Never Stop Munich goes after-work!
Since March 2016, The North Face arranges weekly cost-free training sessions for mountain athletes in many big cities worldwide. We are part of the Never Stop Munich community since their Opening Event and as some may know, we are testimonials for the German Mountain Athletics programm. 🙂 When we got the invitation to join a 5-to-9 after-work hike with the Never Stop Munich community and Hans-Jörg Auer as special guest, we happily signed up!
On 7th June 2016, after-work at 5pm, around 50 hikers and mountain lovers met at The North Face Store Munich.
It was the perfect day for hiking, sunny and hot and the night was predicted to be cloudless and warm (something not to be given during this rainy and cold spring and summer…). We met not only Hans-Jörg Auer, whom we already knew from our Tre Cime / Dolmites trip last year, but also many other friends from the #neverstopmunich crew. 🙂
TNF provided us with tents, sleeping bags and matresses, backpacks, lunch and a Goodie bag and at 6pm straight the bus picked us up in the center of Munich for a merely one hour drive to Samerberg.
The Samerberg is a hiking and biking destination close to Rosenheim between the Tyrolean Alps and Salzburg. It’s highest point is the Hochries, which can be conquered by foot, bike or via cable car.
Fitness and hiking: a good combination
Our destination was an alpine pasture slightly above the Mittelstation (middle station of the ropeway). But before we started, we did a mountain sports orientated warm-up and meet & greet on the bottom station. 🙂
After that, our mountain guide Valentin from Mountain Elements took care of us and directed us from the green fields of Samerberg through many blooming meadows and cattle pastures to small forest paths up the mountain.
Campfire storys <3
After less than an hour of walking, we reached our camping spot. The pasture in front of a lovely little alpine hut was already prepared with a campfire and drinks waiting for us. 🙂
We pitched our tents and caught the last rays of sun on the meadow, already hungry and thirsty – we couldn’t wait to sit at the fire!
Darkness came in slowly and everybody started gathering around the fire. 🙂
Kate from wildandfit.net, the #neverstopmunich community coordinator, brought Marshmallows and when it got dark, Hans-Jörg Auer told us storys about his last and upcoming expeditions, free-solo climbing and his passion for the outdoors.
We had a crystal clear sky and the stars were glowing above us, so no need to say we completely forgot that we had to be back at our offices at 9am the next morning and were the last ones siting by the fire till late into the night… 🙂
After a waaaaay too short night we were woken up at 5:30am to pack and hike back to the bus. We were really tired and smelled like campfire and ash, but overall happy!
This are the things everyone should do once in a while: Escape from their daily routine and breath a little bit of the “wild air” – it must not be a week-long holiday or months-long expeditions. Even one night can bring you back to basic, give you power and puts smiles on our faces. 🙂
“The mountains are calling and we must go!”
Photocredits: Sandra Steh
In friendly cooperation with The North Face – thank you!
