Climate Hike Wildalpen
On Saturday, 13 September, 14 brave young adults hiked up the Mitterberg in Wildalpen in Styria. Among them was a long-standing member of the Belgian Nature Friends, who, thanks to his extensive experience with outdoor activities, made an extraordinary contribution to the dissemination of knowledge in coordination and hiking.
The hike began in the centre of Wildalpen at the foot of the church. The group, consisting of international young people from Senegal, Turkey, Mexico, Czechia, Romania, Vietnam, Finland, Sweden and other countries, then hiked about 400 metres up to the top of the Mitterberg. On the way up, the topics of climate change and the climate crisis were discussed using the “Guided Conversations” method. The question of how the local region in which one grew up has changed and will change in the future proved to be a particularly interesting topic, as there was such a wide representation of different countries and regions.
Furthermore, on another occasion during the ascent, the method ‘How to (not) get lost’ was implemented. Using hiking maps and compasses, the participants, some of whom were hiking for the first time in their lives, were shown how to use a compass and find their way around the landscape.
At an altitude of 978 metres, the group was finally rewarded with a breathtaking view of the Gesäuse landscape. In addition to snacks and selfies, the ‘Sound of Silence’ method was practised. The method helped to recharge their strength and energy, as well as to bring some silence to the relatively large group, allowing them to experience nature even more closely and sensitively.
All in all, the hike was a positive experience for everyone involved, even though some struggled with the steepness of the route. The positive experience was not only due to the perfect weather and the good atmosphere among the participants, but also to the professional implementation of the Climate Hikes methods and the tour guides' willingness to listen during the evaluation session after the hike.