AB82
AB82 Grenzgänger - high alpine stage hiking trail
The Grenzgänger connects the mountain villages of Hinterhornbach, Hinterstein (Bad Hindelang) and Schattwald in six stages, incorporating mountain refuges. Here, standards are to be set in the area of quality for high alpine hikes.
Small mountain villages such as the Lechtal side valley community of Hinterhornbach and communities away from the tourist hot spots (e.g. Zöblen, Schattwald and Hinterstein on the German side) have been struggling with population declines for years. They are also increasingly sidelined economically/touristically. In order to offer not only jobs but also a secure livelihood and to stop the exodus, high-quality tourism products and a clear positioning based on the existing resources are needed. The strongest unique selling point of these mountain villages is their portal function for the high alpine region with its refuges and alpine climbs. Following the example of the Lechweg, the Border Crosser is intended to be such a bookable and profile-building product for alpine mountain hiking in the Allgäu Alps. The feasibility of this product was tested as part of a small-scale project of the Euregio Via Salina. While the Lechweg stands for easy long-distance hiking in the Alps, the Grenzgänger is aimed at mountain-experienced multi-day hikers. For the first time, certification is being sought for an alpine trail. However, in order to realise a certifiable trail, comprehensive quality-improving measures in the alpine terrain and uniform signposting/marking are required. A uniform image, joint communication, etc. make the border crosser an independent and internationally recognisable product (cf. Lechweg). The cooperation of Bad Hindelang, the Lech Valley and the Tannheim Valley as well as the DAV sections involved achieves an intensive transfer of know-how (signposting, product management, etc.). The Lechweg has impressively demonstrated that such cooperation or a joint product can also give peripheral regions a self-sustaining economic boost in the long term.
Project executing agency: Bad Hindelang
Project partner: TVB Tannheimer Tal
Support programme: Interreg V Österreich-Deutschland/Bayern
Total costs: € 1.547.200
Funding rate: € 75 %