A normal route or normal way (German: Normalweg) is the most frequently used route for ascending and descending a mountain peak. It is usually the simplest route.
In the Alps, routes are classed in the following ways, based on their waymarking, construction and upkeep:
- Footpaths (Fußwege)
- Hiking trails (Wanderwege)
- Mountain trails (Bergwege)
- Alpine routes (Alpine Routen)
- Climbing routes (Kletterrouten) and High Alpine routes (Hochalpine Routen) in combined rock and ice terrain, (UIAA) graded by difficulty
Often the normal route is not, however, the easiest ascent to the summit, but just the one that is most used, in addition to which there may be technically easier variations. This is especially the case on the Watzmannfrau, the Hochkalter and also Mount Everest. There may be many reasons why these easier options are rarely used:
- the simplest route is less well known than the normal route (Watzmannfrau).
- the technically easiest route is more arduous than another (e.g. due to rubble) and is therefore mainly used on the descent (Hochkalter).
- the technically easiest route carries a much higher risk of e.g. rockfalls or avalanche and is therefore avoided in favour of a more difficult route (Watzespitze).
- the technically easier route requires a complicated or long approach march (Mount Everest).
References
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