Mountaineering Log
Summer 1980 Serfaus/ Austria: The first time in my life in the Alps together with my parents. Here I got hooked and wanted more…
1981 Hindelang/ Allgäu: second and last time with my parents in the mountains. They put me into a youth group for mountaineering…after that I was addicted: mountains, mountains, mountains!
1982 Hinterstein/ Allgäu: with my friend Robert in the mountains…on a bicycle and with backpack
1983 - 1989: short trips from the Rhineland to the Alps
1990-1992: studies in Konstanz at the Lake Constance. In addition to mountaineering, skiing intensified…aside the ski slope, from that date only off-piste thrilled me
Hoher Riffler (3168m), 2 days mountain tour with three other students, car broke down on the Arlberg Pass, hitch-hiked the 150km back to Konstanz
1992: move back to Düsseldorf in order to finish my studies of automation
1993 and 1994: work as a skiing guide for a travel agency. Various trips with the bus to Saas Fee, Pitztal, Italy…
1995: 2 weeks hiking in Mallnitz/ Austria
Summer 1996: basic training as a skiing instructor in Austria/ Obergurgl
1997: move to Munich
1998: Mittenwalder Klettersteig (via ferrata/ fixed rope route)…the metal ropes were under the snow…escaped via Hermann von Barth Weg, snow up to the waist and no track marks... After that I took the decision to take climbing training including rope handling and securing techniques
Climbing course with mountain guide Hermann in Penzberg, Bad Heilbrunn and Kampenwand/ Lake Chiem
Shortly after that, one over-motivated climbing course participant nearly fell to his death in the Kampenwand
Several climbs in the Kampenwand/ Lake Chiem
1998: another climbing course at the Lake Garda/ Italy
June 1999, again Mittenwalder Klettersteig 2384m, we were trapped in a thunderstorm on the last meters on the ridge. We had already run over the exposed and wet rocks but now we hit the pedal to the metal while descending the mountain…this “kind of" technique I have maintained until today…so much fun! :-)
Wilder Kaiser/ Austria, via ferrata on the Maukspitze, 2231m
Switzerland: Säntis, Altmann
Switzerland Zürich/ Gaswerke, climbing hall
Switzerland Walensee, climbing tours at the Galerie
Climbing tours at the Brüggler, 6a+
Churfürsten 1.5 hours high speed ascent, had to overtake everyone...also the last one who tried to get away :-)
Fockenstein and Spitzingsee: backcountry skiing (ski touring)
Mountain bike tour Tegernsee-Lengries-Tegernsee
Buch- und Rosstein during Summer + climbing. In winter downhill cross-country (more accurate: cross steep (!) valley on the booty just protected by the rain pants…
Wallberg summer and winter cross-country
Brecherspitze via southeast ridge in summer and winter
Mountainbike tour around Estergebirge - hardcore thunderstorm
Karwendel cross country during winter with snow up to the waist
Wendelstein, Benediktenwand
Kampenwand/ Lake Chiem climbing, Fönfische
Dolomite Alps- Cortina d’Ampezzo, via ferratas
Allgäuer Alps: traverse Geißhorn, Rauhhorn, Kugelhorn, beastly weather, sliding down the mountain (like walking on soap)
Wilder Kaiser, Ellmauer Halt 2344m
Martinswand via ferrata, 3 times without climbing set
Martinswand climbing, Augenthaler Verschneidung 6+, exit 1-2 degree only but then it still took a looong time to get back to the parking lot…it was dark when we reached the car
Herzogstand in summer and ski touring in winter
Jochberg 3 times, different paths and cross-country
Zugspitze 2962m in 5 hours from Garmisch through Höllental, stayed the night in the hut on top with the worst service I ever experienced in the mountains. No water available even though a cable car goes there at least 20 times a day! Next day Jubiläumsgrat ridge traverse…so exhilarating!
Freiungen Höhenweg, Reitherspitze 2374m, Solsteinhaus
Allgäu: Rote Flüh, Gimpel, Köllenspitze
Soiernspitze during winter , traversed, snow up to the waist; sliding on plastic bags down to the valley floor
2000: South Africa
Tablemountain und Lionshead
Climbing in Montagu and Kapstadt
Hiking in the Mushroom Mountains
Hiking in the Drakkensberge, river crossing, cross country hiking through the high grass…were quite scared about snakes…
Guffert, Unnütz; Scharfreiter traversed in winter
Innsbrucker Klettersteig 2480m, done despite the fact it was closed
Mountainbiking, crossing the Tremalzo Joch/ Lake Garda Italy, approx. 2000 hm (vertical difference), on the pass it was damn cold and foggy
Gardasee Mountains, via ferratas and climbing tours
Rotspitze traverse with lots of snow
Innsbruck/ Austria, Hundstod with lots of snow, gave up 20 meters below top
Sardinia + Corsica, climbing and mountaineering
2002 Stubaier Valley, Neustift/ Austria: done all via ferratas
Climbing tours in Dammkar, Militärweg, Kreuzspitze, Luftige Kante… heavy thunderstorm on arrival at the summit
Großvenediger 3666m
Großglockner (3798m) via Stüdlgrat, descent via standard route
Zuckerhütl (3507m) via Wilder Pfaff, through Riednauntal. Because of snowfall (it was summer), fog and ice on the rocks we were the only ones on the crest. It was so quiet and peaceful…Lateron we met Italiens who tried to overtake while descending…on the icy rocks they gave up. Long way back through the Riednauntal, rain, rain, rain.
Allgäu
Hindelanger Klettersteig (2235m, via ferrata) incl. Hohe Gänge approx. 12 km, from Oberstdorf to Hinterstein, 9 hours, breaks included and without set, back to Oberstdorf with bus and train
May 2003 Brenta Italy:
4 days round hike, from hut to hut. This year we were the first ones to complete the tour because there was still a lot of snow on the rock bands. Partially only to overcome with ice ax and crampons
Ortler Traverse 3905m: 10h from hut (we slept that night in a biwak sack in front of the door) back to the parking lot. On that day we were the 3rd roped party on the summit at 7:00 in the morning. As we look back down on the ridge we see all the other roped parties hooked up like a pearl necklace on the ridge
Piz Bernina 4049m, Bianco Ridge Traverse, after 17h stranded on the middle moraine of the Morteratsch glacier. A hardcore thunderstorm (survived in a crevasse, we put all iron about 20m away, the air was like electrified) prevented us from making it to a hut and back to the car. Stayed overnite under a big rock; got up every 15min in order to avoid freezing to death
Several climbing tours in the valley Maggia and Onserone/ Italy, Lago Maggiore
Highlight Alhambra 6a-6b+, 8 hours, 17 lengths of a rope incl. breaks
Loferer Steinberge:
Nurracher Höhenweg + Nackerter Hund, Rothörnl, 12 hours never ending round trip on the ridge, traverse of 6 summits
October 2003,
Seebener Klettersteig, very difficult (D-E) without climbing set, ...we scared the other people to death...they gave up + did not follow ;-) damn cold it was
Coburger Hut
1. day Tajaklettersteig w/o set
2. day Sonnenspitze 2417m traverse…we stupidos had a double rope in the backpack and didn’t need/ use it
2004 Augsburger Höhenweg from Ansbacher to Augsburger Hut, 7.5h, we were the first ones this year because there was lots of snow
Imster via ferrata, Maldonkopf 2632m, w/o set
Mindelheimer Klettersteig + Heilbronner Weg, first day we ran from Mittelberg to the Rappensee hut! Next day Heilbronner Weg incl. Mädelegabel
Arlberger via ferrata (D, 2680m), down cross-country
End of November 2004
Pyramidenspitze in the Zahmer Kaiser, descent to the south and cross-country round the mountain
Seekarspitze during winter
Watzmanngrat traverse (2713m) within one day, 12 hours incl. breaks back to the car. Started at 3:00h in the morning from Munich
Januar 2005
Ski tour opposite Sudelfeld with overnight stay in the tent: equipment test for Chile
February/ March 2005
Marmolejo Chile – 7 days of total loneliness, no human being was on and around this mountain
National park Torres del Paine, Patagonia
Hiked the „Circuit und W“ within 6 days (normally it takes at least 7 days), 124 km
June 2005
Wagendrischlhorn 2251m + Reiteralpe
Brauneck cross country
July 2005
Großer and Kleiner Bettelwurf 2726m, w/o set, 2 locals were amazed by our speed
Jägersteig Klettersteig closed and rotten , beastly weather, nobody there, crossed steep slopes with just the grip under the boots
30th of September - 3rd of October 2005
Sella/ Italy – via ferratas 4 days
Pisciadu, D, on top nicely exposed
Pößneckersteig, D-E, very exposed
Cesare Piazetta on the Piz Boe 3152m, D-E
Rosengarten
Via Ferrata Masare and Rotwandklettersteig
Saalfelden
Persailhorn 2350m, traverse combining both via ferratas, without set
16.-17.October
Piz Buin and Silvrettahorn (1 day) from Wiesbadener Hut via Wiesbadener Grätle
October 2004
Hoher Göll 2522m via Mannlgrat + traverse of complete Göllstock to the Jennergipfel
New Zealand, Jan-Feb 2005
Mingha Deception Track + ascent to a lonely mountain lake, 2 days with dry boots (! Nobody we met made it with dry boots on this tour:-). The complete track follows 2 rivers, up and down…countless river crossings, partially hopping from stone to stone, partially waist deep water crossings taking off shoes and pants, partially some steep traverses in the primeval forest
Northern Circuit in 2.5 days instead of 3.5 days
Dolomites Palagroup, 2 days via ferratas, overtook everyone we saw :-)
Leogang Süd (D-E) + descent via Nordwand ferrata
August 2005
Aueralm from Bad Wiessee within 45 min and Fockenstein in 1:20h from parking lot, 720hm, in pouring rain
Hundskopf from Hinterhornalm in 1:15h + another 50 Min. to the Waldekampspitze (no path)
September 2005
Hochkalter: alone from Hintersee to Blaueishut within 1:20h (locals tried to overtake me:-) + further 2:10h via the ridge on the summit; back through the Ofental
Round-the-world trip Oktober 2005 (27.09.05 – 30.10.05)
San Francisco – coastwalk from the “Cliff House/Sutro Bath”, a bus stop outside of town. Approx. 25 km along the coast; cliff line trackless in the beginning, later through residential neighbourhoods, crossing the Golden Gate and back, following the coastal line to downtown and back to hotel
Yosemite National Park – „Halfdome alone“ 2695m, overtook everyone I saw in front of me :-)
6:13h Start from tent ground, after 3:47h reached the summit at 10:00h. Descent: Race with a guy from L.A.…his comment when I finally got him:“you are walking so fucking fast!!“ We shook hands & talked while descending together, later I felt sorry that I hadn't asked for his contact details…he seemed a nice person
Hawaii, Maui – Haleakaela crater crossing approx. 25-30km. In the morning at 1:30h started from the hotel with the car. 3:00h at the parking lot somewhere on the summit road, tried to get a hitch hike, all tour agencies (with their downhill bikes) passed by, later honeymooners from Vermont took me to the summit, sunrise at 5:30h, damn cold…and I started my descent into the crater, the sun warmed me up slowly, dewdrops on the silver swords, some people started behind me but stopped or just went to the first crater within the vast crater… I was completely alone, meanwhile in shorts took the next turn to the innermost, the holy sanctuary of the Polynesians…I was alone and I felt relieved and strange at the same time…from there I made my way in a wide arc back to the summit road to my night-time parking lot
Hawaii- Hawaii main island, crater crossing, combining several paths in the national park making approx. 20km; later at the coastal line another 10km in the scalding heat, running over the lava, trying to get to the spot where the flowing red boiling lava meets the sea, steaming and exploding. But it was prohibited to get closer because accidents happened with people breaking through the surface stepping onto the glowing lava…but anyway how fascinating these figures and formations are that the lava has built
Hawaii – running on various shore lines; bad luck: the Ironman started one day later…I was already on the way to Singapore via Australia…
Thailand – 3 days trekking with the Lisu and Karen, 2 cave adventures – walking and crawling approx 2 km into a cave with just a flashlight in your hand…wow, waterfalls in the jungle, highly poisonous snake in my backpack strap…lucky me! staying the night with the Lisu
2006 May, Hochkönig via ferrata (D), 1700 climbing meters w/o set
2006 with my friend Dirk in Vietnam, in Hanoi we rented motorbikes (Russian Minsk) + we made a round trip through the Vietnamese mountains close to the Chinese border. Every 100km something broke down with the motorbikes…3 days pouring and never ending rain but a great experience...
An idea is born: On a motorbike round the world
2007: Romania motorbike tour with Dirk…and with my first own motorbike, a KTM 950 Superenduro. We took the motorail train from Villach to Thessaloniki and exited in Nij/ Serbia, from there we drove 150km north + drove into Romania. 3500 km, partially offroad, through the mountains up to the black sea and back following the Danube river
Crete 2008: Enduro tours with Achilles; here I realized that with a smaller motorbike (Enduro) you can do even more thrilling things…
Crete 2009: Had to go once more to Crete/ Achilles in order to learn more on the Enduro, this time with an advanced group
April 2009: I was hooked… and had to buy a lighter Enduro, a Husaberg
August 2009: Harcore Enduro Tour in the previous week of the „Romaniacs“ in Petresti und Sibiu. I was totally wiped out, bruises and small injuries all over my body, every single muscle was in pain but I bashed my way through…my tour colleagues Reik and Christian helped over and over again…but we had lots of fun
The idea of going around the world with the motorbike gets more concrete: I make a first plan…
2010 February, Morocco Enduro Tour. From Marakesch 2500km, crossing the Atlas mountains, driving through the stone and sand deserts, driving in the dunes of Erg Chebbi. We met the Touareg Rally…digging out cars and motorbikes everywhere in the sand…
March 2010: Enduro in Croatia with Reik and Christian…sooo much better now :-)
August 2010: another Enduro week with Reik, Christian, Markus and Bogo in Sibiu/ Romania
The planning for my round-the-world trip with the motorbike now runs at full speed, setting up the motorbike, visas, information, organization…
October 2010: Enduro weekend in Oberhof with Reik, Christain, Thomas…in the morning everything is frosted and first ice is on the creeks
1981 Hindelang/ Allgäu: second and last time with my parents in the mountains. They put me into a youth group for mountaineering…after that I was addicted: mountains, mountains, mountains!
1982 Hinterstein/ Allgäu: with my friend Robert in the mountains…on a bicycle and with backpack
1983 - 1989: short trips from the Rhineland to the Alps
1990-1992: studies in Konstanz at the Lake Constance. In addition to mountaineering, skiing intensified…aside the ski slope, from that date only off-piste thrilled me
Hoher Riffler (3168m), 2 days mountain tour with three other students, car broke down on the Arlberg Pass, hitch-hiked the 150km back to Konstanz
1992: move back to Düsseldorf in order to finish my studies of automation
1993 and 1994: work as a skiing guide for a travel agency. Various trips with the bus to Saas Fee, Pitztal, Italy…
1995: 2 weeks hiking in Mallnitz/ Austria
Summer 1996: basic training as a skiing instructor in Austria/ Obergurgl
1997: move to Munich
1998: Mittenwalder Klettersteig (via ferrata/ fixed rope route)…the metal ropes were under the snow…escaped via Hermann von Barth Weg, snow up to the waist and no track marks... After that I took the decision to take climbing training including rope handling and securing techniques
Climbing course with mountain guide Hermann in Penzberg, Bad Heilbrunn and Kampenwand/ Lake Chiem
Shortly after that, one over-motivated climbing course participant nearly fell to his death in the Kampenwand
Several climbs in the Kampenwand/ Lake Chiem
1998: another climbing course at the Lake Garda/ Italy
June 1999, again Mittenwalder Klettersteig 2384m, we were trapped in a thunderstorm on the last meters on the ridge. We had already run over the exposed and wet rocks but now we hit the pedal to the metal while descending the mountain…this “kind of" technique I have maintained until today…so much fun! :-)
Wilder Kaiser/ Austria, via ferrata on the Maukspitze, 2231m
Switzerland: Säntis, Altmann
Switzerland Zürich/ Gaswerke, climbing hall
Switzerland Walensee, climbing tours at the Galerie
Climbing tours at the Brüggler, 6a+
Churfürsten 1.5 hours high speed ascent, had to overtake everyone...also the last one who tried to get away :-)
Fockenstein and Spitzingsee: backcountry skiing (ski touring)
Mountain bike tour Tegernsee-Lengries-Tegernsee
Buch- und Rosstein during Summer + climbing. In winter downhill cross-country (more accurate: cross steep (!) valley on the booty just protected by the rain pants…
Wallberg summer and winter cross-country
Brecherspitze via southeast ridge in summer and winter
Mountainbike tour around Estergebirge - hardcore thunderstorm
Karwendel cross country during winter with snow up to the waist
Wendelstein, Benediktenwand
Kampenwand/ Lake Chiem climbing, Fönfische
Dolomite Alps- Cortina d’Ampezzo, via ferratas
- Punta Fiames 2240m
- Col Rosa 2166m – without climbing set
- Tofana di Mezzo 3243m, without set
Allgäuer Alps: traverse Geißhorn, Rauhhorn, Kugelhorn, beastly weather, sliding down the mountain (like walking on soap)
Wilder Kaiser, Ellmauer Halt 2344m
Martinswand via ferrata, 3 times without climbing set
Martinswand climbing, Augenthaler Verschneidung 6+, exit 1-2 degree only but then it still took a looong time to get back to the parking lot…it was dark when we reached the car
Herzogstand in summer and ski touring in winter
Jochberg 3 times, different paths and cross-country
Zugspitze 2962m in 5 hours from Garmisch through Höllental, stayed the night in the hut on top with the worst service I ever experienced in the mountains. No water available even though a cable car goes there at least 20 times a day! Next day Jubiläumsgrat ridge traverse…so exhilarating!
Freiungen Höhenweg, Reitherspitze 2374m, Solsteinhaus
Allgäu: Rote Flüh, Gimpel, Köllenspitze
Soiernspitze during winter , traversed, snow up to the waist; sliding on plastic bags down to the valley floor
2000: South Africa
Tablemountain und Lionshead
Climbing in Montagu and Kapstadt
Hiking in the Mushroom Mountains
Hiking in the Drakkensberge, river crossing, cross country hiking through the high grass…were quite scared about snakes…
Guffert, Unnütz; Scharfreiter traversed in winter
Innsbrucker Klettersteig 2480m, done despite the fact it was closed
Mountainbiking, crossing the Tremalzo Joch/ Lake Garda Italy, approx. 2000 hm (vertical difference), on the pass it was damn cold and foggy
Gardasee Mountains, via ferratas and climbing tours
Rotspitze traverse with lots of snow
Innsbruck/ Austria, Hundstod with lots of snow, gave up 20 meters below top
Sardinia + Corsica, climbing and mountaineering
2002 Stubaier Valley, Neustift/ Austria: done all via ferratas
Climbing tours in Dammkar, Militärweg, Kreuzspitze, Luftige Kante… heavy thunderstorm on arrival at the summit
Großvenediger 3666m
Großglockner (3798m) via Stüdlgrat, descent via standard route
Zuckerhütl (3507m) via Wilder Pfaff, through Riednauntal. Because of snowfall (it was summer), fog and ice on the rocks we were the only ones on the crest. It was so quiet and peaceful…Lateron we met Italiens who tried to overtake while descending…on the icy rocks they gave up. Long way back through the Riednauntal, rain, rain, rain.
Allgäu
Hindelanger Klettersteig (2235m, via ferrata) incl. Hohe Gänge approx. 12 km, from Oberstdorf to Hinterstein, 9 hours, breaks included and without set, back to Oberstdorf with bus and train
May 2003 Brenta Italy:
4 days round hike, from hut to hut. This year we were the first ones to complete the tour because there was still a lot of snow on the rock bands. Partially only to overcome with ice ax and crampons
Ortler Traverse 3905m: 10h from hut (we slept that night in a biwak sack in front of the door) back to the parking lot. On that day we were the 3rd roped party on the summit at 7:00 in the morning. As we look back down on the ridge we see all the other roped parties hooked up like a pearl necklace on the ridge
Piz Bernina 4049m, Bianco Ridge Traverse, after 17h stranded on the middle moraine of the Morteratsch glacier. A hardcore thunderstorm (survived in a crevasse, we put all iron about 20m away, the air was like electrified) prevented us from making it to a hut and back to the car. Stayed overnite under a big rock; got up every 15min in order to avoid freezing to death
Several climbing tours in the valley Maggia and Onserone/ Italy, Lago Maggiore
Highlight Alhambra 6a-6b+, 8 hours, 17 lengths of a rope incl. breaks
Loferer Steinberge:
Nurracher Höhenweg + Nackerter Hund, Rothörnl, 12 hours never ending round trip on the ridge, traverse of 6 summits
October 2003,
Seebener Klettersteig, very difficult (D-E) without climbing set, ...we scared the other people to death...they gave up + did not follow ;-) damn cold it was
Coburger Hut
1. day Tajaklettersteig w/o set
2. day Sonnenspitze 2417m traverse…we stupidos had a double rope in the backpack and didn’t need/ use it
2004 Augsburger Höhenweg from Ansbacher to Augsburger Hut, 7.5h, we were the first ones this year because there was lots of snow
Imster via ferrata, Maldonkopf 2632m, w/o set
Mindelheimer Klettersteig + Heilbronner Weg, first day we ran from Mittelberg to the Rappensee hut! Next day Heilbronner Weg incl. Mädelegabel
Arlberger via ferrata (D, 2680m), down cross-country
End of November 2004
Pyramidenspitze in the Zahmer Kaiser, descent to the south and cross-country round the mountain
Seekarspitze during winter
Watzmanngrat traverse (2713m) within one day, 12 hours incl. breaks back to the car. Started at 3:00h in the morning from Munich
Januar 2005
Ski tour opposite Sudelfeld with overnight stay in the tent: equipment test for Chile
February/ March 2005
Marmolejo Chile – 7 days of total loneliness, no human being was on and around this mountain
- base camp 3100m
- base camp 3300m
- base camp 4300m
- brought food and stuff on 5000m, descent to 3rd base camp, my partner got altitude sickness and had the hell of a night. Monitoring the vital functions I luckily didn't have to execute an emergency plan (that would have to be executed on our own anyway; no mobile works here). I got the depot from 5000m and next day we made our way back to civilization slowly.
National park Torres del Paine, Patagonia
Hiked the „Circuit und W“ within 6 days (normally it takes at least 7 days), 124 km
June 2005
Wagendrischlhorn 2251m + Reiteralpe
Brauneck cross country
July 2005
Großer and Kleiner Bettelwurf 2726m, w/o set, 2 locals were amazed by our speed
Jägersteig Klettersteig closed and rotten , beastly weather, nobody there, crossed steep slopes with just the grip under the boots
30th of September - 3rd of October 2005
Sella/ Italy – via ferratas 4 days
Pisciadu, D, on top nicely exposed
Pößneckersteig, D-E, very exposed
Cesare Piazetta on the Piz Boe 3152m, D-E
Rosengarten
Via Ferrata Masare and Rotwandklettersteig
Saalfelden
Persailhorn 2350m, traverse combining both via ferratas, without set
16.-17.October
Piz Buin and Silvrettahorn (1 day) from Wiesbadener Hut via Wiesbadener Grätle
October 2004
Hoher Göll 2522m via Mannlgrat + traverse of complete Göllstock to the Jennergipfel
New Zealand, Jan-Feb 2005
Mingha Deception Track + ascent to a lonely mountain lake, 2 days with dry boots (! Nobody we met made it with dry boots on this tour:-). The complete track follows 2 rivers, up and down…countless river crossings, partially hopping from stone to stone, partially waist deep water crossings taking off shoes and pants, partially some steep traverses in the primeval forest
Northern Circuit in 2.5 days instead of 3.5 days
Dolomites Palagroup, 2 days via ferratas, overtook everyone we saw :-)
Leogang Süd (D-E) + descent via Nordwand ferrata
August 2005
Aueralm from Bad Wiessee within 45 min and Fockenstein in 1:20h from parking lot, 720hm, in pouring rain
Hundskopf from Hinterhornalm in 1:15h + another 50 Min. to the Waldekampspitze (no path)
September 2005
Hochkalter: alone from Hintersee to Blaueishut within 1:20h (locals tried to overtake me:-) + further 2:10h via the ridge on the summit; back through the Ofental
Round-the-world trip Oktober 2005 (27.09.05 – 30.10.05)
San Francisco – coastwalk from the “Cliff House/Sutro Bath”, a bus stop outside of town. Approx. 25 km along the coast; cliff line trackless in the beginning, later through residential neighbourhoods, crossing the Golden Gate and back, following the coastal line to downtown and back to hotel
Yosemite National Park – „Halfdome alone“ 2695m, overtook everyone I saw in front of me :-)
6:13h Start from tent ground, after 3:47h reached the summit at 10:00h. Descent: Race with a guy from L.A.…his comment when I finally got him:“you are walking so fucking fast!!“ We shook hands & talked while descending together, later I felt sorry that I hadn't asked for his contact details…he seemed a nice person
Hawaii, Maui – Haleakaela crater crossing approx. 25-30km. In the morning at 1:30h started from the hotel with the car. 3:00h at the parking lot somewhere on the summit road, tried to get a hitch hike, all tour agencies (with their downhill bikes) passed by, later honeymooners from Vermont took me to the summit, sunrise at 5:30h, damn cold…and I started my descent into the crater, the sun warmed me up slowly, dewdrops on the silver swords, some people started behind me but stopped or just went to the first crater within the vast crater… I was completely alone, meanwhile in shorts took the next turn to the innermost, the holy sanctuary of the Polynesians…I was alone and I felt relieved and strange at the same time…from there I made my way in a wide arc back to the summit road to my night-time parking lot
Hawaii- Hawaii main island, crater crossing, combining several paths in the national park making approx. 20km; later at the coastal line another 10km in the scalding heat, running over the lava, trying to get to the spot where the flowing red boiling lava meets the sea, steaming and exploding. But it was prohibited to get closer because accidents happened with people breaking through the surface stepping onto the glowing lava…but anyway how fascinating these figures and formations are that the lava has built
Hawaii – running on various shore lines; bad luck: the Ironman started one day later…I was already on the way to Singapore via Australia…
Thailand – 3 days trekking with the Lisu and Karen, 2 cave adventures – walking and crawling approx 2 km into a cave with just a flashlight in your hand…wow, waterfalls in the jungle, highly poisonous snake in my backpack strap…lucky me! staying the night with the Lisu
2006 May, Hochkönig via ferrata (D), 1700 climbing meters w/o set
2006 with my friend Dirk in Vietnam, in Hanoi we rented motorbikes (Russian Minsk) + we made a round trip through the Vietnamese mountains close to the Chinese border. Every 100km something broke down with the motorbikes…3 days pouring and never ending rain but a great experience...
An idea is born: On a motorbike round the world
2007: Romania motorbike tour with Dirk…and with my first own motorbike, a KTM 950 Superenduro. We took the motorail train from Villach to Thessaloniki and exited in Nij/ Serbia, from there we drove 150km north + drove into Romania. 3500 km, partially offroad, through the mountains up to the black sea and back following the Danube river
Crete 2008: Enduro tours with Achilles; here I realized that with a smaller motorbike (Enduro) you can do even more thrilling things…
Crete 2009: Had to go once more to Crete/ Achilles in order to learn more on the Enduro, this time with an advanced group
April 2009: I was hooked… and had to buy a lighter Enduro, a Husaberg
August 2009: Harcore Enduro Tour in the previous week of the „Romaniacs“ in Petresti und Sibiu. I was totally wiped out, bruises and small injuries all over my body, every single muscle was in pain but I bashed my way through…my tour colleagues Reik and Christian helped over and over again…but we had lots of fun
The idea of going around the world with the motorbike gets more concrete: I make a first plan…
2010 February, Morocco Enduro Tour. From Marakesch 2500km, crossing the Atlas mountains, driving through the stone and sand deserts, driving in the dunes of Erg Chebbi. We met the Touareg Rally…digging out cars and motorbikes everywhere in the sand…
March 2010: Enduro in Croatia with Reik and Christian…sooo much better now :-)
August 2010: another Enduro week with Reik, Christian, Markus and Bogo in Sibiu/ Romania
The planning for my round-the-world trip with the motorbike now runs at full speed, setting up the motorbike, visas, information, organization…
October 2010: Enduro weekend in Oberhof with Reik, Christain, Thomas…in the morning everything is frosted and first ice is on the creeks
