NEWT 2017 Tent group report

NEWT 2017 Tent group

28-7
For me the first day of the NEWT 2017 and start of my 7th participation of this fantastic naked experience. My first hike was in 2010, also with the tent.
A holiday starts when I jump in the car, driving to my final destination. After a half day of work, I left the office and drove south to a place near Eindhoven, to pick up Eveliina (NL). Together we drove in a relaxing way and for me mainly nude, to Lüdwigshafen. Here we planned a night in a hotel together with Jos (NL), who drove by himself to Austria. The hotel was quite run down, but it was cheap, so no big complaints. The evening we spent on a terrace near the Rhine river with some food and beers.

29-7
Leaving for Aurstia now and about 500 km to go. The trip went well and quick, up till the the A8 between Munich and Austria. Some traffic jams, but finally we arrived around 2:00 PM in the hut in Mühltal. Pascal and Clarisse where already there, including some others. The hut looked nice and in front of the hut was a nice flat meadow where we were allowed to install our tents. Very convenient actually.
The landlady was okay with our nudity, but we had to take a little care for the neighbors, but in the end no big problems, since it was very hard to see us naked.
In order to manage the food for the whole group I went down to Wörgl with Clarisse to pick up the pre-ordered food from Hofer. This was a full van with food and drinks! We planned to pick up some people, but there was no place for them, so they had to go by bus. Once up on the mountain the tent group members arrived slowely. Adam (UK), Roger (CH) and Verena (CH), Andrew (SK) and Eva (SK), Yves (F) and Anreas (D) made the group complete. 10 in total. Of course Elgar (N) the moose also popped up, like he does in every NEWT.
After unloading the van we noticed that not all the food was delivered and other food was delivered far too much, so Clarisse had to return to Wörgl and pick up the rest. In the meantime I prepared the dinner for the night, a spaghetti Bolognese. It seems that the food was okay for the group and after a desert and some drinks we decided to go to sleep. Outside the hut was an other issue. Jos had to call a garage to get his car back on the road. His car hang on the edge of the road and the mountain. Luckily no problems afterwards.

30-7
The first hiking day. We decided to do the first part of the walk together with the hut group and took trail 59 down to the river and climbed up the 55 to the Köglmoos. This was a steep path up and a pretty hard track to start the week. Specially with a temperature of 30 degrees. But we all succeed to climb up. After a break we continued to the Schatsbergalm, where we split up after the lunch. With the tent group we climbed up to the little lake near the Hahnkopf. At this lake we had a nice relaxing time, enjoying the fantastic panorama’s in almost every direction. First we had the plan to camp here, but decided to go to the Gipfo Alt first for some food and drink. During this climb we arrived at our summit of the day at 1902 meter. When we arrived at the hut, it was actually closed, but they were willing to serve us soup and drinks from bottles. That was very welcome, so soup and a fantastic beer for me! After serving the food, the owner left and we could stay on the terrace. When finished the food and drinks we had to find a place to sleep. Not far from this hut we found a small meadow to build the camp. We were right in time. Just after the tents were built up, a huge thunderstorm came over the mountain. The flashes were all around us and it was quite scary in these tiny tents. Later we learned that this was one of the heaviest thunderstorms since quite a while. Because of this bad weather we were in the tents and fell asleep quite early.

31-7
A new day and the sun was already shining, with stunning views from our camp place. Time for some breakfast and break up the camp. A quick coffee at the hut and continuing with our trek. We went down from the Hahkopf over a very steep but fantastic trail and ended up in the forest on road 28, the Alpenrosenweg. This trail leads through the forests, where the nature and scenery changes constantly. A beautiful trail to walk on. In the middle there was a sign that we were not allowed to continue, due to some works in the forest… We decided to continue and within a few minutes, the forester popped up. Well sorry, we feel guilty, etc., was good enough for him and could continue. After leaving the Alpenrosenweg, we choose the 55 to go down again. The same trail as the day before, but now in the other direction, with totally other views. Around 4:00 PM we arrived at the hut and were able to build our tents again. And more important, to take a shower!!! That felt fantastic. Since I promised the group to prepare some Indonesian food, we had time enough to make it. Unfortunately the rice did not cook well, but it looked that the group was satisfied. Maybe it was because they were hungry.

1-8
Today we left the hut area not together with the other group. They left by car and we by foot. It was quite relaxing and left about 9:00 AM to take track 60 and 57 in direction of Kogelweg. Not too difficult and in the forests. On our way some nice waterfalls and stunning nature. After descending a while we arrived at the Steinbach, where we had a nice break and a good swim in the river. This was very relaxing during this hot day, with temperatures of over 30 degrees again. From there we had the plan to make a stop at a hut, since it became hotter and hotter. Unfortunately the Klindlerhof had “ruhetag”. We decided to continue to the next hut at 1452 meter, the Holzalm. This walk was pretty rough, but at the end of the afternoon we reached this hut and had a fantastic goulash soup and schnitzels. This was very welcoming at that moment. After having this great break we had to say goodbye to Jos. He had to return to the Netherlands again. The rest of the group continued the trail to find a place to sleep. Not far from the hut we found a flat piece of land and decided to build up our camp. The location was very fine and convenient, with even a bench to sit on. This night we had some very luxury coffee, which was a present of Jos. We had the choice from Italian, French, Spanish and Irish coffee. Very posh during a trek! I also brought some liquor, which I got as a present from Joop. This liquor had a name which has to do with nudity. Joop (Dutch) joined the NEWT in 2011 and 2012 and became a very good friend of me. Unfortunately he passed away last year and I wanted to commemorate him during the NEWT, while camp in the mountains. So we had a toast on him and while having his drink, we felt some raindrops. Maybe some respond from above? We had a great evening together and finally we went to our tents for a proper sleep.

2-8
A wonderful day again. Slowly we woke up, had a breakfast and broke up our camp. Together with Ondrej and Andreas we went to the hut, to get some water for the group, since we ran out of water. Once back, we continued our trail and walked along the mountain, with stunning stone fields, waterfalls, flowers, trees and interesting information about a copper mine, which existed there long time ago. Everywhere you found green stones, which showed the existence of copper on these spots. We followed the 20 to Hösljoch and the 54 to the Schatzbergalm. The later part was over high wetlands, which was also fantastic, with its own charm and of course some friendly cows. There were lakes, meadows, forests, views…… like a fairy tale. From the Schatzbergalm we walked down to Thierbach. During the descend we were surprised by a huge thunderstorm and heavy rainfalls again. At that moment we were close to a hut, but they did not like naked people. We were dressed at that moment, but there were a lot of rumors. We were allowed to hide in the cow stable. So we were lucky and stayed dry. After this bad weather we decided to have a break at the Sollenwirt restaurant in Thierbach. Again, this was a welcoming break, just before returning to the hut again. The last part back to the hut was over tarmac, but not bad at all. When arriving at the hut, the chili con carne was ready and after a nice shower, we were okay for joining the dinner. In the meantime Christian (CH) arrived, to join the tent group for the last two days. After the dinner the tent group stayed outside and had some tasting of the different countries. Some cheese, some cookies, some homemade Slovakian spirits and a lot of fun together. It last until late…..

3-8
A new day with sun and warmth. Our goal was to take the Bummelbahn to the end station behind Auffach, to start our two day trek. Since the tent group was a little lazy and waited until the hut group left, we were quite late to catch out Bummelbahn. So some of the group hurried up and stopped the train. Once in the train it felt strange, because the front of the train was in the wrong direction. Well, it went wrong. Instead of going up, we went down to a gorge. This gorge seems to be very nice, but is overcrowded. Not a good idea for naked hikers. We had to come back again with the train and decided to do the trail in the opposite direction. From Mühltal we took the 1 up to the Roßkopf. Again a tough tour with 30+ degrees and 15 kg on your back. On the trail we found a hut, where we had some buttermilk and other drinks. During a short break, a group of Dutch hikers came along and seemed to be very interested in our group. In the afternoon we reached the saddle just under the Roßkopf with a little chapel. A nice place for a short rest. From there a steep path to the summit at 1731 meter. This was hard, but worth wile! What a stunning views! Here we had a good Kodak moment and after some nice pictures we continued to find a place to camp. Again a small flat piece of land, with a bench. Once we put up our tents, it started raining. Luckily it was not that long and we were able to have a dinner outside with again these posh coffee liquors, while enjoying the view and each other’s company.

4-8
The last hiking day. After having breakfast we found out that we were almost run out of water again. We had to find a place for refilling out water bags and bottles. Plan was to go to the Voreder Feldalm. The track to this alm was quite flat and lead along many lakes and berry bushes. In one of the lakes we had a nice swim and on the track we had been picking lots of berries. This was at least some liquid. In the end we reached the hut, where we had a nice drink and we were able to refill our bottles. The man was curious and asked us if we were the naked hikers. We admit and was very relaxed about it and said to us that it was okay to undress already on his terrace, so we did not need to do it later on. From this hut we started to climb to the first summit of the day, the Feldalphorn at 1923 meter. From there we continued to the Schwaigberghorn ( 1990 meter) and the Wildkarrspitze (1961 meter). All the summits were fantastic again. It feels so good to stand there on top of the world, just naked, feeling the sun, the breeze and the silence! One guy was not so happy with us, but that can happen. From the Wildkarrspitze we had to descend to 1100 meter to catch the Bummelbahn. This was a tough track. Going down so long is heavy for the knees. It was a long road down, but we were just in time to catch the train. Christian went down quicker to stop the train if necessary. Totally exhausted but so happy, we entered the train and went back to Mühltal. In Mühltal we took a beer or two in the brewery and since we spotted Clarisse and Horst, we had an offer to take our luggage to the hut. So the last 2 km were without luggage. Once in the brewery, it started raining cats and dogs. Just in time under a cozy roof! The last evening in the hut with some pasta and other nice food. A nice last evening, with a lot of emotion and very nice talks. Christian had lots of work to do, so he decided to leave for Switzerland.

5-8
Time to say goodbye. Another fantastic naked hiking week, with wonderful people around me. The people of the tent group were so great and worked together as one team! This is unique and I feel blessed to had these people around me. Around 9:00 AM I left with Eveliina, Yves, Bernard and Emma to Munich and from Munich I continued with Eveliina to the Netherlands. In Heerlen (NL) Eveliina took the train and I returned to Germany to drive to the Eiffel to join another naked hiking group of 20 persons, where I also met Jos again and the partner of Joop. Here we stayed in a hotel, where we had a nice dinner, a sauna and a real bed! That was great to feel again after 1 week of sleeping on mats.

6-8
A last hike of the holiday. No tents to break down, just a nice shower and a buffet for breakfast. The nature in the Eiffel was very nice, but so different from Austria. It was a relaxing last day, where Jos lead the group and I was the tail end Charlie. No high mountains and just a day pack on my back. Good conversations with the group and stories to tell about Austria. Some 15 km of hike and a big ice cream as a reward. From there I had to drive the final 3 hours back to my home in the Netherlands, where I arrived around 9:00 PM.