REPORT NEWT 2015 TENT GROUP

The NEWT 2015 was for me a special edition of the NEWT. It was the 5th time I participated and it was the first time being the leader of a group. Richard asked me to lead the tent group, which was fine for me, but also a little exciting, since I had to do it by myself now. With the experience of the past editions and good company of the other participants in the tent group, it became a success.

At the 10th of July I left Amsterdam in the late afternoon to drive down to Belgium to meet Wilfried. Together we continued in the direction of Austria, while driving naked. Around Aschaffenburg we took a hotel to stay the night for some rest.

Saturday the 11th we continued in the direction of Munich to pick up Adam from the airport. The traffic was heavy so it took longer than we expected. After we picked up Adam, we had a stop in Munich for a visit to the Globetrotter to do the last shopping for the hike and for some lunch. The road to Salzburg was busy too, so we arrived in the early evening at hut A to bring a part of our food supplies. We took the wrong road, so we ended up on a trail with a barrier at the end of the road, just before the junction with the road we were expected to be. That meant half an hour back in the dark on a road with n possibilities to turn. But…. We had some luck, since it was a private road, the owner noticed us and came after us to open the gate. We were able to continue and deliver our goods at the hut of Pascal and Clarisse. Luckily it just had stop raining when we unpacked the car. After a quick meeting with group A, we continued to hut B of Richard. There we arrived in the dark and met also the other participants of the tent group. There were Roger and Verena with dog Vicky, Andreas and Santiago. So we were with 7. Number 8 was not arrived yet. Richard invited us to stay in the basement of the hut, so we did not need to build up our tents in the night. We were very grateful with his offer. After some nice conversation with the hut group we went to bed for a good rest.

The 12th of July was the first hiking day. The group went up with Richard as the leader. Wilfried and I went to Salzburg Airport to pick up Adam, the missing person. In the early afternoon we went up for a walk in the opposite direction of the other group. We walked up to the Ebenalm opposite the Stausee. There we had a nice drink and continued to the Lockenmoosberg. Walking in that direction we met the rest of the group. After a short meeting we continued and had lunch at a fantastic mountain lake in the middle of a moor. The way down was hard and steep, but through a very nice forest. Back at the hut we were able to rest a little, since the other group was not arrived yet. The walk was a 12,1 km hike with an elevation of 775 meter in total.
After the other group arrived we started to prepare dinner. As agreed the tent group cooked for the hut group and the menu was Indonesian this night. The desert we combined with a pre-birthday party of Wilfied. Cake with a candle, sparkling wine and accordion music from Roberto and Rocher made the party complete.

Monday was the first day of the trekking tour. A good breakfast and efficient packing were the last preparations for the hike. From hut B we took the Panoramaweg in direction of Russbach. Close to the pass we had a short lunch stop. After the stop we continued to the village of Russbach. In this nice small village we had our last pause before we left for the mountains. In Gasthof Kirchenwirt we had some drink and food. I have to say that the goulash soup was perfect. Since I had a little problem with my knee, I was looking for walking sticks. So I asked for a shop in the village, but there was no sport shop available. The lady from the restaurant offered me a pair of sticks to borrow. Very kind ☺ With a bandage and sticks we departed for a climb to the Traunwandalm where we planned to stay the night. The walk was stunning and in the early evening we found an empty hut with a small fenced garden and water. A perfect place to stay the night. Just after we built up the tents, it started to rain and the cows were very curious at the beginning. We were lucky that the hut gave us some protection in the rain, so we could place our rucksacks under the shelter of the hut. Half under the protection of the hut we prepared our dinner, which was not bad at all. Because of the rain we decided to go to sleep early. The walk of today was 14,4 km and the total elevation was 1034 meter in total.

On Tuesday we woke up in the rain and the clouds. Not the best way to start the day, but we were positive and at the moment we started to break up the camp it became dry. After packing we continued the walk in direction of the Angerkaralm. The trail lead us through a fantastic forest with loads of flowers and fantastic views. When we arrived at the alm, we discovered that the restaurant was still closed. Soon enough we were noticed and the lady opened the hut, so we were able to drink hot coffee and tea with cake and a tasty cheese and ham platter. Of course there was obstler available. This stop gave us the possibility to recover and were ready to continue to hut A. The route was good to do, but had to pass some villages, so we had to dress a couple of time. Close to the Moosbergalm we made an extra stop on a nice meadow. While sitting there, the cows were not so happy with our presence and started to cheat us. Jacky and the cows were not the best combination and Santiago had to play the torero to stop the cows. The end of the story was that we had to flee for the animals. From here we continued to hut A, where we arrived after a short walk. The length of the walk was a convenient 10,2 km, with a total elevation of 371 meter. At hut A we were welcomed with a nice dinner and were able to make our camp opposite the hut, around a big fire place. After a good dinner at the terrace we moved to the fire place where we sat together with wine and beer around a big bonfire.

The Wednesday was a day of walking with a daypack. So a little rest for the tent group. By car we went to Voglau for a walk to the Seewaldsee. This lake was stunning in between the mountains. There we had a nice pick nick and were able to swim. The other people around the lake were fine with our nudity and enjoyed the warm summer sun. During our walk we picked fresh herbs for the dinner. The walk was 13,4 km, with 585 meter of elevation.
This evening was our turn to cook for the group and pasta with the fresh herbs was on the menu. Again a nice evening with home made snacks and drinks and of course good conversation. Pascal and Clarisse invited us to sleep in the hut, so we were able to leave the next day with dry equipment.

Thursday we had to pack again and since we had to walk a long trail, we had to bring a lot of water. The first part was going down to the Simonshutte. Before we left for the nature we had a last stop at a restaurant at the Postalm for some drinks. Part of the trail was the Saint Rupert Pilgrim trail. It felt nice to walk this path naked. Partly in the forest and partly over tarmac. Also this trail was stunning. Near the Simonshutte we had a lunch at the bank of the river. A good place to recover for a while. From there we had to climb till the pass at the Bärenpfad. This began comfortable, over a forest road, but suddenly it stopped and had to climb over a trail to the summit. This was quite heavy and steep. But we succeed and reached the top at the end of the afternoon. From there we had to descend over a very steep path to an empty river bedding. From there we had to find a place to sleep, but more important we also needed water. Finally after a couple of kilometres we found a river and a meadow to camp. There was one problem, it was opposite a house. We asked the owner of the house and he was okay, but it was not his land. The ranger passed us and allowed us to stay the night there. Because it was a hot day, we were surprised with a thunderstorm and some rain. So not a nice evening to sit and talk, but a quick dinner and after that laying in the tent with a nice glass of wine. The tour of today was 17,4 km, with an elevation of 687 meter. A long and heavy day.

Already the last day of the treck. Santiago and Ian decided to skip the last part and walked to the village. After breakfast and filling up our water bottles in the river, we started our climb. Slowely it became very hot and during our climb, the trail disappeared. With map, GPS and compass we succeed to continue. On the trail we had a long stop, to recover a while, because of the difficulty of the trail and the extremely high temperatures. Also this trail was stunning and the views were fantastic. It was worth to climb this part. At the other side of the mountain we decided to go to the Ingmoosalm, over meadows, paths and forest roads. Luckily the hut was open and the lady welcomed us for a drink and some goulash soup. Since we all were tired we asked the lady to call a taxi to bring us to hut B. The locals were surprised about our route, since they don’t know anybody who crossed the mountain from where we came. Around 7 pm we arrived at hut B, where we had a dinner with them who were still there. They welcomed us nicely and we had a nice dinner together of the leftovers. After that we were invited to stay in the empty and warm beds in the hut. The evening was rainy, stormy and there were a lot of lightings, very cosy. The tour was 10,3 km with an elevation of 915 meter.

Saturday was time to say goodbye for everybody. Ready for heading north for the way back home. First a small visit to Salzburg for a lunch and to buy Sachertorte. In the afternoon we dropped Adam at Munich Airport and I and Wilfried went to Munich for a dinner and a short sight seeing.

Finally on Sunday I was home at 11 pm sharp after a fantastic naked hiking week with great people around me. Thanks for that!!!

In total we walked 77,8 km, and climbed 4367 meter, which makes 121,47 in total.