Rübezahlstiege

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The Rübezahlstiege (also called Rübezahlweg ) is a climbing facility in Saxon Switzerland . The stairs lead from the Schneeberger Lochs in Heringsgrund near Schmilka over about 80 meters in altitude to the Reitsteig below the Großer Winterberg . It runs in the Ostrau district and thus belongs to Bad Schandau .

history

In the lower third of the Rübezahl stairs, before the renovation (picture from 1998)

The first climbing system in the Schneeberger Lochs already existed before the First World War . The photographer Walter Hahn photographed it around 1909. The staircase was renovated and expanded around 1920, making the staircase one of the older facilities of its kind in Saxon Switzerland. This work was carried out by Hugo Friedrich , a Saxon climber and cave explorer, whose nickname Rübezahl also passed on to the stairs. So it is only indirectly named after the Silesian mountain spirit Rübezahl . Initially, the stairs were rejected in mountaineering circles, and ladders were also removed in 1923. Nevertheless, it became a popular and short climb to the Reitsteig. In 1935 the staircase was thoroughly renovated and previously wooden fixtures were replaced by iron steps and handles. At the entrance there is a corresponding, meanwhile heavily weathered inscription in the rock.

The staircase has not been renovated since then and was in poor condition until spring 2012. A possible closure has been discussed several times since the Saxon Switzerland National Park was established. According to the current path concept of the national park, the staircase is now marked as a climbing access and can therefore be climbed at your own risk. In recent years, the approach below the actual staircase has been relocated and renovated.

In the summer of 2012, the Rübezahl stairs were finally refurbished. The old climbing aids were replaced by new ones. Additional climbing aids were also installed. In contrast to the Häntzschelstiege , the original character of the stairs was retained.

difficulty

The Rübezahlstiege is a very demanding via ferrata that should only be attempted by experienced climbers and only uphill. The level of difficulty is given from B / C to C / D. In contrast to most other via ferratas, the Rübezahlstiege does not have a wire rope to secure it. In addition, the first four meters must be freely climbed without any brackets. This part is the hardest. The once even more difficult ascent in the cave was somewhat defused during the renovation in 2012 with a climbing aid.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Description of the Rübezahl stairs at Dr. Rolf Boehm
  2. ↑ http://www.ssi-heft.de/www_archiv/zwinki/
  3. ↑ http://www.kv-fernblick.de/service/forum/forum.php?text=7
  4. ↑ Route planning for the national park
  5. ↑ Tour description at sandsteinwandern.de (accessed on October 1, 2012)

literature

  • Michael Bellmann: The via ferrata guide Saxony. Heimatbuchverlag, Dresden 2008, ISBN 9783937537405
  • Axel Mothes: The journey is the goal. Volume II: Known & Unknown climbing systems in Saxon Switzerland. Self-published, Halle 2006
  • Peter Rölke (Ed.): Stiegen-Wanderführer Saxon Switzerland. Out and about on narrow paths and the most beautiful stairs. , Berg- und Naturverlag Rölke, Dresden 2012, ISBN 978-3-934514-27-0 .

Web links

Coordinates: 50 ° 54 ′ 25.6 "  N , 14 ° 14 ′ 41.9"  E