As a child, I often went hiking with my parents, sometimes even with my school class. Who hasn’t, really? Later on, I’d go for a hike whenever I needed to clear my head, which happened more frequently during my studies.

Together with my now-husband, we ventured further afield: over the years, we hiked several thousand kilometers on various long-distance hiking trails in Europe. We especially liked to try different routes and wanted to discover new things.

One year, we went north into the wilderness above the Arctic Circle, and the next year, you could find us in the Italian Alps. After being drenched in western Ireland, we got a bit roasted on a Camino trail in southwestern France. And we know what a hike in a steam bath feels like since we crossed the plain north of Venice in the summer.

But with the difficult experiences also came great moments: the rainbow that stretches across the valley after the rainclouds clear away, the sunsets along the coasts or in the mountains, the moment when the mist finally lifts and you suddenly see a dreamy valley landscape with wild ponies, and, not too far away, you spot vultures that you otherwise only know are there but never actually see.

Or the moment when, after an incredibly long day of hiking, you arrive at a pilgrim’s hostel, and the volunteer just looks bewildered because two figures show up way later than anybody else, then immediately hands us two much-needed glasses of water without being asked… Moments you don’t forget.

While planning hikes, I always found it strangely difficult to find the information that is relevant to us hikers in different regions. For a continent where hiking is practically a national sport in many countries, Europe has over half a million kilometers of marked hiking trails, there is remarkably little congregated information if you want to hike beyond your own country’s borders. So, I decided to create a blog and gather as much relevant information for us Europeans as possible.

Since I don’t just enjoy hiking but also happen to be a rather sensitive person, I’m always looking for equipment that makes our lives on trail more comfortable but not necessarily heavier. I’m also not shy about endless research, DIY projects, and if all else fails, even developing something myself.

It’s fascinating,really, to see what kind of manufacturers we have here in Europe that offer great products for hikers. Only very rarely do manufacturers from North America, Japan or Australia have better stuff. Along the way, I’ve accumulated a lot of knowledge on various topics related to hiking, and step by step, I’ll be sharing them on the blog.

Happy browsing!

And, of course, happy hiking!