When hiking in the Alps I like to plan the trip at the end of August into September. This allows me to train in the summer at altitude to prepare for the trek. This gives me plenty of time to get familiar with the trail and to decide where to spend each night. I like to do this now (December to January) to avoid the pressure of having to digest a lot of information and making quick decisions. I ordinarily buy the maps at this point, but this route is covered by 13 maps. This would add weight I don’t wish to carry. For now I will plan with the maps in the Hayes guidebook. At present I am considering starting the trek from Bad Tolz (eliminating 2 days and 38.5 miles of rather flat walking) and finishing at Ponte della Priula (eliminating 3 days and 50 miles of flat walking). The total mileage would be approximately 266 miles to be completed in 25 days of hiking and 6 rest days which will give me a buffer for bad weather. Starting in late August I will encounter some of the summer crowds, but in September should have fewer people on the trails and in the huts. Hopefully, the weather will remain stable through the third week in September. Usually, September has the most settled weather, but I will be prepared for the occasional storm.
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