The fossil hunt continues. ;)
Oct 20, 2022 14:08:53 GMT -5
RickB, rockpickerforever, and 8 more like this
Post by Gabriel_GER on Oct 20, 2022 14:08:53 GMT -5
Date: October 17. 2022
Weather: Sunny, clear sky, 74 °F
Destination: River Loisach and mountain stream Brandgraben near Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the Werdenfelser Land, River Neidernach, more specifically the litte stream Nudelgraben in the Ammergebirge.
Weather: Sunny, clear sky, 74 °F
Destination: River Loisach and mountain stream Brandgraben near Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the Werdenfelser Land, River Neidernach, more specifically the litte stream Nudelgraben in the Ammergebirge.
Monday is not my usual trip day B U T "only sunny and sorta warm day" forecast for the week made it an easy decision.
This time I was up for a completely new area. I passed this region on my trip to and from the Südtiroler Ritterspiele some time ago and made a mental note to be back there some time to check it out thoroughly.
So why not start this Monday?
Drove down the motorway A95 past Wolfratshausen and Murnau am Staffelsee on to highway B2 to Garmisch-Partenkirchen and finally past the city on highway B23 to the countryside towards the border to Austria.First stop was a parking spot by the river Loisach.
Took a few pictures, picked up a few stones. A nice spot for a picnic probably... not the best for an interesting walk or rockhounding.
Second stop was Parkplatz Ochsenhütte.
First I was a bit... disappointed? River Loisach was quite a bit away from the parking spot and as I was looking around, deciding if I should just move on, I spotted this rocky rift in the forest, leading up the mountain.
Having had a lot of fun recently walking up little mountain streams, I decided to give it a shot, having zero idea where I might end up.
First the rift was completely dried up, but after a few steps up the mountain a little stream started to show itself, splashing, babbling and burbling happily about.
Moved on upwards the stream, enjoying the beautiful mountainous nature. Came across some little waterfalls and enjoyed a quiet little snack at a rock right next to one while wild rock formations loomed over me.
As that marked a stopping point to my "mountain stream trip" due to self preservation interest (very slippery steep rocks are not to be climbed alone), I decided to climb the right side of the mountain to find a new path down back to my car. Discovered a steep ravine where two little streams met... so I sat again for a few moments to enjoy nature where no paths lead. No great rock discoveries, but fantastic nature.
Back at my car and having quite some time left in the day I drove to the place where the B23 crosses the river Neidernach.
Found a little parking spot to the right of the road and so I just walked up a path to the right side of the river.
While that experience was rather unimpressive, checking Google Maps I found a few litte mountain streams leading into the river, one of them called "Nudelgraben" (Noodle trench).
As that made my laugh, I just hopped in and started my "walking up the stream routine".
Beautiful surrounding, more interesting stones than anywhere else today and then... after quite a while upstream I discovered a huge rock, filled with fossils and - my guess - dinosaur bones.
The white stuff in there is definitely not normal stone. I got some splinters from a broken off piece and the weight and sound when clanked together is definitely not "stony".
So after all every fossil craving I had was fulfilled. While the thing is way to massive to ever be moved be me - I discovered and documented it.
A great trip, a fantastic day and I'll definitely will revisit the region in the near future.
That discovery was way too promising.