What I love about Davos is that there are so many different trails and mountain paths that you can actually be alone, if you feel like it. During any day of the week.
One of my favorite spots is the Rinerhorn because there are so many different routes up and down this local mountain. Although it has been attracting more and more tourists, it is still more popular among locals, which I love.
Whether you wanna go mountain biking, running or hiking, this one has it all and I always discover something new. If you are a trail runner or hiker, don’t take the cable car – walk or run up the mountain either via Davos Clavadel or Sertig; it is so worth it.
I personally like Pontresina more than St. Moritz, but generally I am a huge fan of the Engadin mountains. It is a true paradise for bikers, climbers, hikers, trail runners, basically just anyone who loves the great outdoors.
Bike Tour from Pontresina to Morteratsch
If you are looking for a relaxing ride, I can recommend the route from Pontresina to the Morteratsch glacier. However, since this is a very popular tour, especially for Italian tourists, don’t do it on weekends. Start early in the morning during the week and simply enjoy the fresh air. Cherish the glaciers while you still can. No doubt, there is something magical about them. You feel it from the moment you ride towards the glacier tongue, it’s like stepping into another world.
The 10k-route is VERY easy, even suitable for kids. For mountain bikers, I would recommend the Bernina Pass tour, starting right at Morteratsch station. This one is breathtakingly beautiful and easily accessible via public transportation.
For those of you who are looking for peaceful, quiet tours with barely any tourists, I recommend a day trip to the Swiss National Park. I call it little Canada, a 90-minute train and bus ride from Davos Klosters. You simply take the train to Zernez and from there you just hop on the bus which will drop you off at all the different hiking stops.
Fuornbach
One of my favorite spots is the Fuornbach. There is just one spot right down at the river bank that reminds me of Canada and my great times in Alaska. I could just sit there for one or two hours, having a picnic, doing nothing. This is a place you just fall in love with.
I combined the walk along the river with a nice little hike near the Italian border. You can either hike to the Fuorntal or to Alp la Schera – both are very easy hikes for the whole family. No special requirements or difficulties, just beautiful nature.
So, if you are looking for a relaxing summer far from the crowds, this one should be on your list.
Just one little side note, if you decide to take your car. There are construction works on the road, which can be annoying if you are planning a road trip. Currently, public transportation is less stressful.
You are looking for a little bit of romance, nostalgia and some quiet time? Well, then this hiking classic might be the right tour for you.
It is a very easy 10k walk starting in Davos Monstein, via Davos Wiesen, to Filisur. Make sure to schedule in some time for a romantic picnic at one of the official fireplaces. I know it sounds cheesy, but believe me, it’s worth it. You will love the atmosphere and might even fall in love with your bae all over again.
If you are visiting with your folks, you might even wanna take the nostalgic train from Filisur back to Davos. It is always a nice thing to do with your family – awesome photo stops included.
Though times are strange and tough right now, it is up to us to make the best out of every situation. I am grateful to live close to the Isar so that I can take my bike for a little tour almost every day.
Sometimes even for longer rides to get some mountain views. My recommendation: if you have time, get up before sunrise and take your bike down south along the Isar river bank. It is so quiet and peaceful and there are loads of hidden trails so that you won’t get bored over time.
I wouldn’t wanna miss these rides for anything in the world. This is my happy place.
I started the new year with an awesome trail run at Lake Tegernsee, leading a coaching session for newbies.
We trained at Galaun, an ideal location to learn all about the different running techniques. Once you know the ropes and get down the technique, trail running is so much more than just a regular workout. You will actually have loads of fun playing on the trails.
550 stairs to trail running heaven
We did a three-hour training session, heading up to Galaun first, where I then gave an introduction on the different running techniques: saving energy when running up the stairs, how to prevent knee pain going downhill, how to run on snow & ice or on slippery terrain and how to jump over tree roots.
It was all about having fun, enjoying the great outdoors and getting to know your body and your inner strength. You are surprised what your body is capable of. So, we ran up all 550 stairs to the Riederstein where we enjoyed the beautiful views over Lake Tegernsee.
Afterwards, we took an easy route down and finished the run with some stretching and yoga exercises, leaving with a big smile on our faces.
Maybe next time, I will see you out there. Drop me a DM, when you are interested in joining one of our training sessions.
I hope you all had a magical start in 2020, wishing you lots of love, health and happiness. My plans or resolutions for 2020? NONE! I will simply go with the flow, focusing on my training.
So for now, I will just leave you with these beautiful impressions from Lake Tegernsee.
Each year in the Alps between 90 and 110 people are killed by avalanches. Most of these accidents occur in France, Switzerland, Italy and Austria. Suffocation is the number one cause of death. Trauma, or injuries suffered in the avalanche, is the second leading cause of death. (source: SLF)
I love to go off-piste, being out there all alone, mostly by myself. But over the years I have become more careful, no longer take unnecessary risks. From December 30th till January 5th I will be back in Davos, enjoying the great powder in the Swiss mountains always making sure to check the weather and snow conditions before going on my tours and at the same time taking along my avalanche safety kit as well as my BCA slope meter.
No matter how adventurous you are, safety comes first. Just check out the story by Travis Rice. He was darn lucky, but not all trips like this have a happy ending…. So please, make sure to take the necessary precautions before heading out to the backcountry.
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Buy and always wear an avalanche beacon, a small radio that will transmit your location to rescue crews. Never leave without it.
What to do when you see an avalanche
If you ever see an avalanche, make sure to follow these five steps:
Never try to outrun it. Move to the side and if you can, grab something sturdy.
Try to stay on top it. Some people say, you need to swim, but actually you need to fight light hell to stay on top, if you don’t have one of these airbags in your backpack.
Keep one arm above your head as the avalanche tosses you around.
Make sure to cover your mouth and nose with one hand to get a little space of air. As soon as you stop moving, quickly work to open a space in front of your face. Not only will this pocket give you room to breathe, it will give you space to spit. Note where gravity carries your spit, then dig in the opposite direction. This can save your life.
BREATHE calmly. The natural instinct for anyone buried by an avalanche is to get pretty nervous, but if you can keep your head, you can stay alive. In most cases, victims have a 15-minute window in which they can carve out areas to breathe under the snow.
When chasing another adrenaline rush off-piste, always check the local weather and avalanche reports to know what to expect.
So, stay safe, everyone and enjoy this magical powder season.
I recently read an article on the benefits of winter hiking. Scorching more calories, building muscle, lasting fat-burning effect – AND: empty trails. Do you need more arguments to get up? Whose new year’s resolution was to get fitter, healthier? Well, then move your butts and pick one of these hiking trips near Munich.
Lake Tegernsee
This one is easy. I mean, I have shared so many different hiking routes already. Whether you hike from Gmund to Rottach-Egern, hike up the Wallberg or take a shorter route, the views are always breathtakingly beautiful. My favorite tour is the winter hiking route up the Wallberg. Always worth it!
Seefeld in Tyrol
This one is perfect for a day trip. Just take the Flixbus from Munich to Seefeld and exit at the Rosshütte Valley station. It is not even a two-hour drive. So, very relaxing.
During winter, it is a pretty similar path to the summer route, only with minor changes. Simply follow the ski-touring sign and you are good to go. You can either hike, go touring or snowshoeing, this is up to you. It is an easy two-hour hike and afterwards, you can enjoy the little winter village, watching the cross-country athletes, go iceskating or simply sip some hot punch.
As you can see in the pictures above, it doesn’t matter what the weather is like. Just get out there, have fun and enjoy the great outdoors. Your mind and body will be thankful.
“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”
Denali National Park and Preserve encompasses 6 million acres of Alaska’s interior wilderness. Its centerpiece is 20,310-ft.-high Denali (formerly known as Mount McKinley), North America’s tallest peak. With terrain of tundra, spruce forest and glaciers, the park is home to wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, moose, caribou and Dall sheep. Popular activities in summer include biking, backpacking, hiking and mountaineering.
Every year, travelers take to the famous Stampede Trail in the Denali borough. It is known from the book & movie “Into the Wild” – the true story of Amercian adventurer Christopher McCandless, born February 12, 1968 in El Segundo, California.
He was found dead on September 6, 1992, at Stampede Trail, Alaska. The adventurer died from starvation and possibly poisoning at age 24 while camping alone on a remote trail.
The trail keeps attracting adventurers and outdoor enthusiasts from all over the world. Unfortunately, many come unprepared – just like Christophier McCandless himself. Hence, the bus has been the source of multiple rescues since it was made famous, first by Jon Krakauer’s book published in 1996 and then by Sean Penn’s 2007 film.
The Wilderness in Alaska
I am pretty adventurous myself and LOVE the great outdoors. I climb mountains, hike at night all by myself, sleep on mountain peaks and try to push myself beyond my limits. But I only take calculated risks and know the difference between the great outdoors in the European Alps and the wilderness in Alaska.
The trail is located near the northern boundary of Denali National Park in a small finger of State of Alaska public land that extends into the national park. Of course, I wanted to see the bus, but the weather conditions were just awful. Traversing the beaver ponds, “mud flats,” and crossing the Teklanika River are major obstacles. There was no way I would be able to make it all by myself. Hence, I turned around, which was wise.
Also, I did not camp out there – especially not alone. I had no gun, was not familiar with the terrain and the weather was just unpredictable. So, this time I decided to better be safe than sorry.
Majestic Mt. McKinley
However, the trip is so worth it. The highest mountain in North America has been the goal of aspiring high altitude climbers since it was first climbed in 1913.
I admit, I wanna learn more about high-altitude climbing, finding out what I would be capable of. I will definitely go on more climbing trips back home. Cannot really explain it, but it is the mountains where I feel most alive.
So, apologies: I don’t have a picture of me in front of the bus, but I made some great memories, anyways.
