My outdoor activities: bike backpacking and hiking
My favorites: sea, mountains and nature

I love natur, outdoors, challenges and adventures, as well as
the discovering of foreign cultures and new horizonts.

Link to:

Germany: Cycling from Wismar to Rügen
Italy: Hiking Vinschgau in autumn
England: Cycling from London to Windsor Castle
Europe: Solo cycling from Rüdesheim to Mediterranean Sea
Swiss: Hiking "Kesch-Trek"
New Zealand: Solo cycling North and South Island
England: Cycling Devon and Cornwall

Germany: North Sea island of Borkum
Europe: Solo cycling from Ruedesheim to Edinburgh
Italy: Solo hiking "Dolomiten High Mountain Trail No. 3"
Italy: Solo mountain biking "Schneebergscharte" and "Stelvio Pass" in South Tyrol
India: Mountain hiking in a very remote area of Himachal Pradesh

Bicycle backpacker trip in spring 2023 on the "Baltic Long Distance Cycle Route"

After my extremely positive experiences in Ukraine in March 2023 (have a look to: Lviv and Kyiv), I have set myself the goal to explore more of the "East" and "North" (Scandinavia). The beauty of the Baltic Sea between Flensburg and Travemünde was known to me from a bicycle backpacker trip in 2014 around Schleswig-Holstein (1st part of the "Baltic Long Distance Cycle Route"). This time it went from Wismar via island of Poel to Kühlungsborn, Warnemünde, Graal-Müritz, Ahrenshoop, Zingst, Barth, Stralsund and via the Rügen dam to Gustow, Poseritz, Putbus, Binz, Sassnitz, Königsstuhl with the famous chalk cliffs and back to Binz. In total, it was about 330 km in less than 3 days (60 km, 120 km, 150 km).

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on my way to the island of Poel

steam locomotive near Heiligendamm

Warnemünde (really nice town)

cycle path between Warnemünde and Arenshoop

cycle path between Ahrenshoop and Zingst

Zingst sea bridge

river "Barthe"

Gorch Fock laying at a pier in Stralsund

North Germans have a sense of humor:
Village "Schabernack" (engl: "Prank") lay on the roadside

alley near Putbus on Rügen

"Skywalk" on the day of opening

"Skywalk" is a bridge just above the chalk cliffs

"Skywalk" on the day of opening

Binz sea bridge - end of cycle tour

My "short time out" in 2022 | Traveling the world |
Hiking Vinschgau (South Tyrol) in autumn

My "short time out" in 2022 ended with a holiday in Vinschgau / South Tyrol in October 2022. It is one of the best places I know for autumn season. It is a region which is amazing colourful in autumn and still quite warm.

South Tyrol: Vinschgau | Hiking Watles

South Tyrol: Vinschgau | Top of Watles

South Tyrol: Vinschgau | amazing colours in autumn

South Tyrol: Vinschgau

South Tyrol: Vinschgau | day trip by bike to Meran

South Tyrol: Vinschgau

My "short time out" in 2022 | Traveling the world |
Biking from London to Windsor Castle

I cycled on a daytrip with a friend from London to Windsor Castle to discover more of West-London in October 2022.

England: London - Windsor Castle

Many thanks to Imke who sponsored this wounderful trip!

My "short time out" in 2022 | Traveling the world |
Solo bicycle backpacker trip from Rüdesheim to the Mediterranean Sea

I cycled from Rüdesheim via Gernsheim, Straßbourg, Montbeliard, Doubs, Lausanne, Passo Grand St. Bernardo, Ivrea, Pavia, along Cinque Terre to Portefino in September 2022. This bike backpacking trip crossed the third highest pass in the Alps (Grand St. Bernard with 2473 m asl), followed Via Francigena to Marina di Carrara and followed direction north along Cinque Terre. In total approx. 1.400 km in less than 2 weeks.

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Europe: Rüdesheim to Mediterranean Sea

Europe: Rüdesheim to Mediterranean Sea | Swiss border

Europe: Rüdesheim to Mediterranean Sea | uphill to Passo Grand St. Bernard

Europe: Rüdesheim to Mediterranean Sea | Passo Grand St. Bernard

Europe: Rüdesheim to Mediterranean Sea | downhill Passo Grand St. Bernard

Europe: Rüdesheim to Mediterranean Sea

Europe: Rüdesheim to Mediterranean Sea | Pavia

Europe: Rüdesheim to Mediterranean Sea

Europe: Rüdesheim to Mediterranean Sea | Cinque Terre

Europe: Rüdesheim to Mediterranean Sea | Cinque Terre |
"Camping Acqua Dolce" in Levanto (great spot!)

Europe: Rüdesheim to Mediterranean Sea | Cinque Terre

Europe: Rüdesheim to Mediterranean Sea | Harbour of Portefino

My "short time out" in 2022 | Traveling the world |
Hiking "Kesch Trek" in Switzerland

I hiked the Kesch Trek in Swiss from hut to hut in September 2022 and got surprised by snowfall.

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Swiss: Start of Hiking Kesch-Trek

Swiss: Hiking Kesch-Trek | Grialetsch-Hut (top!)

Swiss: Hiking Kesch-Trek (a quite remote area)

Swiss: Hiking Kesch-Trek

Swiss: Hiking Kesch-Trek | Kesch-Hut

Swiss: Hiking Kesch-Trek

Swiss: Hiking Kesch-Trek | Es-cha-Hut (on arrival)

Swiss: Hiking Kesch-Trek | Es-cha-Hut (next morning on departure)

Swiss: Hiking Kesch-Trek | Be prepared!

Swiss: Hiking Kesch-Trek | Albula-Hospitz

My "short time out" in 2022 | Traveling the world |
Solo bicycle backpacker trip on North Island and South Island of New Zealand

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I cycled in New Zealand on the North Island for 3 weeks and on the South Island for 2 weeks during winter season.

I was more or less the only bike backpacker in this time cycling day by day.

I started in Wellington. Due to the winter season in New Zealand I slept most times in (youth) hostels.

Wellington (it's great!)

Cycling New Zealand

North Island: On Route 52 (cycling for 3 weeks)

North Island

North Island: passing by "far far away"

North Island: Mount Ngauruhoe and Mount Ruapehu (volcans)

North Island: On the way to start of "Timber Trail"

North Island: On the "Timber Trail"

North Island

North Island: Waikato University

South Island: Picton Harbour (cycling for 2 weeks)

South Island: Tapavera with temperatures below zero

South Island: On the West Coast Wilderness Trail

South Island: University of Otage (Christchurch)

South Island: Cycling Queen Charlotte Drive

South Island: Cycling Little River Rail Trail (Christchurch - Little River)

South Island: Cycling Little River Rail Trail (Pacific)

My "short time out" in 2022 | Traveling the world |
Bicycle backpacker trip Devon and Cornwall in England

I cycled Devon and Cornwall in April 2022 in company with two beautiful ladies (friends) on ebikes: seven days and 700 km up and down (all days). That was really nice for the ladies with an ebike (as long as the battery lasts) but for me without an ebike and using my "leg power" quite challenging!

England: Devon and Cornwall

My "short time out" in 2022 | Traveling the world |
Start on North Sea island of Borkum

My "time out" in 2022 started with a vacation on the beautiful island of Borkum in February 2022. Due to Covid restrictions, traveling was not yet possible at that time. But for me the North Sea islands are one of the best places in the winter season - nothing is better than a beach with wind or storm, sand, waves, fresh air ... and without other tourists.

Germany: North Sea Island of Borkum

Vacation 2019 |
Solo bicycle backpacker trip from Ruedesheim to Edinburgh | England & Scotland

In August and September 2019, I made a spontaneous bike tour from Ruedesheim on River Rhine to Edinburgh in Scotland without any planning. I cycled from Ruedeheim to Bonn, Cologne, Nijmegen, Willemstad, Oude-Tonge, Burgh-Haamstede, Middelburg, Ostende, Dunkerque, Dover, Ramsgate, London, Bishorp's Stortfort, Cambridge, Boston, Grimsby, Kingston upon Hull, Scarborough, Ravenscar, Whitby, Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Newcastle upon Tyne, Berwich-upon-Tweed, Edinburgh and to the famous Firth of Forth Bridge. In 14 days I cycled 2.000 km.

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2nd Day: Cologne

2nd Day

Somewhere in Holland

4th Day: I arrived at the North Sea

5th Day: Somewhere in Belgium

6th Day: Ferry at Dunkirk in France

6th Day: Dover

6th Day: On my way to Ramsgate

7th Day: London

8th Day: On my way to Cambridge

8th Day:Bishop's Stortfort

8th Day: Cambridge

10th Day: Humber Bridge at Kingston up on Hull

On Route 65 of National Cycle Network

12th Day: Whitby

Somewhere on the way to Newcastle

Somewhere on the way to Berwick upon Tweed

13th Day: Berwick upon Tweed

14th Day: Last day on my way to Edinburgh

14th Day: Edinburgh

14th Day: Firth of Forth Bridge (the end)

Vacation 2018 |
Solo hiking "Dolomites High Mountain Trail No. 3" | Italy

For people who like mountains, South Tyrol offers a lot of great spots to discover (you do not really have to travel to New Zealand, to find amazing spots, because it is all available in the (Northern) Alpes and it is much cheaper and comfortable than in New Zealand). For example, in South Tyrol you can find the famous "Dolomiten Höhenwanderwege" (Dolomites High Mountain Trails). If you like hiking and if you should not be yet familiar with these hiking trails, you should get to know them. Nine of these trails run from north to south direction and one trail (No. 9) runs from west to east direction. I do not know more beautiful high mountain trails like these, where start and end point are very good connected to public transport and which allow a lot of comfort for hikers because of many good huts ("Refugios") and even some hotels on the trails. The easiest high mountain trails are the high mountain trails no. 1 and no. 2. These are also the most frequented ones. For both trails you do not need to be very skilled, you just need to be fit and enjoy spending the night in a "mattress room" with other hikers (and snorers). The high mountain trail no. 2 allows a hike of up to two weeks duration.

Anyone who is thinking about hiking from Munich to Venice in four weeks: Let it be! You can hardly find more nature and relaxation than on the "Dolomites High Mountain Trails". Instead of hiking from Munich to Venice in four weeks you can just as well hike the Dolomites High Mountain Trail No. 1 from north to south and back again via the Dolomites High Mountain Trail No. 2. But please consider always: Careful in the (high) mountains. On the High Mountain Trail No. 2 I already had to help a Dutch family (father with his 2 children) out of "mountain emergency" when they did not notice a sudden change in the weather and ran straight into a heavy thunderstorm with very heavy hail. Some knowledge about weather and clouds is always good in the (high) mountains.

Below you find pictures from my vacation in 2018, when I hiked solo on parts of the Dolomites High Mountain Trail No. 3. This trail is also called "the way of the chamois" because it crosses the Dolomites partly on very lonely, deserted and sometimes exposed paths. If you are not familiar or comfortable in the high mountains and don't like to be all alone, you should not hike the High Mountain Trail No. 3 solo. I enjoyed every meter of hiking also the weather was sometimes "not so good"!

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I used an alternative start point at "Bad Moos" (Sport- & Spa-Hotel Bad Moos) |
From here it is easy to hike to the beautiful "Refugio Zsigmondy"

"Refugio Zsigmondy" at "Zwölferkofel" | great place to be

There is no bad weather just the wrong equipment and bad clothing | Pass at "Büllelejochhütte"

Hiking from Zsigmondy hut to "Drei Zinnen" and "Auronzo hut" and further on to "Monte Piano", which is a open-air museum of WW1 (very interesting). Finally I had to descend to "Lago di Misurina" to find an accommodation.
(View from "Monte Piano" to "Drei Zinnen" with the "Auronzo hut" both in clouds)

Overnight stay at the beautiful "Lago di Misurina" (view from north to south)

Crossing of the "Monte Cristallo" mountains
(left: "Lago di Misurina"; right "Forcella Popena" from WW1; view towards "Passo Tre Croci")

"Lago di Sorapis" at the "Refugio Vandelli" | Wonderful place in the mornings and evening |
The colour of the water comes due to a special mineral in the water

Above "Lago di Sorapis" at the crossing over to "Cortina D'Ampezzo"
(picture center right: remainings from "Glaciar de marcora")

After a long day of hiking at the Refugio "Croda da Lago" |
Relaxing in a wooden barrel sauna with an amazing view on the mountains

Rifugio "Croda da Lago" is a really nice hut

Sun rise at "Croda da Lago"

Ascent on the "Forcella Ambrizzola" (picture left: "Croda da Lago") | On the way to "Monte Pelmo"

Forcella Ambrizzola | View on "Croda da Lago" and towards "Cortina D'Ampezzo" (in the center)

Refugio San Marco (great and beautiful hut)

Crossing of "Forcella Grande" | Hike through the nature park "Somadida"

Crossing of "Forcella Grande"

Vacation 2018 |
Solo mountain biking in South Tyrol on trails and roads | Italy

South Tyrol offers many beautiful places for eventful mountain bike tours. The "Schneebergscharte" is one of these beautiful trails and pass crossings. From Sterzing you go up the Ridnaun valley to the mining museum "Schneeberg". Then you follow the gravel road to the "Poschhaus" (nice hut which offers also accommodation). From "Poschhaus" you have to carry the bike to the pass ("Schneebergscharte", 2.700 m above sea level, approx. 1 to 1,5 hours). The descent from the pass to the "Schneeberg Refugio" is fast and not for inexperienced mountain bikers.

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The "Poschhaus" on the way to the "Schneebergscharte"

Part of the mine museum "Schneebergscharte"

"Schneebergscharte" with Mountainbike (2.700 m asl)
and in clouds (end of Aug. 2018) |
without experience not to recommend

"Refugio Schneeberg" on the other side of the pass

Meran with river Passeier

From the "Refugio Schneeberg" the trail follows down into the Passeier Valley, which you can cycled down all the way to Merano. The "Torgglerhof" (Apple Hotel) in Saltaus used to be an insider tip for eating and staying overnight. However, after several hotel "extensions" it has become very expensive.

Because a single cycled pass during a mountain bike vacation is as good as non cycled pass, that's why I cycled up the Etsch Valley to "Prad am Stilfserjoch" to climb the Stelvio Pass the following day on the road. For this you have to conquer 48 turns. The descent from the Stelvio Pass went over the Umbrail Pass to Santa Maria in Switzerland.

Because the Stelvio Pass is the highest pass road in the Alps (2,750 m above sea level) and really beautiful to cycle, I went on the next day once again from Santa Maria via Alp Mora, Lago di Cancano (a beautiful reservoir lake and spillway), Malga di Forcola to Bocchetta di Forcola (2,700 m above sea level), from where you have a amazing view of the Stelvio Pass and the mountains of the "Ortler". Attention: The "Valle della Forcola" is a rather "remote" and lonely valley, so you should take enough to drink with you. The descent to the Umbrail Pass is not so spectacular, whereas the descent from the Stelvio Pass over the road with 48 turns to Prad is really fun. Take care that you have good brakes on your bike!

Stelvio Pass on the road with 48 turns to the top

Stelvio Pass: turn no. 24

Six kilometers to go and a lot of turns left over!

Stelvio Pass: last turn just before the pass |
In the background you see the mountains of the "Ortler"

Stelvio Pass: view back on some of the 48 turns

Spillway at Lago di Cancano

Trail above Malga di Forcola on the way to Bocchetta di Forcola

If you love your bike, you carry it!

Bocchetta di Forcola (2.700 m asl) with structures from WW1

Bocchetta di Forcola (2.700 m asl) |
In the background you can see the Stelvio Pass and "Ortler"

During WW1 the Italian soldiers used Bocchetta di Forcola to shoot with artillery at Austrian soldiers on the Stelvio Pass

As a (civil) engineer I love spillways and hydro power projects, that why I made a detour via the "Martell valley" to the "Zutrifftstausee"

Location of "Zutrifftstausee"

Details about "Zutrifftstausee"

Vacation 2001 |
Mountain hiking in Himachal Pradesh | India

Where hiking at high altitude over 4.000 m asl began! In 2001 I was working in Mumbai/India on a large construction project to rehabilitate a damaged sewage system under the largest slum of Asia, the so-called "Dharavi Slum" in Mumbai, which is famous by the Oscar-winning movie "Slumdog Millionaire". With my study and work colleague "Andre", who was working at that time on another mega-project called "Metro Delhi", I went on a hiking tour to a very remote area in Himachal Pradesh because Jammu Kashmir further north was inaccessible due to the India-Pakistan war. This area close to Dharamsala was so remote, that no hiking maps where available and we had to hire a guide and some porters. For one week we slept and cooked in huts for goats and used "similar accommodations". It was a great experience, a big adventure and a lot of fun!

Click on picuture to enlarge them!