New Summit Cross to Alleviate Crowds on Zugspitze

The Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain, is set to unveil a second summit cross to enhance visitor safety amid growing crowds. This initiative aims to address safety concerns at the original cross, situated at an elevation of 2,962 meters, as over 600,000 tourists flock to the peak annually, primarily for picturesque photographs.

The decision to install the new cross was announced by a spokesperson for the Bavarian Zugspitzbahn, who emphasized the need to mitigate hazardous situations around the original site. The spokesperson noted that while accidents are infrequent, the area around the original cross can become congested and steep, posing risks to visitors.

The new, replica summit cross will be installed on July 3, adjacent to the historical exhibition commemorating 90 years of the cog railway at the summit station. This location allows guests to take their summit photos without the peril of falling, providing a safer environment for capturing memories.

Despite the high visitor numbers at the original cross, the spokesperson reassured that serious accidents are rare. Nonetheless, they expressed concern over the increasing number of poorly equipped visitors attempting the ascent, with some arriving in inappropriate footwear such as sneakers and flip-flops. The mountain rescue service frequently assists these individuals, who often find themselves unable to navigate the steep terrain.

An emerging trend among visitors is to affix stickers to the summit cross as a form of commemoration. However, space constraints at the base of the original cross have resulted in some individuals attempting to place stickers higher up, which adds another layer of danger.

The newly designed cross, created by local artist Bernhard Rieger, will be displayed indoors at the summit station. This setup ensures that even in inclement weather conditions, visitors will still have the opportunity to capture the perfect selfie against a backdrop of the mountain panorama. Moreover, the exhibition will educate guests about the history of the original cross, which was first erected in 1851 under the initiative of Pastor Christoph Ott from Hohenpeißenberg, with support from Queen Marie of Bavaria.