14 brave young adults hiked up the Mitterberg in Wildalpen in Styria. Among them was one of our Belgian project partner, who, thanks to his extensive experience with outdoor activities, made an extraordinary contribution to the sharing of knowledge in coordination and hiking.

The hike began in the center of Wildalpen at the foot of the church. The group, consisting of members of International Young Naturefriends (IYNF) with international young people from Senegal, Turkey, Mexico, Czechia, Romania, Vietnam, Finland, Sweden and other countries, then hiked about 400 meters up to the top of Mitterberg Mountain. 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, 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. This method helped the group 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.

Overall, 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.

The methods we used are available and explained in detail in our Method Collection you can download in the "Training Materials"- section on our Padlet.