Guidelines
Avoid night and twilight hours in the Allgäu region
For most animal species, the twilight hours are the peak of their activity and the time when they feed. Here they are particularly sensitive to disturbances. Please avoid being out and about during the night and twilight hours.
Thank you for helping to preserve our natural treasures.
How do I go to the toilet in nature?
The first rule is: don't leave any traces!
- Go to the toilet at least 50 meters away from water, trails, cabins.
- Look for level ground when urinating (plants and roots often can't tolerate the acidic liquid).
- Watch for poisonous plants, anthills, and underground bee or bumblebee nests.
- Try to do it without toilet paper / tissues, if there is no other way, bury your leftovers at least 15 cm deep in the ground (do not burn tissues / toilet paper -> forest fire hazard!).
- Dig a hole with a branch or something like that beforehand.
- Hygiene articles such as tampons, sanitary towels, wet wipes, children's diapers must be taken away again. A small bag that can be thrown into the nearest trash can is suitable here.
Take back and recycle any trash
The higher we are in the mountains, the longer the natural decomposition processes take! And especially things like handkerchiefs or banana peels, which you would think would decompose quickly, remain in nature as trash for a long time. Therefore our request: Take everything back to the valley as well. Thank you!
Decay time in the mountains:
- handkerchief: 5 years
- wet wipes: 5 to 10 years and contamination of groundwater by chemicals
- Banana peel: 1 year
- Orange peel: 1 to 2 years
- Cigarette butt: 5 years and contaminates up to 40 liters of groundwater
- Chewing gum: 5 years
- Cereal bar and energy gel packaging: 30 to 50 years
- Plastic bottle: 300 years
- Aluminium can: 500 years
Spring hiking backpack packing list
- Backpack 20-30 liters; with rain cover
- Bivy sack/rescue blanket; as light as possible
- First aid kit
- Gloves; windproof and water repellent
- Rain jacket; Waterproof and breathable
Sustainability tip: Jackets with waterproofing without fluorocarbons (PFC) and materials made from recycled plastic are ideal. - Warm jacket; for example made of down or synthetic fiber, preferably windproof
Sustainability tip: For down jackets, there is the RDS seal (Responsible Down Standard), which guarantees that the down or feathers used come exclusively from geese treated in accordance with animal welfare standards. - headlamp
Sustainability tip: If you buy a model with a built-in rechargeable battery, you save on batteries.
Mountain tip: In spring it still gets dark early. A headlamp creates safety margins. - Hiking map; Scale 1:25.000
- Sunglasses
- Waterbottle; depending on the length of the tour
- Lunchbox; with snacks or meal
- Garbage bag
- Blister plaster
- Sunscreen; at least sun protection factor 30
- Wallet; with DAV ID, passport, insurance card and cash
- Mobilephone
- Pocket knife
- Hiking sticks
- if necessary thermo seat cushion
- if necessary Grödel
Mountain tip: Grödel are small plates with iron studs. They are attached to the sole and then act like snow chains: you can use them to overcome snowfields and icy passages more safely. Important: Grödel are not crampons!
avalanches
No matter if Ski tour, freeriding or snowshoe tour, always inform yourself first about the avalanche situation in your area. Here you come to the current avalanche reports.
Weather
In the Allgäu Pre-Alps and especially in the Allgäu Alps it is important to know the latest weather forecast for your outdoor activities. Please inform yourself exactly if the weather is suitable for your activities.
To the weather report of the DAV for the Allgäuer Pre-Alps and the mountain weather for the Allgäuer Alps you come here here.
Forest work
- Please exercise extreme caution during forestry work - danger to life!
- Only pass the path after clearance by forest workers.
- When working with forestry machines, make eye contact with the vehicle driver - only then pass the path.
- Take closures seriously, downed trees can land on the trail at any time.
Hiking
To protect mountain nature: do not leave litter, avoid noise, stay on the trails, do not disturb wild and grazing animals, leave plants untouched and respect protected areas.
Mountainbike
In order to avoid conflicts with other users or managers, it is necessary to observe and comply with the following rules.
Ski and snowshoe tours
The mountains offer a valuable free space to move in unique wilderness. Enjoy this freedom! Be considerate of wildlife, respect protected areas and do not enter reforestation areas.
Climbing
Climbing rocks! But the rock is also home to the eagle owl, goshawk, crag martin and peregrine falcon.
Paragliding
Paragliding feels limitless. And somehow it is, but only by feel. Because even high in the skies we border on sensitive habitats where animals sense the dangers from above.
