Up to the Hochgrat, down to the Buchenegger Waterfalls
- O Peregrino
- 4 days ago
- 10 min read
This is where our story ends, unfortunately. Not with a whining, but with a real final push, giving it our all. Well, it wasn't quite that dramatic. Let's start our stories with the Hochgrat:
"It towers on the horizon – the Hochgrat, a king in the Nagelfluh, older than crystal, shaped by rivers and time.
Lake Constance rests beneath us, the blue of the Alps sweeps above.
Mosses and gentian line the stony ridge, while eagles circle high above.
An ancient melody of rock, wind, and a far-reaching view –
and we stand in the midst of it, long since more part of a story than just a landscape."
Hochgrat – A Mountain Whose Heart Beats in the Nagelfluh
Height & Significance
The Hochgrat (also known locally as Hochgrät) rises 1,834 m above sea level, making it the highest peak in the Nagelfluh chain and the entire Allgäu Alpine foothills. It is considered Oberstaufen's local mountain and is of great geographical and touristic importance.
Geological Feature
The mountain is composed of Nagelfluh – a hard conglomerate of scree, sand, and marl, which has been baked together by consolidation, holding the rock components together like concrete. It is a regionally outstanding geotope and part of the Nagelfluhkette Nature Park, established in 2008.
Panorama & View
Due to its exposed location above the Alpine foothills, the Hochgrat offers breathtaking views in clear weather: from Lake Constance across Upper Swabia to the Alps – even as far as the Black Forest and Ulm Minster.
Flora & Fauna
The Hochgrat lies near the tree line: The subsoil of conglomerate, sandstone, and marl provides a habitat for a wide variety of plant species – from arnica, gentian, and silver thistle to pasque flowers, mountain asters, and the rare limestone aster.
The climatic conditions, with frequent rainfall and wind, also ensure a diverse mountain flora. The nature park is also home to an impressive array of wildlife: golden eagles, chamois, marmots, and a variety of species that support species-rich alpine habitats.
⛰ Infrastructure & Human Traces
The Hochgrat is easily accessible via the Hochgrat cable car. Refreshments are available at the mountain station and at the German Alpine Club (DAV) hut "Staufner Haus" at an altitude of 1,634 m.
For families, day hikers, and summit visitors, there are panoramic trails, themed trails, and sporting events such as mountain runs or ski rallies.
Ascent to the Hochgrat
The valley railway is already far behind us. Backpacks, heavy as small worlds, rest on our shoulders. I – 66 years old – a little more conscious with every step, my son Huayna – young and vigorous – almost as if he weren't carrying the same burden. The beginning of the trail is pleasant. A wide path, gently rising, and the morning sun casts a bright shimmer over the landscape. The grass still glistens with dew, and every breath fills our lungs with the cool freshness of the mountains.
We walk through wide meadows, so green, as if the earth had donned its most beautiful dress here. Flowers glow among the grasses – yellow arnica, purple bellflowers,
and every now and then the deep chord of a gentian blossom. Butterflies flutter from blossom to blossom, and the air buzzes with invisible bees.
Above us, the slopes open up – gentle, curved, inviting. The chimes of cows' bells accompany our steps. An ancient song that carries the rhythm of the Allgäu.
Sometimes the animals lazily raise their heads, gaze with silent eyes,
as if they had long known the secrets of this mountain. But the path becomes steeper.
The gentle walk turns into a climb, into shorter stages, interrupted by longer breaks.
I feel my age, every muscle that strains. But these breaks are not weakness.
They are gifts.
I sit down on a rock, gaze down into the valley, where the forests undulate like a green sea
and the blue of Lake Constance peeks in the distance. One breath is enough,
and the tiredness turns into gratitude. Huayna waits ahead. He turns around, his face bright with joy, and I recognize myself in him – the younger, lighter hiker, who once sought these same paths. Now we walk together, connected across time and generations.
The silence of the mountain carries us. No engine, no noise, no crowd – only the whistle of a bird, the rustling of the wind in the grass, and the steady beating of two hearts. Thus, every step, even the hardest, becomes a step into the eternity of this landscape. We are not just hiking up the Hochgrat – we are hiking into a picture of light and silence, into a world
where one forgets one's own tiredness
and only feels how precious this moment is.
The Summit Moment on the Hochgrat
And then – finally – the final climb is behind us. Our legs burn, our breathing is heavy,
but in the same moment, all tiredness disappears. We stand at the summit of the Hochgrat.
The world opens up in all directions. In front of us, the meadows roll gently down the valley,
behind the dark forests, and in the distance, Lake Constance shimmers like a silver sea.
To the south, another realm stretches out: the Alps, majestic and clear, peaks of stone,
crowned by eternal snow. Every peak seems to tell a story, older than anything we humans can remember. The wind caresses our faces. It carries the scent of grass, of rocks, of freedom. The cowbells from the valley ring only faintly, almost like a distant dream.
We put down our backpacks, and in this lightness, it feels as if we hadn't been carrying burdens, but wings. I look at Huayna – his smile is brighter than the sun above us.
And I know: this moment belongs to both of us. Not to the mountain alone, not to effort,
not to time. It is a gift, a moment that carries us, far beyond today.
So we stand there – father and son, on the roof of the Allgäu, with hearts that beat more calmly, and with souls that have become more open. The summit of the Hochgrat –
more than just a place. A promise that in the silence of the mountains
we can always find home again.
The Legend of the Gentian and the Weather Witch Adelaide
It was in the 19th century that the first bivouac boxes were built on the Hochgrat so that hikers who got lost or were caught in the weather could find refuge there. But not everyone who sought the summit did so with humility.
One early spring day, a young man climbed. He was strong, proud, and filled with the unshakable belief that the mountains could not harm him. Having reached the summit, he saw a brilliant blue spring gentian by the path – a flower that the elders said was deadly and that whoever pulled it out would suffer misfortune.
The hiker, however, laughed at the superstition. He knelt down, plucked the gentian from the ground, and pinned it to his hat.
Deep in the earth, however, the news of this outrage whispered through roots and stones. The wisps, the herb of mental confusion, stirred, and above the mountain ridges rose the voice of Adelaide, the weather witch, considered the guardian of the Hochgrat. She loved the animals and the forests, and punished those who disregarded her children – the flowers of the mountains – without mercy.
Even before the hiker could begin his descent, dark clouds gathered. An icy wind swept
across the ridges, snow and hail rained down. The man staggered, groping his way forward, but every step became harder. The wisps blinded his mind, making him see paths that didn't exist. Finally, exhausted and half-blind, he crawled toward the shelter of the bivouac box.
But just before he reached the door of safety, his strength failed him. He collapsed right where he had uprooted the gentian. The storm raged for many days, and no one could search for him.
Weeks later, when the first rescuers climbed the Hochgrat, they found no trace of a body. Instead, they saw a sea of blue spring gentians that had grown like a carpet over the spot.
Since then, it has been said that anyone who picks gentians on the Hochgrat risks being haunted by the weather witch Adelaide. And when the blossoms shine like blue eyes over the meadows in spring, the elders whisper:
"That is the soul of the arrogant man, who is now eternally trapped in the flower."
Advertising III
As in two previous articles, we rubbed it in your face how important our advertising is. Not for you, but, logically, for us. Fame, money, power, and thus influence.
Beyond Borders – The Great Peace Talk
Imagine this: a heavy oak table, gilded chairs, too many cameras, too little decorum.
On one side, Donald Trump, with the self-confident air of a man who still believed he could run a country like a casino in Atlantic City. On the other, Vladimir Putin, icy as a Siberian winter, his smile no more than a muscle spasm, always ready to anticipate his opponent's move three moves ahead.
We, Beyond Borders, had placed ourselves between the two with our new political influence – not out of conviction, but out of a sense of duty: When two alpha males sharpen their claws, someone has to save the carpet.
The world press called it a "peace summit." Historians, however, whispered that here sat two men who would shrug off centuries of colonial wars, oppressed peoples, and forgotten genocides—trifles, as Trump put it before adjusting his hair. Putin nodded in agreement, mentally calculating how many villages in the Caucasus would have to make way for a highway.
But then the real psychology of the evening began:
Trump spoke in superlatives, as if he could transform the world into a gigantic Trump Tower lobby—bigger, better, stronger. Behind every sentence, one could hear the echo of his own admiration.
Putin answered succinctly, coolly, with that "steel gaze" he had practiced in front of the mirror for years. Every sentence a stab in the back, every thought: control.
It took less than half an hour before it became clear: words were meaningless here.
The air was heavy, diplomacy exhausted. We look to Trump, who was more concerned about his messy hairstyle than an impending Third World War, then to Putin, who actually couldn't care less about a Third World War. Emotions are influencing the peace talks. Dark clouds are already appearing on the horizon. A bad omen. Now it's our turn, the Beyond Border Team, and with us, common sense finally prevails with our well-considered suggestion: "Drinking contest!"
Immediately Trump rose and heaved a bottle of bourbon onto the table. Putin smiled thinly and followed it with a bottle of vodka. The cameras clicked, and the world held its breath: the first "peace contest" in history began – not with treaties, not with handshakes, but with glasses.
Round after round. Bourbon versus vodka. America versus Russia.
Faces flushed, voices grew louder, but the results remained the same: zero progress, zero compromise, but a tie in blood alcohol content.
At the end, Trump, half triumphant, half staggering, tipped his glass down – "Tie!" – and Putin nodded icily: "Agreed."
So the talks ended. Hours later they left the conference room swaying but warmly embraced, Trump with a bottle of vodka, Putin with a bottle of bourbon
The headlines the next day:
"Historic breakthrough thanks to Beyond Borders – Trump and Putin sign peace treaty over the bar."
No one talked about the actual results, because there were none. But the images – our work – went around the world.
And we knew: In a completely crazy world, the greatest asset is not truth or peace – but the image that tells of it.
Buchenegg Waterfalls – Geology, Flora, History
Geography & Geology
The Buchenegg Waterfalls are located between Steibis and Buchenegg near Oberstaufen in the Allgäu region. They are part of the Nagelfluhkette Geopark and are designated as an important geosite. The waters of the Weißach River plunge in two stages, approximately 18 to 30 meters, over Nagelfluh rocks into pools below, known as Gumpen (pools). These geological structures originated from the so-called Lower Freshwater Molasse, which was deposited approximately 17–15 million years ago – a mixture of conglomerate rock (Nagelfluh), sand, and marl.
Flora & Fauna
The trail leads through the Aachrain Natural Forest, one of the last primeval forests in the region – a habitat for numerous animal and plant species. In this vibrant, often humid microclimate, mosses, ferns, and typical Allgäu plants grow – possibly even rare flowers such as gentian and cyclamen.
Tourism & History
The waterfalls are part of the award-winning "Wild Water" premium hiking trail.
The hike takes approximately 1–1.5 hours (easy), is moderately difficult, and requires sturdy footwear – especially in wet conditions. For visitors, the lower pools with pebble beaches offer a natural opportunity to cool their feet or swim, while the upper pools are rather inaccessible and dangerous due to the current.
Gumpen Jumping – The Thrill
"Gumpenjucken" – cliff jumping at the Buchenegg Waterfalls – is a risky trend, especially popular with young people. "Gumpen" refers to the pools, while "jucken" means "to jump" in the Allgäu dialect. The jumps take place from heights of up to 17 or even 30 meters into the turquoise pools – often spectacular to watch, but life-threatening. The reach and high visibility make it vulnerable to social media videos.
There have already been serious injuries and mountain rescue operations, which is why local authorities are warning against jumping into the pools.
Brief Overview
Topic Details
Geology Formed by freshwater molasse, magnificent conglomerate rock
Landscape Part of a primeval forest with rare plant species
Hiking Trail Premium hiking route "Wild Water", 1–1.5 hours, medium difficulty
Pools Natural pools – swimming possible
Pool jumping: Extreme sport, dangerous, popular, with recorded accidents
The Buchegg Waterfalls
From the summit of the Hochgrat, where the wind blows the last wisps of clouds across the vast meadows, our path led us down into a landscape so ancient and mysterious, as if it had heard countless footsteps and stories long before us.
The mountain ranges stretched like waves in gentle curves into the distance, forested, green, and bathed in golden light by the sun. We followed a path that wound between roots and stones like an ancient vein in the earth. Every step was accompanied by the murmur of the forest—the cracking of branches, the whispering of leaves, the distant ringing of cowbells, constantly reminding us that we were still part of the world below.
The deeper we descended, the denser the canopy became. Shadows danced across the ground, as if invisible beings were playing with the light. The path led us past moss-covered rocks and small springs whose water was as clear as glass. It was as if we were entering another world through a green gate.
Then, still hidden, we heard it – the call of the water. First a distant rushing, then a roar that vibrated in our chests: the Buchenegger Waterfalls. We stepped out of the forest, and suddenly the gorge opened up before us. With wild force, the water cascaded over the conglomerate rocks, spraying into a fine mist that enveloped us like a cool veil. Sunbeams refracted in it, and rainbows stretched across the pools as if painted by magic.
It was a place that was not only natural, but also fairytale. One could imagine nymphs dancing in the water here, or ancient mountain spirits resting in the rocks. The breath of the earth seemed alive in this place.
We sat down, let our backpacks slide from our shoulders, and gazed silently for a long time into the roaring white water. A moment in which everything else—the effort of the climb, the burden of everyday life, even time itself—simply vanished. And there, at the foot of the Hochgrat, in the realm of rushing water, we knew: this was the culmination of our hike. The path had led us here—and the path would continue. But this moment, full of magic and silence, would remain with us forever.
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Published: 15/09/2025
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