surf reader Karl Bock tells us about plans by the municipality of Kochel to close the previously tolerated car parks at the Kirchelwand tunnel. According to a report in the "Tölzer Kurier" newspaper, a barrier is to be erected there. This would leave only around ten parking spaces next to the road about 200 metres further south at the best spot on Lake Walchensee. The spot would thus be virtually abolished.
According to the newspaper, a closure had already been discussed in 2018, but fierce protests from local water sports enthusiasts prevented this. Now the rare pitches are once again in danger due to "traffic law reasons due to the difficult and dangerous access and exit", the newspaper quotes a spokesperson from the district administration. Illegal overnight stays and their consequences are also a thorn in the side of the authorities. As part of the "Walchensee concept", the closure is now to be enforced.
In Urfeld, parking spaces have already been lost due to a new bus stop below the youth hostel. "Especially in autumn, when the wind no longer blows down to the village of Walchensee, surfers and wingers come there, which is hardly possible anymore," writes Karl Bock. A hard shoulder is to be built there soon.
Speed limit instead of car park closure
A few days after the report in the "Tölzer Kurier", the first protests came in the form of a letter to the editor: "In the last five years, almost all car parks in the [...] area have been successively closed," writes the author Uli Rappolder. "The only remaining options for access have so far only been at the Kirchelwand car park mentioned in the article and the lower gallery car park." The dangers mentioned by the district authority could be averted by a speed limit, the rubbish problem by a night-time parking ban and a height limit for motorhomes. "The arguments put forward by the responsible authorities are not enough for me to remove all car parks in the aforementioned area at Walchensee," said Rappolder in his letter to the editor. Surfers, kiters and other water sports enthusiasts are also part of the Walchensee. "In my opinion, removing all car parks without an alternative is not a concept, but a lack of concept!"
Lake Walchensee is one of the best-known spots in the Alps thanks to its thermals and turquoise water. Surrounded by many peaks, it is considered one of the most beautiful lakes in Bavaria. Flat water, warm temperatures and fantastic weather attract lots of windsurfers, wingfoilers and stand-up paddlers to the region.
