Rainwater that runs off the east wall in summer melts shafts into the back of the small snowfield. A branched network of small streams forms on the rubble beneath the snowfield, which also melts free passages on the underside of the ice. As soon as the corridor system is continuous, a draft sets in: heavy, cold air from the cave flows out of the lower entrance - contrary to the chimney effect - and thereby sucks in warm air from above through the shafts. This draft causes the cave passages to expand significantly in summer. This draft also creates cold downdrafts in the summer months, which hikers often find very cold. In winter, air circulation comes to a standstill and the cave passages become smaller due to plastic deformation of the ice.

The ice chapel and climate change
The ice chapel lost its status as a glacier when the glacier tongue melted between 1920 and 1950. Nevertheless, the "glacier" at the foot of the Watzmann wall is the lowest permanent occurrence of firn ice in the German Alpine region. Despite climate change, the ice cape is expected to remain permanent as it is fed by avalanches every winter.

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Matze ⛰️🥾

November 29, 2023

For my hike, I think we got up at the top.

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Elevation 840 m

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Today

Sunday 16 November

11°C

5°C

20 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 4.0 km/h

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Location: Schönau a. Königssee, Landkreis Berchtesgadener Land, Upper Bavaria, Bavaria, Germany

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