The start of a mountain adventure
After a night in Sary Mogul the adventure could begin. My hiking group was loaded into a tiny Lada and a space wagon and we drove out to the start of the hiking trail to the Sary Mogul Pass. For about an hour we drove deeper into the mountains, passing…
One day in the Pamir mountains
I still wasn’t sure if I had altitude sickness. For a couple of days I’d just been feeling kind of weird and weak. When we climbed I could hear my breathing inside my head as it seemed my ears blocked. I had some headaches and one night I had no…
3 days trekking to Ak Tor Pass
As part of my Kyrgyzstan trip I’d booked a private trip with a guide trekking through the Alay mountains. At 9am my guide Elaman picked me up from the hostel and after dropping off extra luggage and receiving a brief explanation of the trekking, we were on our way. I…
Following the Havel river
On a hot Sunday I invited the hiking group from work to explore the Havelhöhenweg. I had some vague information about the route and had estimated we’d walk for 10 to 12 km. I figured we’d walk along the Havel river, so you couldn’t really get lost. We gathered at…
A hike through hell?
Summer is here and that means perfect weather to head out into nature. But summer isn’t the only great season. Last autumn I joined our workplace hiking group for a day trip to Saxon Switzerland. It was a long, long day, but also very rewarding. On this hike we explored…
Revisiting the Liepnitzsee
June has given us some amazing weather in Berlin. Last summer I spent so much time studying and deprived myself from truly enjoying the most beautiful time of year in Berlin. Although I am still serious about finishing my studies this year and need to dedicate some serious time to…
Hiking through Armenia’s Dilijan National Park
At 6.30AM I walked through the empty streets of Yerevan on a Sunday morning. There were only a few joggers and the odd cyclist. Everyone else was still asleep. But today I had plans: a group hiking trip to the Dilijan National Park. When I reached the meeting point I…
3 short hikes in the Dilijan National Park
I loved spending some time in the Dilijan National Park. The views were just incredible, whether it was from the town of Dilijan, from the drives around there or from the hikes I did. Although there are many day trips from Yerevan, this place deserves a bit more time, especially…
Lesson learned: bring mosquito spray
Every day we learn something new. One day I learn about action research, the next I learn about mosquitoes… the hard way! I started counting my mosquito bites, but it’s no use, I keep losing track. The back of my legs provided a tasty snack for several dozens of mosquitoes,…
Walking through the seasons in the Tatras
After a snowy day I woke up to bright blue skies, the sun piercing through my window on the top floor of the old mansion was staying at. I walked down the big wooden staircase again, past the animal heads and antlers on the walls. On my way out the…