthy deposits consisting chiefly of an intimate mixture of clay...
s. The very pure dolomite is the reason for the lack of vegetations on the mountain, because the content of clay minerals in the weathering products is insufficient for the formation of soil. By contrast, in the areas on marl strata there is a rich flora.
Ascent
From the Rappensee Hut and from Lechleiten (near Warth) marked routes run up the Biberkopf. These take about 2.5 to 3 hours. Both ascents cross exposed sections of steep rock and scree, which is why surefootedness is required. Due to the installation of wire cables and other climbing aids the climbs may be attempted by less able climbers (UIAA grade IGrade (climbing)
In rock climbing, mountaineering and other climbing disciplines, climbers give a climbing grade to a route that concisely describes the difficulty and danger of climbing the route...
).
An ascent is not advisable in wet weather or conditions of snow and ice. Patches of snow remain all-year round on the northern slopes.
The routes to the summit are maintained by the German Alpine Club
German Alpine Club
The German Alpine Club or DAV is the largest climbing association in the world and the eighth largest sports union in Germany. It is organised into 354 legally independent branches with a total of around 815,000 members...
's branch at Obergünzburg, which belongs to the section
Section (Alpine club)
The section of an Alpine club is an independent club or society that, together with the other sections, forms the main organisation . Membership of an Alpine club is normally only possible through membership of a section...
at Kempten/Allgäu.
The south face of the Biberkopf was first climbed in 1922 by the Allgäu alpinist, Hermann Grosselfinger.
Sources and maps
- Dieter Seibert, Alpenvereinsführer Allgäuer Alpen und Ammergauer Alpen, Munich 2004, ISBN 3-7633-1126-2
- Alpenvereinskarte 1:25,000, Sheet3/2, Lechtaler Alpen, Arlberggebiet (The Biberkopf is right on the northern edge of the map, the Rappensee Hut is off the map)
- Bayerisches Landervermessungsamt, 1:50.000, Sonderdruck Allgäuer Alpen, Blatt UK L8