Sometimes, you’ve got to go find the magic yourself. That’s exactly what I did this weekend when I heard whispers of the first snowfall hitting Brilon. A quick 45-minute drive from home, and bam! I was transported to a winter wonderland. ❄️
Forget waking up to a gentle dusting, this was the real deal. Picture this: trees draped in fluffy white, the ground sparkling like a thousand diamonds, and that crisp, clean air that only a fresh snowfall brings. It was pure bliss. My hiking boots were practically begging to hit the trails, and let me tell you, Brilon delivered. The forest paths were transformed into a snowy paradise, with each step crunching beneath my feet. Honestly, it felt like stepping into a snowglobe!
Here’s why this spontaneous winter escape was exactly what I needed:
Instant serenity: The world just seems to hush after a snowfall. All the stress and noise fade away, replaced by the quiet beauty of nature.
Winter wonderland vibes: Seriously, it’s like stepping into a postcard. Every corner you turn is another picture-perfect moment.
The perfect excuse to get cozy: After a day exploring the snowy trails, nothing beats warming up with a hot tea.
So, next time you hear that first snow is falling, don’t just admire it from your window. Grab your boots, bundle up, and chase that winter magic! You won’t regret it.
Oh man, this was my first long weekend off in a VERY long time and I loved it. Most of you know my love for the Swiss mountains, but due to COVID, I wasn’t able to organize tours or train in Grison. Thus, this weekend back in Switzerland was very special to me and I fell in love with everything & everyone all over again. I really missed this and still have happy tears in my eyes. 🗻🇨🇭💗🥺
Some might argue how irresponsible of me, traveling to a high risk country. But seriously, I am fully vaccinated, regularly test myself and I was mostly outdoors. The risk of getting buried underneath an avalanche was so much higher than getting or transmitting any virus. So please, we all need to take a break for two or three days every once in a while and simply breathe.
Snowshoeing or Winter Hiking in Lenzerheide
I initially wanted to hike and climb up to the Rothorn. Well, that plan didn’t really work out. 🙈 On day one it was snowing like crazy. Even with snowshoes you would have sunk into deep snow, it was freezing cold and there were moments when you couldn’t see much. Hence, we decided to simply do a different tour and would try again the next day.
On Sunday the weather forecast was very promising: blue skies and lots of fresh powder. 😍 However, avalanche risk levels 3 and 4. Our initial route was closed, but we wanted to see how far we could go. So, we put on our three to four layers, packed our gear and went up to 7th heaven. Up to Scharmoin, everything was easygoing. Majestic views, gorgeous mountain ranges, inhaling fresh, cold mountain air. For me, this was pure wellness. 💗😌
But off-piste the avalanche risk was very high. Even the snowshoe panorama trail was closed.
Avalanche Risk Level 4
We already checked the avalanche report beforehand and I always use the app “White Risk” so that we knew that we might not be able to climb up to the top.
The under layers in the snow were weak and on top of that a lot of snow has fallen, often in combination with a lot of wind. This makes the chance of triggering avalanches very high. Also at a distance. We knew that if we were going off-piste, we needed to stay far away from slopes of 30° or steeper.
Staying on the open skiruns or trails was our best bet. But this also meant that we had to cross three slopes. Crossing them on a sunny Sunday was like crossing a German highway during rush hour. Not cool at all. Watch, sink into deep snow, get out of your snow hole and run as fast as you can to the other side of the slope.
Rothorn Lenzerheide
We would have needed to hike up another 400 m to reach the summit, going off-piste. But at around noon, dark clouds were rising, accompanied by a strong gusty wind. Even if we took the cable car at Motta, we wouldn’t have managed it. With avalanche risk level 4 we decided to be better safe than sorry.
So, no, we didn’t reach the mountain peak of the Parpaner Rothorn (2,899 m), but that is alright. We have no regrets and still enjoyed ourselves with these gorgeous views. That is the thing with Mother Nature: you need to go with the flow, always check the risk factors and put safety first.
Maybe next time. 🗻🇨🇭❄️😌
Total elevation gain: 1,237 m, 36,7 km.
Unwinding at the Zauberwald
In between our snow adventure, we visited the Zauberwald. It still is my favorite Christmas market.🌲 🎅🏽 And especially in crazy times like these I wanna support the locals and be grateful for moments like these, cherishing the little things in life. My heart goes out to all local farmers, wood workers, local mountain huts, craftsmen and any other local supplier. 🙏🏽💗
Check out this year’s impressions.
I hope you all get to rest over the holidays – at least for a few days. And remember: stay healthy & happy and always be kind to each other.
The first snow tour is always magical. 🏔❄️💗 Winter is my favorite season. The crisp winter air, I love the cold and the snow and a hot sauna afterwards.
One of my most favorite sceneries here at home are the mountain ranges at the Spitzingsee. When the sky is clear, you have these gorgeous views and can simply relax. This winter, my first tour was to the Taubenstein and Rauhkopf.
Tis the season. Winter magic, hot punch, lots of powder action and simply taking it easy. It is my favorite season. Hence, it is also a bit more quiet around here. I just love to spend these magical times with my beloved ones, enjoying the holiday season in Seefeld & Davos.
Seefeld
Tyrol is just a short drive from Munich and one of my favorite winter sports destinations. I am not a huge après-ski fan and always try to avoid the crowds. Hence, I know exactly which routes to take in order to have some peaceful moments and high-quality alone time, appreciating nature and the great outdoors.
Davos
Well, it is no secret that I have lost my heart in Davos. For the first time, I will spend New Year’s in Grison and I am looking forward to trying out new things. Maybe I will go night sledding at the Rinerhorn on New Year’s Eve, try air boarding at Pischa or will go on a romantic horse-sleigh ride.
So, apologies that it is going to be a bit more quiet around here till the end of December. But I will definitely keep you posted afterwards, sharing my highlights and new training goals.
Till then, enjoy the holiday season with your loved ones and don’t get too stressed. Just relax and live a litte.
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.
This hot spot is nothing for the faint-hearted: the Sertig waterfall in the Sertig Valley in Davos. The ideal place for ice climbing and snowshoeing in Graubünden.
Ice Climbing
Climb a frozen waterfall with ice axe and crampons and explore your own limits: Ice climbing attracts more and more adventurous winter sports enthusiasts. If you want to try this extreme sport yourself, you will find ideal conditions at the waterfall in the Sertigtal valley all winter long.
Carabiners rattle, hooks clink, ice splinters trickle. With one hand you hit an ice axe into the wall and ram the crampon into the ice. A little break. Take a deep breath and carry on. Step by step you climb the cascades of the frozen waterfall, which shimmers in the light in different shades of blue. The last piece of freedom. That’s how an ice climbing adventure in the Sertig valley could feel like. Even if you want to put crampons under your shoes right now: Prepare yourself well first – and take your first steps in the ice together with a mountain guide.
Snowshoeing
For those of you who are not fit enough to climb the waterfall – just like me – explore this magical spot on a snowshoeing tour. You can simply start at the Bergführer Restaurant, enjoying the Sertig Valley, walking your way up to the waterfall.
Beware, the last bit to the Sertig waterfall is very steep. It is nothing for the faint-hearted and you need to be fit! Milos and our guide Beat went straight to the top, touching the ice while I did a little detour through deep powder. It was breathtakingly beautiful and simply magical.
However, this tour to the Sertig waterfall is not for beginners! If you are new to snowshoeing, simply stick to the easy valley tour and don’t go up all the way to the waterfall. For health and fitness benefits, snowshoeing is great for you. It provides a cardio workout while also building strength, agility, balance and endurance. The best part is, you get to do it all in the beautiful outdoors!
Mountain Guide
I can recommend the Bergführer Davos Klosters as well as the Schweizer Schneesportschule Davos. Whether you wanna do a snowshoeing tour, go skiing or try something adventurous, these folks put your safety first and can make almost anything possible. I especially liked their individually tailored tours that suit your personal interest and fitness level. Special thanks to our guide Beat, who ROCKED!
Due to the recent weather conditions, I got a little extra time working on my stories. When exploring parts of Ontario, Canada, I basically had no expectations. What a beautiful province!
In total, there are 10 Canadian provinces, with three territories to the north. The provinces are, in alphabetical order: Alberta,British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. The three territories are Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon.
Winter in Ontario
Ontario is Canada’s most populous province, comprising 40 percent of the country’s total population. It is also home to the federal capital of Ottawa and the unofficial financial capital of Toronto. It is best known for Algonquin Park, the Niagara wine region, Bruce Trail (the oldest and longest continuous public footpath in Canada), and the many beautiful forests and lakes. And oh boy – I had no idea it can be so beautiful.
I admit there was a time when I missed the mountains. But do you know this feeling when someone says the right thing in the right moment? Amin reminded me that you can’t have everything all the time and within a split second I realized how stupid my thoughts were. I could have hugged him for this. If I could pick someone I would get lost in a snow blizzard with, it would be him. It would be fun and safe at the same time.
Seriously, who was I to complain? I was in Canada enjoying the great outdoors, making one of my dreams come true. So, after this stupid split second, I was very grateful that all my hard work paid off and was just living the moment.
The Great Outdoors in Ontario
Initially, my brother and I had totally different plans, but due to the weather, our itinerary changed on a daily basis. Snow blizzards, freezing rain, ice storms, you name it. But this is nature. You just have to go with the flow. That is actually something I love about the Great Outdoors. And I was prepared for any kind of weather out there, even for very cold temperatures.
Freezing rain
I had never experienced this kind of freezing rain before. Freezing rain is the name given to rain maintained at temperatures below freezing by the ambient air mass that causes freezing on contact with surfaces. Unlike a mixture of rain and snow, ice pellets, or hail, freezing rain is made entirely of liquid droplets.
This means: When the freezing rain hits your windshield, it freezes immediately and makes it very brittle. Pretty dangerous, actually. When the freezing rain gets in contact with your face, it feels like tiny little needles hitting you. If you then add this crazy wind chill, temperatures felt like -25 degrees Celsius or colder and you really needed to cover your face to avoid frost bites. But I loved it anyways. Even went running – not for long distances, though, but I did get out there.
Snow blizzards and ice storms were nothing new to me. Since I live pretty close to the mountains and have been to Finnish Lapland during one of their coldest winters, I am used to these kind of weather conditions. For me, it even can be somewhat romantic and adventurous at the same time. Love it. My brother: NOOOOOT so much.
Blue Mountains
A two-hour drive, north from Toronto, there is a little holiday resort called Blue Mountain. Some people call this area “Little Switzerland”, but I would not go this far. They just have one tiny hill up there. Elevation gain: 650 m. So, no offense, but you cannot call it “Little Switzerland”.
However, it is very picturesque and beautiful. Regarding the atmosphere it sort of reminded me of Whistler Village. And yes, pretty touristy, I admit. If you are into winter sports, you might be a little disappointed, but if you just wanna chill and relax with a little exercise, you will love it. I took skiing lessons, since I am currently not sure, if I should switch.
When I went snowboarding, I started to feel the pain from my severe hip injury last year. Not sure, if it’s my technique. But I think I will take more skiing lessons back in Munich so that I am more flexible when choosing my winter outdoor activities. This weekend I will probably go cross-country skiing, working on my general fitness.
Northern Ontario
Wow, just WOW. I had no idea that you could see Northern Lights in Ontario. With all the snow and ice storms, I did not expect any kind of magic. But then there it was. I just wanted to go for a walk, still had too much energy. LOL – I think sometimes my brother was annoyed of my inner adrenaline junkie.
So, I went outside and started to see little shadows on the sky. First, I thought it was just wafts of mist, but then, after a while, they turned green. – I still have this Northern Lights App on my cell-phone from my visit to Finnish Lapland. Hence, I turned it on and then: holy cannoli. It was going crazy. So I went back, put on my warmest clothes and went hunting the lights. And there they were. There I stood. Me alone at the lake in Canada. And this magical moment. Goosebumps and tears in my eyes.
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and was just happy and grateful. Priceless, beautiful. The most magical gift!
So, this was my time in Ontario. I will definitely come back checking out more places during different seasons. I don’t know what and when, yet, but I surely will. Canada, you are pretty awesome!
But for now, I am looking forward to go back home and honestly cannot wait to be back in Davos. I miss it and also cannot wait to see my dearest friends again…
Die letzten Tage war ich gefühlt im siebten Himmel und hab es mir richtig gut gehen lassen. Fluffiger Pulverschnee, endlose Weiten in freier Wildnis und kein Mensch weit und breit. Hier würde ich mir sofort eine Hütte bauen und mich für eine Weile niederlassen, wenn ich könnte. Magie und Erholung pur!
Champagner-Powder
Noch nie hab ich so feinen Powder erlebt wie jüngst in den USA und Kanada. Weicher, trockener und sehr kalter Pulverschnee. Man glaubt, zu schweben, zu fliegen. Egal ob beim Tourengehen, Boarden, Schneeschuhwandern oder Trailrunning, dieser extrem feine Pulverschnee befördert Euch direkt in den Himmel.
Ja, der Schnee in den USA und Kanada ist anders als in Europa. Dort drücken arktische Kaltluftfronten Unmengen von Schnee gegen die Berge. Die niedrigen Temperaturen verhindern dabei ein Schmelzen und Verkleben der Schneeflocken beim Absinken. An Stelle der normalen 10% besitzt der Schnee nur 6% bis 8% Luftfeuchtigkeit. Echter Champagner Powder! Ähnlich muss es in Japan sein. Oder noch besser?
Paradise isn’t tropical
Wie Ihr an meinem Gesicht sehen könnt, war es schweinekalt! Hab auch gleich mal einen Snow Blizzard mitgenommen. Aber die Ruhe nach dem Sturm: unbeschreiblich! Selten hab ich so etwas Schönes gesehen. Ich war sprachlos, hatte Gänsehaut. Und mit der richtigen Ausrüstung hab ich auch nicht gefroren.
Zwar kannte ich diesen feinen Powder bereits aus den Gletschergebieten über 2.500 m Höhe, doch es ist nicht dasselbe. In einigen Gebieten in den USA und Kanada kann man diesen Pulvertraum auch in den inneren Tälern erleben. Wenn ich könnte, würde ich einen ganzen Koffer voll mitnehmen. Wirft man diesen feinen Pulver in die Luft, sieht man ein paar Kristalle für einen kurzen Moment in der Luft schweben. Ich hab es ja schon immer gewusst: Paradise isn’t tropical!
Die besten Gebiete in den USA und Kanada: ganz klar in den Rocky Mountains, Utah, Colorado, Banff Nationalpark. Heute lass ich einfach mal die Bilder sprechen, während ich noch von der Magie zehre.
xoxo
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English Summary: Paradise isn’t Tropical: Powder Heaven in the USA & Canada
For the past days, I have been in powder heaven. Quite literally. Did you know that the snow in the USA and Canada is different from the one in Europe? I am talking about this dry, fluffy champagne powder. Something you usually only get to experience at the glaciers. There are few places in the world, where you can experience skiing and snowboarding in bottomless champagne powder, even in the valleys. I am talking about the Rocky Mountains, Utah, Colorado or Banff Nationalpark.
For me, it is pretty difficult to describe it. You just have to experience it. It looks and feels like 7th heaven, feeling light, fluffy, breathtakingly beautiful. – Yep, paradise isn’t tropcial – that is for sure! I will just let the images speak for themselves, being grateful for magical momentes like these.
I have lost my heart in Davos. It has become my personal happy place. A spot where I can refuel my energy, strengthen my inner balance, train harder than ever achieving much better results and where I can simply be myself enjoying nature or letting out my inner adrenaline junkie. Since winter is my all-time favorite season, I ended the year with a magical sports highlight at the AMERON Swiss Mountain Resort in Davos.
Fatbiking with the maxon bikedrive
You think biking season is over? The hell it isn’t. Fatbike season has officially begun and I ended the year the way I started it. Having fun in deep powder. Thanks to the AMERON Swiss Mountain Resort I got to try a new E-Fatbike package for winter sports enthusiasts: full throttle all day long.
I admit: at first I was a bit sceptical, taking an E-Bike, since I remembered my fun ride up at Pischa, where we were just going downhill. But as soon as I hit the first trail, darn, I was so glad I had additional power. Going up through deep powder on a single trail can be difficult. The more speed I got, the easier it was going uphill, even on some trickier parts with stones and tree roots.
Full throttle through deep powder
It took me about 15 minutes getting used to this bike, getting a good feeling of how it moves, when to use more support or less. And then: HALLELUJAH! I was cruising through the valleys having a blast. Up and down, smiling, simply having fun. Seriously, for those who wanna try alternative winter sports or wanna keep riding their bike, this is it. So awesome!
It is not difficult at all. Anyone who can ride a bike, can rent this E-Fatbike, enjoying the winter wonderland. Of course, when you are new to this and don’t know the surroundings, I would recommend taking a guided tour. My personal tip: join a 2-hour fatbike tour from the Davos Klosters inside program (it is a free guest program during the winter season). Afterwards, when you got the hang of it, rent the maxon bikedrive at the AMERON and explore everything on your own.
So, let’s all ride into 2019, have fun, appreciate everything life has to offer, follow your dreams and always listen to your heart. Ride on and have a blast!
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