Anyone who is out and about—whether with a backpack or snowshoes, in the mountains or in the Black Forest—has a responsibility. For themselves, for others, and for what happens if something happens. The idea that “someone will help” is dangerous. The following text on outdoor first aid is aimed at anyone who ventures off the beaten track, at people who need to think and act clearly even when the rain has been pouring down for hours, when radio contact has been lost, and when things suddenly turn serious.

This text, written by Christoph Maretzek, is no ordinary outdoor first aid guide. It is the condensed experience of 45 years in the field – raw, honest, unvarnished. For everyone who goes out there. For everyone who wants to come home. Christoph is the founder of Guide Academy Europe, where I trained as a trekking and wilderness guide. As a long-time mountain infantry instructor, experienced solo and winter trekker, and carpenter, he has witnessed serious accidents and has often been able to help. Last late summer, we were back on tour together in Vindelfjäll, Sweden, and as always, health on tour, wilderness first aid, and prevention were an important part of our preparation. Rightly so, as a near-accident in the mountains in rain and stormy weather impressively demonstrated.

In cooperation with and written by Christoph Maretzek, Guide Academy Europe..

When something happens, you need to know what to do

If you want to go on a tour, whether by bike, ski, or on foot, with or without a guide, in summer or winter, in the mountains, on the water, or in the forest, there is always a lot to consider. But one question always arises, for everyone and on all occasions:

What is the most important Thing Outdoors?

The answer is quite clear: How can I ensure that I can help myself and others immediately and effectively at any time, even in serious situations? Especially when I have to wait for help to arrive... sometimes for days.

Between Theory and Reality: Outdoor First Aid Courses

Real outdoor first aid begins when you have to wait hours or days for help—and when you have to be able to act on your own.

This year's accident figures give pause for thought. Those who offer training and workshops in particular are called upon to take these figures into account and respond to them. This is because many so-called outdoor first aid courses do not actually reflect outdoor situations (further) off the beaten track, but rather first aid relatively close to paths and the rescue chain. It therefore makes sense to adapt to the current realities each year and to train and practice for precisely those areas where no one can help after an hour.

The trekking guide course in mid-July 2025 and the wilderness first aid course in Baden-Baden in May 2025, which was held for Arctic travelers, among others, once again went well and without any real emergencies. We practiced some new situations and realigned the course with developments in nature and society. This is because changing natural environments produces new dangers.

Reality instead of wishful Thinking

In reality, no YouTube video helps. No survival show. No app. What counts is what you have in your head and in your backpack—and what you can recall under stress.

To start with, a simple note: a few statements (based on many years of experience) may upset or annoy sensitive souls or those who believe that the fire department, forest rangers, and mountain rescue services are responsible for their well-being on tour (rather than themselves, first and foremost). Therefore, read on at your own risk...😊.

The lines are simply intended to make almost half a century of knowledge available to everyone outside of guide training courses and workshops. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to decide what to make of it. And whether to take advantage of offers or not. And since the writer, in his life as a long-time mountain infantry trainer/platoon leader and solo trekker, winter hiker in northern Sweden, Alaska paddler, and carpenter, has almost bitten the dust a few times, taken enough hits that could have been avoided, and experienced too many deaths along the way, there are now lines instead of bandages.

The fact is: when you go out there, you are on your own! Those who take others with them are responsible first and foremost for them and for themselves. 45 years outdoors have taught the writer that very often (far too often) there is nothing others can do for me if I cannot take care of myself during the first hour after an accident (the so-called golden hour) when I am seriously injured or ill. Then the helpers may arrive too late. It's as simple as that.

Take Responsibility for yourself

Mountain rescue is the icing on the cake...not the cake itself! Everyone either has that in their backpack or left it at home. Forests, water, and mountains are dangerous in themselves and often pose an obstacle to quick and safe access to the scene of an accident. Not thinking about this BEFORE the tour, not preparing, not practicing intensively again, and not equipping yourself with the appropriate material is like flying with unsecured wings. Only fools or people who are irresponsible towards themselves do that.

Or to put it more bluntly:

If you're not willing to prepare yourself properly, to learn and practice, to take care of yourself continuously, constantly, and comprehensively every second... what are you doing out there, assuming that someone will come to your rescue if you mess up? Everyone can answer that question for themselves.

How can you recognize experienced, good, and prudent trekkers, solo skiers, water sports enthusiasts, and mountaineers/mountain hikers? Quite simply: by the fact that they have grown old.

Attention and Respect for Nature are also First Aid

In addition to skill, knowledge, equipment, determination, and fitness, caution, foresight, and prudence are also important..

Many accidents are simply avoidable if you concentrate on what you are doing, listen to your gut feeling, and keep your eyes and ears open. This is normal for old soldiers, because it can ensure survival in difficult situations.

No one has to wait until disaster strikes; you can take precautions beforehand. So what's wrong with adopting the basic attitude of “I'm actively taking care” as a civilian and taking preventive measures for yourself? It's normal for police and firefighters, forest rangers, construction workers, and machine operators, because they are constantly exposed to danger. Unfortunately, very few people realize that when they go out there, they could end up lying there. They usually put on their backpacks without any training, have little experience, see YouTube as an educational channel, and view all the superheroes on ridiculous survival shows as reality. Perhaps these simple, honest lines will inspire you to do more (e.g., take a realistic course, get some training for yourself).

In addition, there is respect for the forces of nature, the recognition that you are responsible for yourself first and foremost, and respect for the constant danger outside: because there are no mountains without danger, no forests without danger, and no canoeing waters without danger. If you don't take care out there, the constant danger can quickly turn into an acute (and often avoidable!) threat. However, with a little luck, planning, skill, equipment, etc., you already have a good chance of success. This includes noting/making a note of places with cell phone reception along the way.

However, plans often have to be adapted quickly and frequently – failing to do so is a common cause of problems on various tours due to time pressure on vacation, overly tight planning windows without buffer days, and a simple lack of willingness to reposition oneself. In the end, nature always makes the rules. Your own condition and abilities must match what you have in mind, what you can do, and what you should avoid. Then you can come back next year and start the tour again. Ultimately, it's that simple. Because if just one thing is missing, if you hesitate too long, if you didn't take care of it beforehand, then it's often on the edge or already over the edge. And it's always just that one second.

Guide Training at the Guide Academy Europe

A Look behind the Scenes

Anyone who wants to lead others off the beaten track and away from rescue facilities must be able to help. From a standing position, still looking at the injured person, who is already silent or writhing on the ground. In all modules, training is proportionate and always surprising, even at breakfast if necessary. Because accidents don't work in shifts, there are no punch cards, and they don't announce themselves. From one moment to the next, if something goes wrong with the stove, not only can a face be changed forever, but simply the life of the whole family behind it. Rare, but always the case. The spurting bleeding because a tool has once again hit the “right” spot, or the bright shin bone that suddenly sticks out. No one has a guarantee, and therefore everyone must be able to do what is needed.

A wonderful training weekend with this year's trekking guide class in July 2025 showed that even simple exercises with unexpected situations can quickly cause you to falter. You're not a paramedic or a doctor. Damn, what was that about snake bites again? Damn it, what were the signs of shock again, and how do I distinguish the dangers of heat exhaustion from sunstroke? And so much more that suddenly becomes an issue. Often without any warning.

Practice makes you a better Rescuer

The weekend was packed with theory, focusing on details that come from a lifetime of experience out in the field and can't be found in any manual. Just like soldiers far away in the field, trekkers can suddenly find themselves in a nearly hopeless situation and have to react. As an experienced solo trekker, I've thought a few times: “That's it, I'm done.”

Sometimes with luck, sometimes with even more luck, and sometimes with unconditional quick reactions, things have gone well so far. The 12 deaths and serious injuries I have witnessed while on duty and on tours in the field have made me think. Twice, I was able to help in time. Things can often get rough out there, and sometimes you have to improvise. However, the basic rules of hygiene etc., apply there just as they do in the valley at the doctor's. But you don't always have that luxury. You don't have the professional equipment. Some of this can be compensated for with practice. But not everything. That makes the exercises all the more important!

Exercises – we started with bandaging. That sounds trivial, but the exercises (also blindfolded, behind your back, in the dark, with your weaker hand) showed that this important knowledge about proper wound care to prevent infections leading to sepsis or bleeding to death is anything but trivial! Bleeding to death is still one of the leading causes of death after serious accidents. We can do something about this, as well as the 10,000 fatal cases of sepsis resulting from an infected, possibly very small wound. But we need to know how and practice again and again. Just like paramedics. Because we are our own paramedics.

But under the following hypothetical scenario, it's a completely different story: we are with a group or alone, in cold, wet, windy weather, without a phone connection, somewhere in the Swedish mountains, at least six hours' walk from the nearest hut. Although we are on a well-travelled long-distance hiking trail, the conditions make it feel like we are on the far side of the moon! This is a completely normal situation on any hike there. No one can come to your aid quickly. It's that simple. Heavy bleeding, an abscessed tooth, an open fracture, even an infection/sepsis (unfortunately not uncommon) from a simple, “trivial” mosquito bite or a dog bite, because a hiker with a dog does not follow the leash rules. There are so many things that can happen. And as surprising as it may sound, well over 95% of all outdoor activities go well, but if an accident does occur, it can be serious, even fatal.

Starting in 2026, first aid training at Guide Academy Europe (GAE) will become more compact and remain in very small groups. The core topics will be: EH Outdoor Solo, EH Outdoor Trekking/Mountain, EH Outdoor Wilderness, EH Outdoor Compact. Special courses may also be available on request. The courses are currently in the final stages of development and description and will be ready by the beginning of the year.

An Example from the Kungsleden Long-Distance Trail

How much worse it was when I think of the Dutchman from last year who, with untreated, festering, open, and bleeding blisters, wanted to take just one day off to recover, as he said. No possibility of self-sufficiency due to lack of equipment (too heavy!!) and sitting in a small village at the end of the road in front of the Swedish fells. The next stages south would have taken him through deserted areas for days, with only chance encounters with other hikers, and very long stages between huts. Stoic, somehow disinterested, and apparently unaware of what an infection could quickly do to him – kill him. He had never been on such a hike before and had been inspired by a well-known “survival show” from Germany. Without further ado.

There was nothing left to do but intervene and talk him out of it. He finally let himself be persuaded and helped, and took the bus to the nearest hospital. I received a text message from him in late fall, thanking me. The doctor, but even more so the old nurse who examined him first, also set him straight. Intervening may have saved his life.

More on the topic of providing first aid for blisters can be found on the Guide Academy Europe website.

A Christian duty and a matter of honor. But unfortunately not for everyone. So many people are afraid to help, fearing they will be sued. Nonsense and bullshit. It's that simple. Many believe that a phone call is enough – far from it. You have to do what is reasonable. In addition, there is the applicable state law. Who cares about the local rules before departure? In Sweden, according to the official figures for 2024, first aid is provided in over 65% of cases! In our country, the figure is far below that; sad, shameful, and disgusting. Because everyone needs help at some point.

What matters on Tour

In northern Sweden, Scotland, Iceland, etc., it's not like in the Alps, where, on the one hand, the mountain rescue service makes exciting films about themselves and their work, and on the other hand, people are increasingly setting off and, like this year, dropping like flies from the mountains. Help is not always available, or quick, or even available at all. Anyone who is unfamiliar with the country's rescue services is flying completely blind. The figures are alarming. So are the figures for drownings in this country. It's the same in all areas – and there's no point in beating around the bush: no (sufficient) knowledge, too little ability to cope with stress, overconfidence, showing off, lack of experience, no (sufficient) knowledge of the weather, unprepared, poorly trained, incorrect or missing basic equipment, inability to use it under stress, no maps, no adequate first aid kit, no adequate first aid knowledge. Above all, blind trust in apps and “I have a phone.” As if it could bandage the deep leg wound after a failed axe blow, fix the dislocated shoulder, cleanly treat the open fracture, or solve one of the frequent internal medical problems.

Note: If you only have a phone, it's your own fault if something goes wrong. It's always worth taking care of things in advance: yourself, your equipment, and any conceivable emergencies. An unpleasant but unfortunately all too often (avoidable) true statement. Nobody likes to hear that. But that's the way it is. And yet help is provided. And hopefully, then it will be clear to everyone how expensive such a rescue can be. It's always worth taking care of things BEFOREHAND.

As sorry as everyone is for the dead and maimed...the mountain rescuers, who volunteer their time, struggle and all too often have to abandon their efforts because it is a fundamental principle not to put themselves at undue risk during a rescue operation. A cell phone full of pictures but with no battery, and a battery-draining “orientation app” will then finish off the cold cell phone battery in a matter of seconds, taking away the accident victim's last chance. Then, unfortunately, they will bleed to death, freeze to death, or die of shock after the fall. Unfortunately, this happens time and time again.

A well-equipped first aid kit (not just two old bandages and a plaster!), training, practice, and, if necessary, a refresher course at home before the tour could have tipped the scales in the event of an accident. The accident victim would have gained valuable time and could have easily extended his own “golden hour,” staying alive and avoiding further damage. But instead, mountain rescuers too often arrive at the scene and find, if the injured person has remained where they were able to communicate their location (if they were able to orient themselves), only a miserable corpse. Someone who knew that it would be the end if they were unlucky. And who may only be found by chance months, sometimes years later. Does it really have to be this way? No. Quite simply.

Review of a Training Weekend

Since such a weekend is short, we practiced some basic elements here; the mountain/cold-specific topics will then be taught and practiced in the fall during the mountain module. We already covered the basics in the 10-day spring course of the 2025 compact course (with three of four possible participants) and then kept the training going over the months with accident reports from the internet, which we worked through by asking questions.

Knowledge, Skills, Decision-making – an Overview of the Training Topics

Early situation recognition is often neglected. Far too often, the frightened helper rushes to the injured person too quickly without pausing for a moment; therefore, take a deep breath and look around briefly. Anyone who approaches an accident in this way can take a close look as they approach and, if necessary, gain valuable time for the injured person:

• Do I see a large pool of blood?
• Is a bone sticking out?
• Is a limb noticeably twisted?
• Are the parties involved in the accident (animals, weather, trees, tools, people, equipment, cars, etc.) clearly visible to everyone?
• How is the person behaving?
• Are helpers already at work?
• What dangers do I need to keep an eye on?
• Am I putting myself at risk?
• What details are apparent at first glance?
• What is my immediate impression of the situation?

Assessing the situation is my responsibility for my own safety. I may not even be able to help the injured person until I have ensured that it is safe for all helpers to approach, or until I have guided my group to safety. So don't rush in blindly, and don't let others rush in blindly either. It doesn't help if someone else needs to be treated at the same time... And as bad as it is, I may have to accept that I can't get the last five meters to the injured person and can only talk to them while they whimper silently in front of my eyes, scream in real pain, continue to put themselves in danger, or simply bleed to death. Or I can only throw first aid supplies to them. Nasty, but a possible reality.

The following always applies: sufficient self-protection against (too) quick rescue attempts!

Exercises that make a Difference

Other topics we cover in the training course include:

• Principles and options for actively preventing accidents. Without prevention and care, I expose myself to danger.
• The tour first aid kit – without it, you are completely exposed.
• The little booklet “First Aid in the Mountains” by experienced expedition doctor Walter Treibel, with 50 years of experience, is worth its weight in gold!
• Problems with treating multiple people – not everyone may make it.
• Problems with multiple injuries – “Treat first what kills first.”
• Splinting and immobilization with SAM splints or improvised splints – there's always something you can do!
• Principles of safe wound care. Avoiding sepsis is one of the most important issues outdoors. One of the participants from the weekend had just narrowly survived sepsis! Because sepsis can kill in a short time without quick help.
• Wound care over several days. Anyone who still has to walk or wait for help must also take proper care of any wounds.
• Treatment of objects stuck in the body – principles and special considerations far away from trails and aid stations.
• Lifting and picking up with several people.
• Working as a team – untrained and inexperienced helpers mean well. But someone has to be in charge and, if necessary, take the lead on their own initiative.
• Exercises in the dark. At night or in poor visibility, outside and exposed to the weather, it is even more difficult.
• Dealing with animal bites – climate change means you have to think twice before stepping into or reaching into any bush.
• Hypothermia – if left untreated, it kills.
• Keeping warm – injured people need their warmth.
• Get them out of the wind and out of the wet – both can be real killers.
• Binding and compression – unlike in road traffic, it is often necessary to resort to extreme measures when far off the beaten track. Because blood that is lost is gone forever. Losing more than a liter can be life-threatening – at the latest.
• Shock treatment – worsening shock can be fatal.
• The triangular bandage – an old friend and faithful helper for hikers.
• Scalding and burns – this is often the worst-case scenario.
• Muscular injuries – a society that has become comfortable or simply untrained is quite susceptible to this. This is especially true as the age of mountain hikers etc. continues to rise.
• Dental problems – the Romans said: Toothache is the little brother of death. Having to pull your own tooth is no fun (personal experience in 2009).
• Dealing with stress and worries – if you want to help, you will be stressed if you are not trained.
• Leading the group. It's always about language, appearance, and approach.
• Dealing with onlookers – without ending up in court afterwards.
• EH Solo – Help yourself, then God will help you.
• Limits of backpack capacity – Where do our possibilities end?
• Alerting – Providing important information fluently and effectively.
• Principles of decision-making – Which parameters influence me?
• Care – What can I do, what does the accident victim need?

Lesson 1: Story from the Forest Cabin

Exciting...and straight out of real life:

It's July 22, 2025, 10:25 a.m., and I'm sitting in a small cabin on a stormy, rainy day, writing instead of doing my work for the forestry office (Cleaning up the forest in this weather, alone in a remote area with no cell service???? No way!). The same applies to me: I have to be careful, because no one is coming by today, and there is no phone! Depending on the route, the way to the village is 5-7 km of forest trails. The forest restaurant above is closed today. And then, while I'm concentrating on my writing topic, the following happens to me in real life:

Next to the chair, shoes are scattered wildly across the room, and fresh vegetable soup is simmering on the spirit stove. I stand up, turn to the right, don't look down as I usually do, stumble over the shoes, stretch out, and just manage to catch myself. My arms brush past the stove with the boiling broth and hit the shelf. Five centimeters further to the right, and I would have scalded my arm and everything below my waist! Boiling hot! Jackpot in the idiot lottery! It couldn't be worse out here on my own. Because with a scalded arm (guaranteed third degree), I can't drive a car myself anymore. And why? Just one second of inattention, not clearing stuff out of the way, and breaking all the rules that I mercilessly drill into the guide trainees until they become habit. Damn! But that's only human.

Therefore: caution, foresight, prudence... even when staying in a hut! Tripping hazards may be small. Shoes left lying around in the room mean: it's your own fault.

Always take your well-stocked, refreshed, and correctly filled first aid kit with you on tour! No matter how often it has gone well in the past. One day, you will need it unexpectedly, often from one second to the next. For yourself or someone else. All it takes is one step to stumble, one fainting spell, one deep cut, one small inflammation. One blown-out stove, one fallen branch, one dog or mouse bite, etc.

Lesson learned 2: A Story from the Field

Things get tight in the next side valley, where radio waves cannot propagate due to the topography, as no masts were allowed to be built in the extensive forest area or because loud public opposition claimed that the “ugly masts on the surrounding hills would have spoiled the beautiful landscape.” After a stupid fall while jogging on a summer evening, you could end up lying there with broken bones. There is no one around, because apart from the careless runner, no one is outside with the approaching thunderstorm! The unfamiliar screamer's cries quickly turn into pitiful whimpers, 6 km away from the car, in the middle of a forest road on Sunday evening. No forestry office car, no cyclist, no hunter – they have all been smart and are sitting by the warm stove at home.

The accident victim is lying there, wearing only his thin running shorts and an even thinner jacket. A running vest with a piece of chewing gum and a small bottle of water, an almost empty cell phone with no reception, so no emergency call. All this on a steep slope, surrounded by dense forest, on a sunken path. That was it for this person. The thunderstorm soaks him, the ground cools down abruptly, the injury—an open tibia fracture with tissue and vascular injuries—bleeds from the wound and the bone, and so one thing leads to another:

• Blood loss with shock, which, if left unchecked, will prove fatal.
• Similarly, the onset and progression of hypothermia (which further reduces the blood's ability to clot!) takes full effect.
• No bandages at hand, no pressure bandage, pressing down on your own femoral artery is not feasible.

It doesn't look good at all. Only a few kilometers from Bad Reichenhall on a wide hiking trail. The poor devil doesn't know about the pressure points on the back of the knee, in the popliteal fossa. And even if he did and he managed, despite the excruciating pain, to apply pressure and slow or even stop the bleeding (very unlikely!), he would have to figure out how to bandage himself with nothing. The T-shirt is the only thing he has, but the developing hypothermia is clouding his mind, and so it doesn't occur to him to tear his running vest into strips (our teeth can do a lot!).

It's Saturday evening. Severe weather is forecast for Sunday. The accident victim was on the best path to simply perishing. In 2007, in the Berchtesgadener Land region, he was simply lucky that another reckless bird, who was running quickly to the safety of his car during a raging thunderstorm, stumbled over the accident victim, who was a soldier in the mountain troops, well-trained and immediately sprang into action. He also had bandages in his jacket (the familiar little old Bundeswehr packet) and knew what he was doing. Medically as well as on the trails. He drove his car over, picked up the injured man, and took him to the nearest hospital.

No... it wasn't the writer himself, but it could have been. In traffic, he would probably have called for help and stayed until the rescue services arrived. There, however, the helper decided to react differently. Maybe the paramedics are now shouting “Help, dangerous” – sure. But out there, away from the rescue chain, things very quickly turn out differently than under “normal conditions.”

Conclusion: If you go out, you have to know what you're doing

And so we come to the end and realize:

• If you go out, you have to know what you're doing, have what you need, and take action.
• If you need help, you have to help yourself first.
• If you have something, you're better off than someone who needs a pharmacy.
• Doing nothing is always wrong.

In summary, it can be said that ONLY those who are absolutely familiar with and observe the pillars of outdoor first aid mentioned in the text are really doing everything they can. Then they add a dose of good luck, choose reliable companions, check in, eat well, don't drink alcohol, don't take drugs, and get enough sleep. If they then thoroughly consider all of the above aspects and pause to reflect from time to time, they will be able to sit by the stove as an old codger and tell their grandchildren about their adventurous hikes or one day write and publish their tour diary.

I already have the title for my tour diary, without being really old and without having grandchildren:

“A (long) Life in Boots”

And now, I wish you all enjoyable trips, reliable companions, and a safe return home. And don't be lazy, folks. Take care and know what to do if someone suddenly sees the world from a horizontal perspective and turns pale around the nose.

Happy Trails!

Recommendations for further Reading

Want to know more about health and safety on tour? Then take a look at my articles Poisonous Animals in Germany: What you need to know and Staying healthy on a Trekking Tour: Preparation, Behavior and First Measures in the Event of Illness .

Der Beitrag Outdoor-Erste-Hilfe: Draußen hilft nur, was du kannst erschien zuerst auf Fernweh-Motive.

Germany. Recently, I caught myself out: I know more about poisonous animals in the jungle than I do about poisonous animals in my home country of Germany. But are there any poisonous animals here at all? In fact, there are quite a few. Germany's diverse landscape offers suitable habitats for a wide variety of animals, including poisonous ones. Some introduced species also find a place where they can reproduce undisturbed. In addition, there are numerous other poisonous animal species in Europe (this will be a separate article), for which the ongoing climate change is increasingly opening the doors. It is only a matter of time.

Unassigned, unpaid advertising. The article contains affiliate links.

Better to learn before than suffer afterwards!

So what does this mean for us who like to be out and about? Clearly, we need to inform ourselves. We need to be proactive. The same applies when we travel to another country. Researching poisonous or dangerous animals - and also poisonous plants - is part of planning a trip. And we have to do this again and again, because our world is changing.

In the following article, I have compiled information about the poisonous animals currently found in Germany, possible symptoms after a bite, sting, or other contact, and the most common first aid measures. This basic knowledge should help you get started with your own in-depth research before your tour or trip. From here on, it's up to you to build up your own knowledge and skills and thus expand your own comfort zone.

I wrote this article as a follow-up to a trip to Indonesia. The night-time encounter with a huge spider in my tent and a poisonous green snake (which luckily wasn't in my tent) left a lasting impression. At the time, I had no idea what I would have done if I had been bitten. This ignorance didn't feel good, and will definitely not happen to me again.

For further learning and practical training, I can recommend the Wilderness First Aid courses at the Guide Academy Europe and the website from San Erlangen. If you are out and about with your dog, you will find lots of information on the First Aid for Dogs website. If you know what a bite looks like and how first aid works, you can act quickly in an emergency and prevent worse things from happening – whether to yourself or to fellow hikers.

Haftungsausschluss. Die Inhalte dieses Artikels sind ausschließlich zu Informationszwecken bestimmt und stellen in keiner Weise einen Ersatz für eigene tiefergehende Recherche, professionelle Beratungen oder Erste-Hilfe-Kurse dar.

How do you avoid being bitten or stung by poisonous Animals?

There are a few strategies to avoid coming into contact with animal venom. First of all: learn what the animal looks like, how it behaves, and where it lives.

• Don't touch animals, don't stalk them, don't harass them
• Don't reach out blindly or walk barefoot anywhere
• Keep your tent and bags closed
• Don't lay your clothes on the ground
• Shake out your shoes and clothes before putting them on
• Sturdy shoes, long clothes
• Mosquito nets also protect you from poisonous animals

Poisonous Snakes in Germany

Germany is home to two venomous snakes, the adder and the asp. For most people, a bite is not life-threatening, but anyone affected should seek medical help as soon as possible. Children, the elderly, pregnant women, and sick people often have more severe reactions, as do people who have been bitten on areas of the body other than the arms or legs.

In individual cases, people can have an allergic reaction to the injected proteins and suffer a life-threatening anaphylactic shock. Medications such as ACE inhibitors or beta blockers can aggravate a possible allergic reaction to the snake venom and trigger an allergic shock.

Dogs are particularly at risk because they like to sniff in bushes or piles of stones, which is where snakes often rest. A bite can be life-threatening for them if it is not recognized and dealt with quickly.

Adder

• Appearance: The adder grows up to 90 cm long and usually has a dark zigzag pattern on a lighter background, but it can also be completely black.
• Habitat: Moors, meadows, forest edges. The preferred habitat is cool and damp. There must be sufficient hiding places, sunny spots and shade from the wind. It is particularly active in the rain and on hot and humid days.
• Effects: The venom of the adder destroys tissue, breaks down blood, and leads to coagulation disorders. A bite is rarely life-threatening for healthy adults, but it can be painful and cause strong reactions. Bites can be dangerous in the event of an allergic reaction or for children, as well as sick and elderly people. Around 30% of bites are so-called dry bites where no venom is released. Only 10-15% of the bites registered each year are classified as serious. Defensive bites often only use half the amount of venom, in contrast to prey bites. Around 10-15 % of the bites registered each year are classified as serious

Asp viper

• Appearance: Similar to the adder, length up to 70 cm. Their coloration varies between light grey, brown, and black depending on their sex and living conditions. A darker, wavy band or zigzag pattern on the back.
• Habitat: Very small populations in the southern Black Forest. The Aspis viper is extremely thermophilic and prefers warm, dry, and stony habitats such as quarries or boulder fields, or gravel areas on slopes or riverbanks with a more southerly orientation.
• Effects: Its venom is similar to that of the adder, but stronger and slightly neurotoxic.

Possible Symptoms after a Bite from an Adder or Aspis Viper

• Mild symptoms: severe pain, swelling at the bite site, nausea, vomiting, increased pulse rate.
• Moderately severe symptoms: swelling spreads, edema, inflammation and thickening of the lymph nodes and lymph channels, diarrhea, pallor, drop in blood pressure, cramp-like pain in the abdominal area.
• Severe symptoms: Swelling can affect the whole body, repeated circulatory collapse, bluish skin discoloration, clouding of consciousness, unconsciousness and coma

Most common First Aid Measures

• Immobilize the bite site and keep it elevated
• Avoid physical exertion to slow the spread of the venom
• Remove tight-fitting clothing, jewelry, etc. (due to possible swelling)
• DO NOT cool the bite site, DO NOT cauterize, DO NOT suction, DO NOT cut open, DO NOT bandage, DO NOT pressure bandage!
• Drink plenty of water.
• If necessary, use any allergy medication available to the bitten person
• Get medical help as soon as possible
• Note the time of the bite

Sources: e.g. deximed.de, Snakes in Germany

The Section 39 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG) places wild animals under general protection. Accordingly, it is prohibited to deliberately disturb wild animals or to catch, injure, or kill them without reasonable cause, as well as to impair or destroy wild animal habitats without reasonable cause. Section 44 BNatSchG describes further rules for specially protected species. Which animals these are in Germany can be found in Annex 1 of the Federal Species Protection Ordinance (BArtSchV) (the oak processionary moth is considered a pest and is not protected). In this context, it is also interesting to take a look at the catalog of fines on the subject of animal protection. There are not only figures here, but also interesting articles to read.

Poisonous Spiders in Germany

In Germany, spider bites are very rare and generally harmless. There is no native spider whose bite would be life-threatening for healthy people, but some can cause unpleasant symptoms, similar to a bee or wasp sting. If you have allergies or an immune deficiency, you should be more careful and consult a doctor if necessary.

Time and again, scorpions, spiders, or other creatures enter Germany unnoticed in holidaymakers' luggage or, for example, in banana boxes or via the plant trade. In this way, new, sometimes highly poisonous species can also colonize Germany. Even the black widow has already arrived in Germany on a cargo ship. You simply have to remain vigilant and keep yourself informed.

Yellow sac spider – Neozoon

• Origin: South-eastern Europe, spreading northwards due to climate change
• Appearance: The front body of the up to 1.5 cm large spider is plain red-orange, the abdomen is yellowish to olive green in color.
• Lives in dry, warm meadows with tall grass, especially in southern regions.
• Venomous effect: similar to a bee sting. Rarely: Blistering or necrosis.

Garden spider

• Very common spider in gardens and forests.
• Appearance: Between 5 and 18 mm in size. The body consists of a head, thorax, and abdomen, and is light brown, reddish brown to black in color. Light spots on the abdomen have the shape of a cross
• Venomous effect: Only local reaction in sensitive individuals (itching, slight swelling).

Nosferatu spider – Neozoon

• Origin: originally the Mediterranean region, since the 2000s increasingly in Germany, especially in homes in southwest Germany.
• Appearance: With outstretched legs up to 5 cm long. The body is yellowish-white in color, the legs yellow-grey to dark grey with black stripes.
• Venomous effect: comparable to a bee sting.

Brown recluse spider – Neozoon

• Origin: Midwest and southern USA
• Appearance: up to 2 cm in size, brown or yellowish, and a dark line across the hind body
• Giftwirkung: in den meisten Fällen lediglich zu rote Pusteln. An der Bissstelle kann das Gewebe absterben (Nekrose). Weitere mögliche Symptome: Kopfschmerzen, Übelkeit, Erbrechen, Krämpfe und Muskelschmerzen. Auch Todesfälle kommen vor.

Possible Symptoms after a Spider Bite in Germany

• Local: Stinging pain at the bite site (short-lived), redness, swelling, itching, or burning. Rarely: Blistering or small necrosis in the case of a thorn finger bite.
• General: Headache, nausea, muscle or limb pain, fever-like symptoms (usually only with allergic or psychogenic reaction - “spider fear”)

Most common First-Aid Measures Spider Bite

• Clean wound with soap and water or disinfectant
• Cool, e.g. cool pack or cold cloth, 10-15 minutes
• Observe bite - document swelling and redness
• Keep calm - in most cases the bite heals without any problems
• See a doctor if: Persistent or increasing pain/swelling, signs of infection (pus, severe redness, fever), allergic reactions (shortness of breath, circulatory problems, swelling of face or neck)

Source: e.g. Medinstruct

Poisonous Insects in Germany

Insect bites pose serious health risks, especially for allergy sufferers. In addition, climate change is bringing another issue into focus: more and more new, potentially dangerous insect species are migrating from more southern regions and establishing themselves in this country. The same applies to spiders and other animal species. Alongside poisonous plants, insect bites and stings (including mosquitoes and ticks) are one of the biggest threats to our outdoor activities.

Wasps

Around 20 deaths from bee, wasp, and hornet stings are reported in Germany every year. For allergy sufferers, a single sting can trigger an anaphylactic shock and be life-threatening! It is therefore important to know and be able to apply the symptoms and first aid measures, to be aware of any allergies your fellow hikers may have, and to know where to keep an EpiPen.

Wasp-like insects (wasps, bees, hornets, bumblebees, neozoon: Asian hornet) all have similar but not identical venoms. Their sting venom contains a mixture of proteins, enzymes, and biochemically active substances that trigger pain, inflammation, and in some cases allergic reactions. The immune system does not react to the venom itself, but to certain protein components.

Possible Symptoms of Stings

• Normal reaction: severe swelling at the injection site, pain, burning or severe itching
• Allergic reaction: swelling of the face, neck and hands, nausea, difficulty swallowing, skin rash all over the body (hives), dizziness, weakness.
• Anaphylactic shock: acute shortness of breath, drop in blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, in the worst case, organ failure

Most common First Aid Measures

• Scrape away the stinger, if still present. When pulling it out, the venom gland remaining on the sting can be squeezed and further venom injected into the sting.
• Stay calm, reduce movement
• Cool externally (e.g. with ice pack, damp cloth - 10-15 minutes)
• Sting in the throat: cool internally by drinking cold water or sucking ice cubes (for conscious patients)
• Home remedy: apply a slice of onion, honey, aloe vera, vinegar or lemon water, crushed ribwort
• Antihistamine gel or cortisone ointment for itching; take an antihistamine (if available and tolerated)

In case of allergic reactions:

• Call an emergency doctor (112)
• Keep the person sitting upright (shortness of breath) and loosen tight clothing
• Use an adrenaline auto-injector (e.g. EpiPen) or support the stung person when using it
• Place the person in the recovery position if unconscious

Source: Malteser

Oil beetle

• Occurrence: Dry, flower-rich meadows and forest edges
• Poison: Cantharidin - a strong skin and mucous membrane poison. Beetles do not bite or sting, but release their toxins through the skin. In case of danger, oil beetles can secrete small droplets on their leg joints that look like oil droplets and serve as a defense against predators.
• Effect: Redness, blisters, and severe irritation or inflammation can occur on contact with the skin. It helps to wash your hands thoroughly after contact.

Interesting to know: Cantharidin, obtained from the oil beetle species Spanish fly, was already used as a sexual enhancer in ancient times. It irritates the urinary tract, which can cause an erection, but it does not increase sexual desire. It can lead to prolonged lovemaking but also to a painful permanent erection, liver poisoning, circulatory collapse, and kidney failure. This is because Spanish fly is easily overdosed. Just 30 mg is fatal, and the small death of orgasm can easily be followed by the big death of cantharidin.

Symptoms after swallowing an oil beetle

After ingestion, the cantharidin contained in the oil beetle can cause severe symptoms of poisoning. Typical symptoms are

• Burning in the mouth and throat, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhea, dizziness, circulatory problems
• In severe cases: Kidney failure

Most common First Aid Measures

• Do not induce vomiting!
• Rinse out mouth, but do not give milk or food.
• Call for medical help immediately
• Save beetle remains (if possible) for later identification.
• Keep calm and keep the affected person calm to avoid circulatory strain.

In Germany, there are no highly poisonous ant species as known from tropical regions. Nevertheless, there are some native or introduced species whose bites or chemical secretions can be irritating or allergenic to humans. Future risks include the immigration of new, tropical species such as the pharaoh ant and the fire ant. Climate change increases the likelihood that these extremely painful, stinging, and allergenic species will also gain a foothold in Germany.

Red wood ant

• Occurrence: Forests throughout Germany.
• Behavior: Aggressive in nest defense.
• Toxicity: No poisonous sting, but it injects formic acid into the bite wound.
• Danger to humans: Irritation of the skin, allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Scratched bites can lead to secondary infections.

Black trail ant

• Occurrence: Very common in gardens, parks and settlements.
• Toxicity: Hardly dangerous. Can bite, but only secretes small amounts of formic acid.
• Danger to humans: Mostly harmless, occasionally itching on sensitive skin.

Oak processionary moth

Anyone out and about in parks and forests will be familiar with the signs and information boards warning of the oak processionary moth. This refers to the caterpillar of a gray butterfly with a wingspan of 25 mm. Only the caterpillars are dangerous to humans. These grow up to 5 cm long and have a dark, broad dorsal line and white hairs. They live in nests that look like spider webs. In the evening and at night, they move in colonies in long processions across the trees or along the ground in search of food. It is best not to get too close to these little animals. A picnic under an oak tree? It's worth taking a close, scrutinizing look upwards.. Sie leben in Nestern, die wie Spinnweben aussehen. Abends und nachts wandern sie in Kolonien als lange Prozessionen auf der Suche nach Nahrung über die Bäume oder auch am Boden entlang. Diesen Tierchen kommt man besser nicht zu nahe. Ein Picknick unter einem Eichenbaum? Da lohnt sich ein genauer, prüfender Blick nach oben.

• Origin: Originally in southern Europe, spread further north due to climate change
• Danger: The caterpillars carry microscopic hairs containing the nettle toxin thaumetopoein. These hairs break off easily, float in the air, and stick to skin, clothing, or animal fur. The stinging hairs remain poisonous for several years, even in old nests or on the ground.
• Occurrence: Especially in warm regions with many oak trees

Symptoms after contact with the stinging hairs

• Skin: Severe itching, wheals, redness (similar to hives), burning, rash (usually after 1-8 hours)
• Respiratory tract (after inhalation of the hairs): Irritating cough, sore throat, difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath, bronchitis-like symptoms, in severe cases: Asthma attacks
• Eyes & mucous membranes: redness, tearing, burning, conjunctivitis
• Allergic reactions possible: swelling (e.g. lips, face), fever, circulatory problems. Very rare: anaphylactic shock

Most common First Aid Measures

• Change clothes immediately - preferably take them off outside, then take a shower
• Shower skin thoroughly, wash hair - do not rub! (also irritates)
• Wash contaminated clothing separately
• Do not scratch to avoid skin damage and infection
• Antihistamine or cortisone ointment for severe itching
• In case of shortness of breath, eye involvement or allergic reaction: See a doctor immediately!

Mosquitoes and Ticks

Mosquitoes and ticks are not poisonous animals per se. However, as they can transmit a variety of sometimes serious diseases and as they are almost always present during outdoor activities, I have included them in my list.

Tropische Mücken wie die Asiatische Tigermücke und die Asiatische Buschmücke breiten sich aufgrund klimatischer Veränderungen zunehmend in Deutschland aus. Sie können gefährliche Krankheiten übertragen, wie etwa das Denguefieber, Chikungunya-, West-Nil- oder das Zika-Virus. Eine solche Vektorübertragung ist bislang in Deutschland nicht beobachtet worden, aber das Risiko steigt. Zecken können Borreliose und FSME übertragen. FSME ist die Abkürzung für Frühsommer-Meningoenzephalitis, eine Infektionskrankheit, die eine Entzündung von Gehirn, Hirnhäuten und/oder Rückenmark auslösen kann. Auch bei den Zecken gibt es Neozooen: die tropische Hyalomma-Zecke wurde inzwischen auch in Deutschland nachgewiesen. Sie gilt als potenzieller Überträger des Krim-Kongo-Fiebers, einer lebensbedrohlichen Viruserkrankung.

Good protection against mosquitoes and ticks will become even more important in the future. This is because vaccines are only available for TBE and dengue fever. Bites and stings can be avoided through prudent behavior, insect repellent, mosquito nets, and long clothing. Daily body searches for ticks and professional removal of bitten ticks helps to prevent Lyme disease, as the quicker a tick is removed, the lower the risk of infection. Lyme disease can be recognized by the characteristic “migratory redness”, a large, circular reddening of the skin that often occurs around the site of a tick bite. Flu-like symptoms may also occur. If Lyme disease or TBE is suspected, a doctor should be consulted as soon as possible.

The first thing to do with mosquito bites is to cool the bite site. This can be done with cold compresses, cooling pads, or ice cubes in a cloth. It is important not to scratch the area to avoid infection. Over-the-counter antihistamines can help with severe itching or swelling.

Poisonous Scorpions in Germany

Of the approximately 2,300 scorpion species known worldwide, only 50 scorpion species have a venom that can kill humans. The scorpions found in Europe are not among these very venomous species. Although the scorpions in Europe also have venom, a sting is not usually life-threatening. There are also scorpions in Germany that originally come from Italy - but these are rare, small, and harmless. It is quite possible that other species will be introduced to Germany in the future.

Italian Scorpion – Neozoon

• Appearance: About 3-5 cm in size, brown to black in color.
• Habitat: Individual occurrences in southern Baden-Württemberg, especially in warmer areas such as the Kaiserstuhl, Freiburg im Breisgau, Heidelberg (e.g. Philosophenweg, Schlossmauer), Karlsruhe, Rhine Valley, Moselle, and Middle Rhine Valley (e.g., around Koblenz, Boppard), Trier, and the surrounding area. The scorpion lives hidden in crevices, under loose bark, stones, or in cracks in walls, especially on warm, sunny walls and vineyards.
• Active at dusk or at night in warm weather.
• Sting present, but venom (neurotoxin) very weak - like an insect bite, only noticeable in sensitive people.

I haven't tried it myself yet, but scorpions are said to be easy to see at night with a UV lamp because they glow in UV light. The phenomenon is called biofluorescence. The outer skin of scorpions contains certain molecules that emit visible blue-green light when excited by short-wave, high-energy UV light. This glow is a kind of sun protection for them and may be used for orientation or as a lure at night.

Poisonous Amphibians in Germany

Some amphibian species in Germany have mild skin toxins (alkaloids, bufotoxins) that irritate the skin and, in very rare cases, can cause allergies or symptoms of poisoning in sensitive people. The secretion can irritate the eyes or mouth. Children in particular should wash their hands after contact with amphibians.

The bufotoxin system is common in many amphibians, such as the common toad. It mainly affects the nervous system and the heart of predators, e.g. birds or small mammals.

Fire salamander

• Poison: Produces the alkaloid samandarin in skin glands.
• Effect: Irritating to mucous membranes, causes cramps in animals, skin irritation and nausea possible in humans.
• Special feature: The glands are mainly located behind the eyes - the poison is released when threatened.

Toads - Yellow-bellied toad and Fire-bellied toad

• Appearance: Wart-like skin, brightly colored belly (yellow or orange with black).
• Venom: Skin secretion contains batrachotoxins (not to be confused with the highly toxic tropical variants).
• Effect: Skin and eye irritation on direct contact with the secretion.
• Defense: In case of danger, they show their belly in a defensive posture (“toad reflex”) to deter predators.

Common toad and Midwife toad

• Appearance of the common toad: Brown-grey toad with warty skin.
• Appearance midwife toad: Grey-brown, sometimes slightly olive-colored; often with dark spots, lighter underside. Eyes strikingly golden yellow with a horizontal pupil.
• Venom: Bufotoxins in skin secretions and from the ear glands behind the eyes.
• Effect: Irritation of the mucous membranes, bitter taste, can cause vomiting or drooling in pets such as dogs. They are harmless to humans as long as you wash your hands after touching them and avoid contact with your eyes or mouth.

Possible symptoms of amphibian toxins

• In case of skin contact: Burning, itching, redness, slight swelling, irritation of the mucous membranes (eyes, mouth)
• If swallowed: Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, metallic/bitter taste, tingling in the mouth, in very rare cases: Circulatory problems, shortness of breath

Most common First Aid Measures

• Wash skin thoroughly with soap and water
• Flush eyes or mucous membranes (with clear water or eyewash solution)
• Do not rub!
• If swallowed: Rinse out mouth, possibly activated charcoal (if available)
• Consult a doctor if symptoms are severe

Poisonous Fish in Germany

Lurking well camouflaged in the sand is the most poisonous fish in Europe. The weever fish is found in shallow water, partly buried in the sand and therefore easy to overlook. If you come into contact with the Petermännchen, you will immediately feel severe pain, often followed by swelling that lasts up to 24 hours. But the sea scorpion can also sting unpleasantly with its dorsal fin spines. Sturdy bathing shoes offer the best protection.

Weever fish

• Appearance: Elongated, laterally flattened demersal fish with eyes on the top of the head, 15 to 53 cm long. They have a green-brown-yellowish coloration.
• Habitat: Sandy bottoms in the North Sea and western Baltic Sea
• Danger: Dorsal and gill cover spines with painful venom
• Symptoms: Severe pain, swelling, rarely circulatory problems

Sea scorpion

• Appearance: Up to 60 centimeters long, a demersal fish with a bulky head and large mouth
• Habitat: Primarily in the Baltic Sea, often near the shore, among rocks
• Danger: Dorsal fin spines with a slightly toxic secretion
• Symptoms: Pain, redness, relatively harmless – but unpleasant

Most common first aid measures for a weever or sea scorpion sting

• Remove the sting (not with bare fingers)
• Soak the wound under hot water (approx. 45°C; 15–30 minutes) – heat destroys the protein toxin and relieves the pain. For dogs, place a hot washcloth on the sting site if necessary.
• Disinfect, observe
• If you experience circulatory problems, severe swelling, or allergic reactions: See a doctor immediately!

Poisonous Freshwater Fish in Germany

There are fish species in Germany that have venom glands on their spiny fin rays: ruffe, perch, and zander. Their sting venom can cause local pain, swelling, redness, or mild inflammation, similar to an insect bite. The effect is not dangerous, but there is a risk of infection if the wound is not cleaned.

Caution when fishing and good wound care are important.

Poisonous Jellyfish in Germany

In German waters, compass jellyfish, moon jellyfish, and fire jellyfish can cause skin reactions. For healthy people, contact with the jellyfish found here is unpleasant but not life-threatening. The venom of the stinging cells can cause burning pain, redness, itching, and minor swelling. Allergy sufferers, children, or people with sensitive skin may experience more severe reactions.

Most common first aid measures for jellyfish contact

• Do not rub!
• Use salt water (not fresh water) to rinse.
• Vinegar helps deactivate stinging cells in some species (not all!).
• Carefully remove tentacle remains with tweezers or a credit card.
• In case of severe reactions: Seek medical attention!

Book Recommendations about poisonous Animals and Animals in Germany

Want to know more about poisonous animals and our native animals in Germany? Then I can recommend these books (affiliate links).

You can order the books on Amazon by clicking on the images. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link, I receive a small commission, and you help me continue to fill Fernweh-Motivation with interesting articles. This doesn't increase the price of the product for you, and you're doing me a huge favor. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Recommendations for further Reading

Du bist gerne draußen unterwegs und achtest auf deine (und anderer Leute) Sicherheit? Dann interessieren dich ganz sicher auch mein Artikel zum Thema staying healthy on trekking tours sowie mein Artikel über midges in Scotland.

Der Beitrag Giftige Tiere in Deutschland: Was du wissen musst erschien zuerst auf Fernweh-Motive.

After weeks of planning and preparation, the time has come: the trekking tour is just around the corner, and suddenly... you're ill. A cold or other infection can quickly put you out of action for days. Fever, diarrhea, dizziness, or simply a lack of energy and strength can thwart your meticulously prepared plans without mercy. And now what? To help you stay healthy on your trekking tour, I have put together my best tips for you in the following article.

Trekking tours take us into nature, far away from pharmacies, and often to climatically challenging regions. To ensure that the tour remains an unforgettable experience and is not marred by health problems, good preparation is essential. In addition to the right equipment, including a first-aid kit, nutrition, hygiene, and generally prudent behavior play a key role. If you also have a few basics about tried and tested home remedies to hand, you can act quickly if necessary. This is what it's all about:

• Staying healthy while trekking: the right Preparation
• Staying healthy on the Trail: Behavior when hiking and in Huts
• First Measures on the Trail

A Word in Advance

I wrote this article following my one-year sabbatical from my job. During this time, I worked on a husky farm in Finland, went hiking and trekking in Scandinavia and New Zealand, went diving and paddling in Indonesia, and embarked on a Japanese food adventure in Japan. I spent a lot of time in adverse weather and extreme climates and gained a lot of experience over the year on how to stay healthy while traveling and how not to do it.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or anything like that. But I am sure that my tips for staying healthy on a trekking tour will be useful to you at some point. However, you have to check and decide for yourself whether the following tips are suitable for you and your body in the respective situation. Enjoy reading and stay healthy!

Unassigned, unpaid advertising. The article contains affiliate links.

“Leisure Sickness” - Why do you get sick at the Start of your Vacation?

A topic that I'm sure all of you are familiar with: the vacation begins and on the first day of your vacation you catch a cold right on time. How unfair the world can be, because after all, you've earned your vacation after all that stress at work...

There is a name for this: “Leisure Sickness”

Langanhaltender Stress schwächt das Immunsystem, da der Körper vermehrt Stresshormone wie Cortisol produziert, welche die Immunabwehr unterdrücken. In der Erholungsphase, wenn der Stress wegfällt, kann der Körper die Produktion von Abwehrzellen herunterfahren, Krankheitserreger haben nun leichtes Spiel. 

What helps? I pay particular attention to my diet during the work/holiday transition period and try to reduce my exposure (e.g., wearing a mask on public transport, working from home...). If possible, I try to reduce my stress levels before I go on vacation. If that's not possible, I try to deliberately keep the stress level high at the start of the vacation...;-)

Staying healthy while trekking: the right Preparation

Preparation for a trekking tour usually consists of route planning, putting together your equipment and provisions, and, if necessary, training specific skills such as navigation and orientation, paddling techniques, or climbing knots. To stay healthy before and during your trekking tour, the following points should also be part of your preparation:

Fitness and Training

The best basis for a healthy trekking tour is solid preparation. This includes a realistic assessment of your own physical fitness. Trekking often requires hours of hiking with luggage, sometimes at high altitudes or in rough terrain. Targeted endurance and strength training a few weeks to several months before the tour helps to prepare the body. The more ambitious the tour, the earlier you should start training.

TIP: Get out into the fresh air! Especially if you are out and about in winter, it helps to get used to the cold ambient air. Stimulate your circulation with cold showers or alternating showers.

Make sure your training is similar to the physical activity of the planned tour. For example, before my trekking tours, I walked up and down a small hill in the city park with a fully loaded rucksack, went jogging, and practiced with various training videos.

Check up at the (Dental) Doctor

Who has ever had a toothache on the road? Who has even had to see a dentist on the road? I know someone who had to pull a tooth himself on his tour in the Swedish fells. That was certainly no fun. Ever since I heard this story, I always go to the dentist for a check-up before I travel, preferably with an all-round x-ray.

If you are going on tour in remote areas or are planning a strenuous undertaking, you should also visit your family doctor for a check-up. When was your last ECG? Are you going to the mountains at high altitudes? Then, you should seek advice from an altitude doctor beforehand.

Equipment

Your equipment also has a direct influence on your health when trekking. Well-worn hiking boots, possibly with insoles, prevent blisters and joint problems, while functional clothing protects you from wind, cold, moisture, mosquitoes, and strong sunlight. Research what kind of weather you can expect and adapt your equipment accordingly. Look after your equipment. Your rucksack must also fit, be packed, and adjusted properly so that the trekking tour does not become a burden.

Travel Medicine Kit

In addition to a first-aid kit with bandages and disinfectant, a first-aid kit should also be in your luggage. In addition to personal medication (e.g. for allergies), this should also contain painkillers and antipyretics, ointment for wounds and ailments, cold medicine (nasal spray), vitamin C+ zinc tablets, as well as remedies for gastrointestinal complaints, and, if necessary, a broad-spectrum antibiotic. I also like to take something for gingivitis, cold sores, and soothing eye drops, as my eyes get irritated quickly by the wind.

How you equip your first-aid kit depends, among other things, on your planned tour and activity, your personal health conditions, the general medical care in the destination country, the remoteness of the area, and other regional particularities. The following should be considered:

• How far away is the nearest pharmacy
• How over-the-counter are the medicines? Are doctor's prescriptions necessary? In Sweden, for example, I couldn't get an Aspirin Complex or similar cold remedy without a prescription, whereas in New Zealand you have a good selection even in the smallest store.
• Are imported medicines legal in the destination country? Up to what quantities?
• Do I need a doctor's certificate for prescription medicines to avoid any questions or problems at customs? What do I have to declare when entering the country?
• How do I store the medication en route so that it does not spoil?

ALSO HELPFUL ON A HOLIDAY: earplugs against snoring fellow hikers or noisy rivers; compression stockings if traveling by air; medication against motion sickness/seasickness.

Insect Repellent

Mosquitoes are the most dangerous animals in the world, as they carry a large number of human pathogens. These include malaria, yellow fever, Zika fever, and dengue fever. Tropical mosquito species such as the Asian tiger mosquito, which can also transmit dangerous diseases, are also spreading in Germany. Anyone who is also sensitive to bites (swelling of the bites) or even allergic has even more reasons to protect themselves from insects:

• Insect spray, itch-relieving ointment
• head net
• Mosquito net over the bed/in the tent
• Impregnated clothing
• Choice of destination / season
• Medicine for allergy sufferers
• Mosquito repellent to eat? Yes, there really is such a thing. Garlic, lemons, and ginger contain substances that make you unattractive to mosquitoes.

In addition to mosquitoes and wasps, special attention should be paid to ticks, as they can transmit Lyme disease and TBE viruses:

• Better visible on light-colored clothing
• Tuck your trouser legs into your socks
• Brush off clothing before getting into the tent
• Use insect repellent
• Check your body for ticks every(!) evening: After a bite, it takes up to 1 to 2 days for borrelia to be transmitted. TBE viruses, on the other hand, are transmitted within a short time after the bite. Removing ticks in good time reduces the risk of infection with Borrelia bacteria.
• Have a tick card with you and be able to use it

Vaccinations and Malaria

You can find out about recommended vaccinations in the travel and safety information from the Federal Foreign Office or on the website of the Robert Koch Institute. Is there malaria in the destination country and what is the recommendation (prophylaxis or tablets for emergencies)? Bear in mind that malaria tablets taken as a prophylaxis can also have side effects (e.g. tiredness, diarrhea). Ask your doctor for advice on which medication is best suited to your type of travel. You may also want to take a digital clinical thermometer with you.

TIP: Vaccinations, especially those with live vaccines, can have side effects that put you out of action for a few days. Sometimes the side effects only appear up to a week after vaccination, as is the case with dengue fever, for example. So plan your vaccinations well in advance of your trip. I had my dengue fever vaccination one day before departure and got a fever exactly one week later. Good thing I had canceled my trekking tour into the mountains due to bad weather.

Food

Another important point is nutrition. A trekking tour consumes a lot of energy, so you should plan for high-calorie but easily digestible and long-lasting food. Keeping food cool en route by wrapping it in wet cloths helps to keep it fresh and digestible. Muesli bars, nuts, and dried fruit are ideal companions.

My provisions always include

• Chamomile or sage tea for inhalation
• Fresh ginger and garlic
• Honey, preferably Manuka honey

Do you eat a vegan diet? Then find out whether you can get protein-rich plant-based foods locally or take some bars with you. You know better than anyone that simply cutting out meat, fish, and dairy products won't work. Your hosts or the corner store at the camp may not know this. That's what happened to me in the Andes in Ecuador, where I quickly realized that I wouldn't get very far with my vegan diet and lack of alternatives to meat.

Drinking Water

Zudem muss die Wasserversorgung sichergestellt werden. Je nach Region muss das Trinkwasser aus Oberflächengewässern aufbereitet werden. Das kann durch Abkochen, durch Wasserfilter oder Wasseraufbereitungstabletten passieren.

Wasser aus dem Oberlauf von fließenden Gewässern ist in der Regel von besserer Qualität als Wasser im Unterlauf von Flüssen oder von stehenden Gewässern. Achtet auf Viehzucht, Weidehaltung oder Camps in der Umgebung und entnehmt euer Wasser im Wasserlauf oberhalb etwaiger Verschmutzungsquellen.

Is your water supply based on melted snow or ice? Remember to add electrolytes.

In many countries, drinking tap water or even brushing your teeth with tap water is not recommended. Also be careful with ice cubes or fruit juices, which often have water added. Find out beforehand what the situation is in your destination country.

Don't forget Travel Health Insurance

No matter how well prepared and careful you are, something can always happen on the road. To avoid being stuck with expensive medical bills, you should take out travel health insurance. Good travel health insurance also covers repatriation home if you are unable to continue your trip for health reasons.

Be careful: Depending on your planned plans, supplementary accident insurance may be advisable. Check whether your health or accident insurance also covers “search and rescue”. Often very little money is provided for this.

Outdoor First Aid and Wilderness First Aid

You should also brush up on your first-aid skills before every tour! Can you apply a pressure bandage yourself? Or build a makeshift forearm splint? Practice makes perfect.

The best first aid lessons for your trekking tours or winter / solo tours are provided in the Outdoor First Aid Basics and Wilderness First Aid courses from the Guide Academy-Europe. This training quickly gives you the basic confidence to act and enables you to take first aid aspects into account when planning camps and tours or, if the worst comes to the worst, to help yourself until help arrives.

Staying healthy on the Trail: Behavior when hiking and in Huts

How to act while Hiking

During the trekking tour, your behavior naturally plays a decisive role for your health. The right pace is important: overexertion not only leads to exhaustion but also weakens the immune system. Regular breaks help to regenerate the body. In high temperatures, it is essential to drink enough and use sun protection (sun cream and headgear), while in cold regions, care must be taken to keep warm and dry. Avoid getting too warm and sweating. Throw something warm on during breaks, or change your sweaty shirt for a dry one.

Tip: Your feet also need air. However, this is often only possible to a limited extent in modern GoreTex shoes. Feet sweat and are then more susceptible to blisters. So let your socks air dry or change them. Allow the shoes to air by removing the insoles.

Hygiene and Washing on Tour

It's easy to work up a sweat carrying your rucksack up the mountains. Even if it is not always easy on the way, freshen up at least a daily cat wash of the most important areas: Faces, hands, armpits, between the legs, and feet. Wet wipes are practical for on-the-go. Also, wash your clothes.

Also, read my separate blog article “A full bath in the stream? Washing on a trekking tour - here's how”.

Unfamiliar Dogs

A separate topic: strange dogs, “trail dogs” and street dogs are better not to be petted...not like me here in Georgia. But these two trail dogs had already kept me company for three days, walking with me on my day trips and sleeping next to the tent...so they were almost mine...;-) Nevertheless, they could have had fleas or whatever. It doesn't always have to be dog bites.

If the dogs belong to someone and there is an owner nearby, ask beforehand if you can stroke the dog. Also, check whether the dog wants this. Because not every dog wants to be petted.

Risk of Infection in Group Accommodation

In hiking huts or on group treks, the close-knit community can increase the risk of colds or gastrointestinal infections. Good hygiene is therefore essential. This includes regular hand washing or the use of disinfectant gel, especially before eating. When staying overnight in huts, it is advisable to use your own hut sleeping bag and not to stay in crowded rooms if it is avoidable. Keep your distance from people who appear to have a cold. The same applies if you have a cold yourself. Communicate this, behave considerately, and wear a face mask (FFP2 mask).

Diet and Nutrition

Unfamiliar food, especially in foreign food cultures, can put a strain on the stomach. Caution is advised with raw food or unfiltered water to avoid infection. In many places in Asia or Central/South America, the motto is: “Cook it, boil it, peel it, or leave it”. So be careful with anything that is not cooked, freshly peeled or fried.

Finding berries or mushrooms along the way? Only eat them if you are sure they are edible.

First Measures on the Trail

Common Cold

Despite all precautionary measures, health problems can occur along the way. One of the most common complaints on trekking tours is the common cold. The combination of physical exertion, changing temperatures, and a possibly weakened immune system makes the body susceptible to infections. When the first symptoms appear, it's time to shift down a gear. Even if you are still able to move around, it is by no means healthy. Spread colds drag on, coughs take hold, and, in the worst case, heart muscle inflammation can occur.

If possible, find a place where you can stay for a few days or leave your tent pitched. Get plenty of rest, keep warm, and, above all, protect your traveling companions.

• Rest and get plenty of sleep
• Warmth (clothing, hot water bottle), fresh air (regular ventilation), sun on your face
• Protect your fellow travelers: Keep your distance, separate beds or rooms (insulation); wash/disinfect hands; keep garbage with used handkerchiefs well closed and empty more often
• Vitamins, honey, ginger, garlic and invigorating food
• Drink a lot - preferably warm teas such as ginger or camomile tea
• Inhale (camomile, sage or fennel tea)
• Nasal rinsing with salt water
• Medication from your first-aid kit if necessary

TIP: Prepare a turmeric, pepper, lemon, and ginger oil mix. The ingredients have an anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting effect and reinforce each other.

Are you healthy again? That's great. Then take it easy and don't overdo it 😉 Maybe an alternative program with a rental car, a boat tour or a visit to a museum isn't bad either.

Gastrointestinal Complaints

Gastrointestinal complaints are also a common challenge on trekking tours. Unfamiliar food, contaminated water or stress can cause the stomach to rebel. A tried and tested home remedy is cola and black tea with a pinch of salt and sugar, which has a calming effect on the stomach. Grated apples, herbal teas, or a light broth can also help to stabilize the stomach. If you have diarrhea, it is important to consume sufficient electrolytes to avoid dehydration. Also, if you vomit until your stomach is completely empty and beyond, you need to drink plenty to prevent dehydration...even if it doesn't stay in for long.

In the summer of 2023, I heard that some huts in northern Sweden were closed due to an increase in gastrointestinal infections. It was suspected that hikers had not used the plum toilets and had done their business in the surrounding area...unfortunately too close to the drinking water source. Do it better! You can read how to shit in nature properly in my article Shit happens! A little guide to doing big business in nature.

Mosquito Bites

Home remedies such as cooling with ice or moist compresses, placing onions or lemon on the bite site or applying aloe vera can help with the itching caused by mosquito bites. Vinegar water, honey or toothpaste with menthol is also said to help. Always remember: scratching makes the itching worse and can lead to infections. 

Herpes on the Lips

Cold sores have various causes. I occasionally get herpes when I drink from inadequately cleaned cups or glasses. In group accommodation with communal kitchens, I therefore use my own cup for drinking if possible. Honey, which I apply to cold sores, has proven to be a good home remedy for me. Zinc creams or ginger, which you gently press onto the blisters, are also said to help. Cooling helps against swelling and relieves pain.

Sunstroke and Heatstroke

Sunstroke is caused by prolonged exposure to direct sunlight on the head and neck. Symptoms include headaches, nausea, dizziness, and possibly even unconsciousness. The best prevention is to wear a hat or cap and stay in the shade whenever possible. If sunstroke does occur, the person affected should be moved into the shade, their head and neck cooled with wet towels, and plenty of fluids administered.

During my trekking tour on the Kungsleden in July 2024, I saw many people walking in full Goretex gear, including gloves, mosquito net and hood. It was warm and I was already sweating in my shorts and T-shirt. Some time later, I heard about a hiker who collapsed with heatstroke. Prolonged heat and physical overexertion in summer temperatures can lead to heatstroke, which can even be life-threatening...When was your last first aid course?

Sunburn

Sunburn can also be a serious problem on trekking tours. You can easily get sunburn on tours on the water, in the snow or at high altitudes. Regularly applying sun cream with a high sun protection factor, wearing protective clothing and avoiding the direct midday sun are essential. Once the skin has been burnt, aloe vera gel or curd compresses can help to cool and regenerate it. If nothing else is available, cool water will also help.

Blisters on the Feet

Here too, prevention is better than suffering afterwards. Wear suitable, well-worn boots and socks. Keep your feet dry. Tap or pad pressure points at the first noticeable irritation. Do not pierce water-filled blisters, as the skin over them protects you from infection. If the blister has already burst and the raw flesh is visible, your tour is unfortunately over. There is a risk of inflammation, which always carries the risk of sepsis. A detailed article on first aid for blisters can be found on the Guide Academy website.

TIP: Take a pair of light shoes with you for the camp so that your feet can relax.

Mycosis of the Feet

Prolonged moisture on the feet can lead to athlete's foot. I caught it while paddling in Indonesia because my feet were constantly damp and warm... Of course, I didn't have anything with me. I treated myself with wound disinfectant spray, foot baths in black tea, and garlic rubbed between my toes. Don't forget your fellow travelers: athlete's foot is contagious, so don't walk barefoot in communal areas/showers. This is also a good way to prevent infection in showers when you are out and about.

Altitude Sickness

Many trekking tours take hikers into the mountains. The first symptoms of altitude sickness can occur at altitudes of 2000 meters or more in people who are not used to the altitude. The body cannot adapt sufficiently to the lower oxygen content. Symptoms include headaches, nausea, dizziness and shortness of breath. It is essential to adapt slowly to the altitude, drink enough and take breaks when climbing. At the first signs of altitude sickness, you should descend immediately to avoid more serious consequences. More information on symptoms and how to prevent them can be found here at DAV.

Remedies from Nature

Our nature is full of interesting things. Many of them can help us with minor aches and pains along the way. The only catch is that you first have to know the regional plants with the respective active ingredients, you have to know how to use them and then you also have to be there at the right time of year. A topic that would go beyond the scope of this article. But maybe I've just made you curious. Then you can get smarter with the help of these books (affiliate links):

Rest Days and off to the Doctor

If an illness is more serious or lasts for several days, it is advisable not only to take one or more rest days but also - if possible - to seek medical advice. Your own health should always take priority over continuing your hike.

The more severe the infection, the longer you need to take a break. Even mild infection symptoms such as a sore throat, cold, or cough require the body to rest. If you have aching limbs or a fever, you need to take it easy and your hike is unfortunately over. Use the rest time in bed and think about an alternative program for the following days.

Conclusion: Stay healthy while trekking

Staying healthy on a trekking tour requires well-thought-out preparation, prudent behavior along the way, and the knowledge of simple home remedies for minor ailments. If you prepare well, know your limits, and take care of your body, you can enjoy an unforgettable tour and stay fit and healthy in the wilderness.

Book recommendations for Household Remedies

Would you like to know more about home remedies that might help you to stay or become healthy on your trekking tour? Then I can recommend these books*.

You can order the books with a click on the pictures on Amazon. If you buy a product via an affiliate link, I get a small commission, and you help me to keep filling Fernweh-Motive with interesting articles. The product will not be more expensive for you, and you will do me a huge favor.

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Recommendations for further Reading

Do you love long hikes as much as I do? Then you might also be interested in my articles about the Laugavegur in Iceland or about the The 9 most beautiful Hikes on the Isle of Skye.

Der Beitrag Gesund bleiben auf Trekking-Tour: Vorbereitung, Verhalten und Erste Maßnahmen bei Erkrankung erschien zuerst auf Fernweh-Motive.

Finland. After two months of husky guide training with Hetta Huskies in the north of Finland, I'm back in Germany. "How was it?" my people back home ask me. What should I say? I reflect and then begin: "It was challenging, exhausting, and painful... and there were around 190 reasons to keep smiling." On the day I left, there were even three more: the dog Puna had given birth. Three tiny, blind puppies are lying beside her in the shower on newspapers. For a brief moment, I hold the firstborn in my hand — a girl. Tiny, sharp claws prick my skin. The little one is squeaking for milk. With her black and white patterned fur, she reminds me of a little panda.

Get in the mood

A few photos from my first two weeks of husky guide training with Hetta Huskies. The motifs were the order of the day: dogs, dogs in the snow, dogs in front of the sled, dogs taking a break...

Captivated by the Dogs

It won't be long before the claws of Puna's three puppies are making a mess of dog beds, blankets, T-shirts, sweaters, pants, and other things. They will also use them to shoo the guides out of bed in the morning, sometimes in combination with wild licking. In the morning, when my limbs were still stiff from work the day before and I was struggling to put my socks on. I often slipped barefoot into my wellies and took my two indoor dogs out to pee in my nightwear while my own bladder was still squeezing. Afterward, over coffee and muesli, they looked at me expectantly with their brown or blue doggy eyes.

I miss the dogs around me. I never thought it would happen so quickly. But with every walk, feed, toothbrush, or sled ride, I got to know the individual personalities of the dogs better and built up trust and bonds with them.

What helped me as a dog newbie to warm up to the dogs quickly: I went to dog school beforehand...yes, without a dog. The girls from the Dogxytocin dog school supported my plans with theory training specially tailored to me. I was also able to watch their training sessions in the dog park. Thanks again for that! You can read more details about my preparations for the husky guide training below.

Two Months & a Thousand Experiences

I look through my photos and remember my two months at Hetta Huskies. Did I really do all that? How did it all fit into just two months?

At the beginning of April, when I arrived at the farm, there was still a lot of snow. The last multi-day sled tours were running and I had the opportunity to join them for three days. The dog sleds went over ice, through deep snow, mud, and water. Over time, the landscape changed from white to brown to green. The first flowers bloomed, the thermometer showed up to 28 degrees Celsius and the mosquito bites on humans and dogs became more and more numerous from the beginning of June.

Working with the dogs dominated our days. Feeding, giving water, checking bedding, cleaning and, if necessary, repairing cages and kennels, preparing food, giving medication, brushing fur and teeth, removing calculus, cutting nails, stroking, cuddling, and much more. There were also lots of other things to do, such as repairing equipment, computer work, or giving farm tours for guests. After 12 to 14 hours of work, it was often not the end of the day. Then it was off to the sauna with ice bathing, paddling on the edge of the ice, snowmobiling to a wilderness hut, grilling sausages over a campfire, to the beach, carving spoons or evening walks with the dogs.

Physical work outdoors – all a matter of acclimatization?

Where did the energy for all that work come from? Hmm, I think some of the energy and adrenaline jumped over from the dogs to us guides. Coffee, chocolate, huge portions of pasta, and the dynamics of the group helped. In the evening, I fell into bed exhausted and slept like a rock...after somehow making it to the top bunk of my double bunk bed. I always thought I was pretty fit for my age. Sure, I sit in front of the computer a lot, but I do sport almost every day, jog a lot, and go trekking with a heavy rucksack. But I felt like I'd been put through a blender for the first three weeks. Eventually, my body would get used to the work, I hoped. But it took much longer than expected and didn't always work...if only I had done all this 20-25 years ago...;-)

Ready for the Sofa – Adoption Program at Hetta

After two months on the Fram, I'm not the only one ready for the sofa. Some of the older sled dogs would also love a place on a couch. Hetta Huskies runs an adoption program for these dogs, as well as for younger dogs who can't or don't want to work as sled dogs. Many guides, interns, or customers fall in love with one of the dogs and take it into their home. Before doing so, of course, it is checked whether it is a good fit from both sides. If necessary, some people wait for "their" dog to retire. The oldest dogs at Hetta are 15 years old. Converted into human years, that's a proud age of around 90 years. At Hetta, they usually spend their days in the warm or mosquito-protected house or together with other older dogs in the large "oldies fence".

Have I also fallen in love with a dog? Of course, with several. There was Maple, who always greeted wildly and didn't want to stop playing. Denali, who was a bit shy and was given to Hetta by a Norwegian racing kennel because he was no longer racing. Cuillin, who is a white cuddly dog or little Breeze with her blue eyes and penetrating gaze. Just to name a few. Each of the 190 dogs on the farm was special and loveable in their own way. It was damn hard for me to leave the farm without a dog.

Ethical Dog Care and Rescue Center

I just mentioned it in passing: some dogs that no longer have a place on other farms find a new home at Hetta Huskies. These can be dogs from racing kennels, surplus puppies, shy, sick, or lazy dogs. All these dogs are just as well looked after and cared for at Hetta Huskies as all other dogs. They are not given up just because they cannot earn their own living. Just as old dogs are not simply put to sleep when they have served their purpose. That's how it should be everywhere. Unfortunately, however, this is far from being a matter of course in the dog sledding industry.

Ethical dog care to a high standard is a top priority at Hetta Huskies. Dogs that no longer have a "place" on other farms are taken in by Hetta as a rescue center and cared for and trained according to their needs. I am happy to work a little longer during the day for this. A husky farm that treats its dogs as business inventory would be out of the question for me. Neither for work, nor as a paying guest for dog sledding experiences.

Was the Internship as a Husky Guide at Hetta Huskies worthwhile for me?

I could write a lot more about my internship as a husky guide at this point. Maybe I'll do that later. But now I don't have much time before I go hiking in Sweden and it's important for me to put this article online beforehand. The most important thing has been said and I would like to summarize it once again: Hetta Huskies in the north of Finland was a wonderful place for me to learn (even if it was hard sometimes). In many different ways:

• first and foremost, of course, about dogs and their needs, care, communication, and training (including medical care, dog check, and heat check, stapling wounds, brushing teeth, removing tartar, changing bandages...)
• about dog mushing, snowmobiles, and quads (it was impressive to see how snowmobiles can be driven in deep snow, tip over, and be dug up and righted again)
• I gained a daring insight into the management of a husky farm
• Working with customers: I was there out of season, but at the beginning, I accompanied the dog sled rides as a helping hand. Later, I really enjoyed the farm tours with guests.
• Craftsmanship: there was always something to be repaired, for example, dog kennels, cages, fences, sleds, leads, dog harnesses, inner shoes to be felted or equipment to be sewn.
• Working in international teams with interesting, like-minded people
• the challenges of the Arctic landscape and life in it through the changing seasons
• Finnish culture
• Training in outdoor skills

My Conclusion

Can I recommend an internship at Hetta Huskies? Absolutely! But: you have to be prepared to work a lot - I mean a lot - to give up your private life to a large extent and to learn every day. The busier the season, the more is required. From the dogs, the customers, the boss, the entire team, and, last but not least, from the Arctic with temperatures of around -40 °C in the coldest months. Hetta Huskies has a comprehensive training program, and they are happy to provide some reading materials in advance. This was a great help for me, as I was able to prepare in beforehand and already knew some of the dogs.

Preparations: Crafts, Dog School and Husky Farm

- "I don't have time at the weekend, I have dog school"
- "But you don't have a dog"
- "That's right... But soon I'll have almost two hundred"
- "How???"
- "I'm doing an internship on a husky farm in Finland from April"...I say, grinning like a honey cake dog 🙂

What's the saying? You learn for life... But first I learned for the dog: I go to dog school to prepare myself. The girls from Dogxytocin think my idea is great and have put together a program for me. I learn the basics of domestication and learning theory. I continue with the dog's expressive behavior and dog-dog and dog-human communication. I learned how a dog appeases, what a "kiss to dismiss" is, and much more.

At the Husky Farm in Frankendorf I finally have the opportunity to get closer to some Siberian huskies. It's the first time I've driven a team of three dogs and later ten. It's amazing what power they have.

In addition to working with the dogs, there will also be all kinds of manual work to do on the farm or on tour: general maintenance, repairs, or new construction of dog kennels, fences, and sleds, for example... In order to become a bit fitter in terms of manual skills and to get to know and use new hand tools, I had some extra lessons as part of my training as a Wilderness Guide at the Guide Academy Europe (GAE).

Kiitos! That's Finnish and means "Thank you!"

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped me with my preparations! Another big thank you goes especially to my bosses and my colleagues, who made it possible for me to take time off work and thus have this experience at the husky farm.

Kiitos also to Anna, the owner of Hetta Huskies, to Tim, the farm's craft boss, and to all the guides I was able to work with. Last but not least, a big thank you to Maple, Denali, Cuillin, Breeze, Tim Tam, Domino, Thunder, Smeagol, Shadow, Sirbma, Unni, Yukon, Quest, Cherry, Solfrid, Jumbo, Elsa, Tinder, Starsky and all the other wonderful huskies I had the pleasure of meeting!

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Book recommendations for Finland

You want to know where the journey goes? Then I can recommend these books*.

You can order the travel guides on Amazon by clicking on the pictures. If you buy a product via an affiliate link, I get a small commission, and you help me to keep filling Fernweh-Motive with interesting articles. The product will not be more expensive for you, and you will do me a huge favor.

Recommendations for further Reading

Do you love dogs and snow as much as I do? Then you might also be interested in my articles about Dog Sledding in Greenland or about Scottish Winter Mountaineering near Glencoe..

Der Beitrag Husky-Guide-Training – Zwei Monate bei Hetta Huskies in Finnland erschien zuerst auf Fernweh-Motive.

In cooperation with the Guide Academy Europe and TREKK'N Guide. Advertising..

Sweden. Only in retrospect, as I look through the photos and write this article, do I realize how many topics we covered during the Wilderness Guide Training in Vindelfjäll. Much of it was integrated into the course in a very natural way, so I picked it up almost incidentally and rather unconsciously. Christoph Maretzek, the founder of the Guide Academy Europe, explained other things in detail in individual steps and had me practise them again and again, such as making a fire. Even with wet wood! Other important topics for us were nature conservation on tour, intercultural competence and the responsibility you take on as a guest of a country or as a guest in nature.

I'll show you a few things we did during our wilderness guide training tour in this article. I'll stick to the surface because Christoph can better explain the exact details and procedures, tricks, and tips in his courses. Click here for the Guide Academy Europe (GAE) courses and here for TREKK'N Guide..

With Christoph Maretzek and the opportunities he offers through the GAE in terms of training and with TREKK'N Guide for leisure activities, I have come across a treasure trove of knowledge, skills, and (training) experience from a whole lifetime of touring. A treasure that has enriched me personally. Especially nature conservation on tour and the combination of modern outdoor life and traditional handicraft techniques, as every farm boy, every indigenous person, and every wilderness traveler used to know. Be it making a new handle for the axe on the road, repairing a rucksack, building a pack board, or a knife with the simplest of tools.

What is Wilderness Guide Training about? Why am I doing this at all?

Nothing is easier than closing the door behind you and simply setting off. Even from Berlin, it's not far from the great outdoors. And if you like it a bit more secluded, you can just get on the train and drive a little way. So far so good. When it comes to taking the right equipment with you, knowing how to use a map and compass, or predicting the weather based on the clouds, it gets a bit more challenging. But thanks to my previous Trekking Guide Training at the Guide Academy, that and much more that goes with a trekking tour also works.

Anyone who knows me knows that I love the remote areas of northern Europe with treeless landscapes and mountains, such as Greenland, Iceland, and northern Scandinavia. Areas where only a few people are still out and about and there are only narrow paths. Areas where nature makes the rules and doesn't care whether the tent is waterproof, whether you can get the fire lit, or whether you've twisted your ankle. Areas where there are no general terms and conditions and where it is better not to rely on a prompt rescue in an emergency.

Welcome to the wilderness! In a world that most of us first have to get to know again. We have forgotten how to observe and interpret the natural world around us. We are also rarely born with manual skills and creativity. But these are essential on wilderness tours and need to be learned and practiced. Only those who can improvise along the way and repair their equipment if necessary will make progress. This is exactly where the Guide Academy's Wilderness Guide Training comes in.

Preparation for Work and Tours in the North

And then there's something else: I'm planning to work on a husky farm in Finland for a few months from April 2024 and then hike long tours in Sweden. The Wilderness Guide training is part of my preparation for this. As I will also be doing a lot of manual work on the farm, the training also includes three craft/bushcraft modules for me. But there will be a separate article on this later. However, there is already a small foretaste at the end of this article.

First things first: Nature Conservation on Tour

Every year, the right of public access attracts numerous nature lovers, outdoor sports enthusiasts and adventurers to Scandinavia. However, in the belief in boundless freedom, boundaries are repeatedly crossed. If you don't find out beforehand what you are allowed to do and what you are not allowed to do, you can quickly put your foot in your mouth. "Don't disturb and don't destroy anything" is the motto. Quite simple really, isn't it? If everyone sticks to it and takes responsibility, then not only nature is preserved but also everyone's rights. Because the fact that we are allowed to use nature so freely in Scandinavia - especially as guests of a country - is by no means a matter of course.

Here you can read about Everyman's Right..

At the Guide Academy Europe, Conservation on Tour is taught and practiced with the "10 Golden Rules for Guides". Those who adhere to these rules show professionalism and responsibility towards our nature and help to preserve what we love most.

The 10 Golden Rules for Guides

#1 Do not leave paths unnecessarily
#2 Cook on the stove if feasible
#3 Fire and camp only in safe places
#4 Avoid protected areas, spawning and breeding grounds
#5 Avoid garbage and take it back with you
#6 Protect animals and plants
#7 Know and observe local rules
#8 Respect the local way of life
#9 Pass on your own knowledge
#10 Guiding by example

©TREKK’N Guide 2018

We spent a lot of time on the trail dealing with responsible campfires and washing on tour and also filmed short clips about it. I was particularly amazed at how much water you need to put out a campfire. When we thought it was extinguished, we still found pockets of embers under the stones surrounding the campfire. We needed a good three liters of water in total!

A Word about the Weather

Up in the fjell, the weather rules the world. It decides where we go or whether we go at all. Many tough guys and gals say "there's no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes", but that's only half the truth. The other truth is that bad weather is often the reason why some hikers have fatal accidents. Or that rescue teams have to be called out and the rescuers themselves become drawn into risky activities.

Sound skills, training and good equipment are essential. Just like common sense and sensible consideration of the conditions. We therefore changed our route planning on the way and did not go into the mountains of the Ammarfjäll, far away from any paths and shelters, due to the forecast of heavy rain and storms. Instead, we continued on to Rävfallsstugan. A good choice!

Craftsmanship on Tour

Knife sheath, saw handle, wobbler, and float

If you are traveling away from supermarkets, DIY stores, or Amazon prime, you are well served with a sharp knife, a well-thought-out repair kit, a little imagination, and dexterity.

During our Wilderness Guide training and the subsequent stay at Värdshus Ammarnäs, we made two plugs, two fishing floats, a knife sheath and a simple handle for a saw blade. We tried out the wobblers in the water. With a little extra lead, one of them submerged well. The other had a little more buoyancy and swam in a sideways position just below the surface. Almost like a real injured fish. We hadn't fitted any hooks during the tests as our fishing license had expired in the meantime - yes, that's right, you need a fishing license for many waters in Sweden too. You can find more information here or at the local tourist information office.

Lost your Map? Let's make a Sketch

Has the hiking map flown away? The smartphone and GPS batteries are flat? And now what? The only thing you can do now is to hope that the next hiker passing by will have a coffee with you and let you copy their map. And this is how it works:

Did you grow up without a smartphone, scanner, or photocopier? Then you're probably still familiar with tracing. A blank piece of paper is placed on the image to be copied. The translucent contours are then simply traced. If the translucency is not sufficient, you can help yourself by placing the card and paper against a window or even using a flashlight to provide light from behind.

But what if you don't have blank paper but just a piece of cardboard or fabric? Then there's no more tracing. Then you can transfer the map using a grid. It is best to use the grid of the coordinate system in the map as the grid. The individual elements of the map are then transferred one by one: the paths, trails, bodies of water, peaks, contour lines, vegetation and prominent points such as huts or ruins.

A little Hut Etiquette

There are mountain stations, mountain huts, shelters and windskyds along the hiking trails in Sweden. I'll group them all together here under the term "hut", even though there are of course major differences. What they all have in common, however, is that sometimes more, sometimes fewer hikers pass and use the huts every day. Some hikers do this because they want to be comfortable, others because they are in need or - without a hut - would be in need. Mutual consideration and respect should be a matter of course in such a confined space with several strangers from different cultures. In this context, Christoph liked to quote the famous philosopher Immanuel Kant: "Would I like all other people to act in the same way?" Here are three examples:Möchte ich, dass alle anderen Menschen auch so handeln?” Hier drei Beispiele:

• Do I want all the people to spread out their wet clothes and all their luggage in the hut and claim all the seats for themselves?
• Do I want everyone to scribble loudly early in the morning while others are still asleep?
• Do I want everyone who visits a mountain hut to burn the winter wood for emergencies in summer without being in need and turn the hut into a sauna?

All clear, right? 😉

Learning from Nature - Shoe Care

What the little plant can do so easily, my hiking boots can do too... But only after thorough and regular care.
Nature shows us how to do it:

In order for the water to roll off the leaves so nicely, it has to be as water-repellent as possible, for example with a thin layer of wax. A shoe wax is therefore part of my standard equipment on trekking tours. GoreTex membrane in the shoes or not ... how often have I had wet feet even with GoreTex (no, it wasn't sweat). A thin(!) layer of wax on the upper leather of trekking shoes provides additional protection and prevents the leather from becoming brittle. You can rub muddy shoes with a tuft of grass or juniper before waxing. Then apply the wax with your fingers to the cleaned / preferably dry shoes and massage it in gently. Then leave them in the sun for a while to allow the wax to soak in.

Tip: Shoe wax is also easy to make yourself from beeswax and a little wool grease. Without any additional chemicals, the shoe wax also ensures velvety soft hands on tour.

Culinary Highlights on the Trail - it doesn't always have to be bagged Food

Homemade Trekking Food

Quick, easy and convenient: this is how the outdoor industry advertises freeze-dried trekking food in bags at peppery prices. Just pour hot water on it and you've got a one-size-fits-all product that nobody really knows what's in it.

Until recently, I took exactly this kind of food with me on tour. Supplemented by other, cheaper instant noodles from the supermarket. Of course, I knew from other blogs that many hikers make their own trekking food. There are countless recipes on the internet. But somehow the spark just wouldn't ignite. I then acquired a taste for it during my training as a trekking guide. Christoph had brought some things for us to try: dried vegetables, fruit, meat, fish, and homemade pemmican. This was the first thing I made as a veggie variation for my trip to Greenland. My variation was not lightweight, but it was delicious and soooo filling! What was in it? Magarine, oat flakes, corn starch, chopped dried fruit, nuts, and honey.

For our Wilderness Guide training tour in Sweden, I dried a wide variety of ingredients, packed them in airtight containers and then mixed them together on tour as the mood took me. The tour cuisine was definitely not boring and monotonous. What was on the plate? There was, for example, dried sauerkraut or red cabbage with mashed potatoes and dried beef, pre-cooked red lentils with colorful vegetables, or, as a snack between meals, fruit leather made from a pureed mixture of apple sauce, peach, ginger, and lupin protein powder with pumpkin and sesame seeds, chia and psyllium seeds.

Picking Mushrooms and Berries

Almost every day we also had berries and mushrooms on our plates, deliciously sautéed with onions and garlic. In the wet August there were so many mushrooms growing in the birch forests that we no longer said "I'm going out to look for mushrooms" but rather "I'm going out to pick mushrooms". Birch mushrooms were the most common. But there were also porcini mushrooms and butter mushrooms.

Fishing

We also had fishing gear with us and had each bought a fishing license for seven days in Ammarnäs. But even with the license, fishing is not allowed in all waters. As we had changed our original route due to the weather, we didn't get to the planned fishing waters.

Getting wet at the End: over Hill and Dale with the Packraft

Last but not least, we inflate the packrafts on our last sunny day of our Wilderness Guide training. We put our paddles together, tie our rucksacks to the bow of our rubber boats and strap on our life jackets. Into the boat and off we go. But after a section where the Vindelälven flows wide and calm, the river changes its face. We get out of the boats, take a look at the rapids, and decide to tow the boats along the banks. We work our way along in sections, sometimes in the boat, sometimes on foot. Exactly as we had estimated before the tour using satellite images and existing maps. The white, foaming rapids were clearly visible on the Google Earth satellite images and I added a few details to our hiking map by hand on this basis.

Our day with the packraft on the wild river left a deep impression on me. Shortly afterward, I gave a talk on the subject of nature conservation and packrafting and also wrote a blog article on the subject. In May/June, an abridged version of my article will also be published in Kajak Magazine. You can find the long version "Nature Conservation on Tour – nature-friendly Packrafting" here.

Further Modules of the Wilderness Guide Training at the Guide Academy Europe

Crafts and Bushcraft

The training tour in Vindelfjäll was just one part of the Wilderness Guide training. Other modules I have completed include bushcraft, survival, handicrafts, and cabin life. There will be another article on this soon. But here is a little foretaste:

On the self-built (!) bench made of ash wood you can see forged pot hooks, blanks for knife blades, a forged arrowhead, two built knives, tinder, a carved bowl made of Swiss stone pine, flat bread, cakes from an improvised mold, smoked meat and Swiss stone pine schnapps (also homemade by Christoph, but not on this weekend) with improvised schnapps cups made of tea lights. In front of the bench, there is a self-made pack board with a pack sack (right) based on an old model with an old Romanian army rucksack (left), as well as prepared wood for tool handles and two can stoves. Not in the picture are our improvised kerosene lamp, our landing net, two tool handles and a self-made drill.

Wilderness Guide Course - Nothing of the Peg

I completed the newly developed Wilderness Guide course as a pilot course in solo training. This allowed me to prepare specifically for my planned year in the north and to practise and gain experience with all the tools and their handling with my own hands. In addition to the fixed modules such as Wilderness Basic Training, Emergency Training, First Aid or Canoe/Packraft, the Wilderness Guide training also includes some optional modules such as carpentry, old tools for camp, and hut or knife making. This means that everyone can deepen their Wilderness Guide training according to their own needs/interests. This distinguishes the Guide Academy training from all other wilderness guide training courses available on the market.

In 2025, GAE will be in its 10th year! The training potential is huge and there is something for everyone. With Christoph and a team of experienced freelancers, participants will get their money's worth. Christoph's outdoor experience, his technical training as a carpenter, his leadership skills learned in the mountain troops and as a mountain hiking guide, and his knowledge of human nature and helpfulness, which he also lives as an experienced social worker and educator, are complemented by craftsmanship and attention to detail. Christoph is characterized by thoroughness and a far-sighted approach, as well as his ability to conjure up something in an emergency in the blink of an eye with little equipment. I hope I'll be able to do the same in the future, whether on tour, at the husky farm or at home in the kitchen...:-)

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Recommendations for further Reading

Do you love long hikes as much as I do? Then you might also be interested in my articles about the Laugavegur in Iceland or about the The 9 most beautiful Hikes on the Isle of Skye.

Der Beitrag Wilderness Guide Training in Schweden mit der Guide Academy Europe erschien zuerst auf Fernweh-Motive.

In Kooperation mit Trekk’n Guide

The blister on my ring finger started to hurt. My living room was covered in a layer of fine birch dust and wood shavings were scattered around my apartment. After a long day of rasping, filing and sanding, I lay tired in bed. Wood shavings pricked my leg. It didn't matter, because my first self-made knife was lying next to my bed. Soon a second and a third knife were lying next to it. I wanted to know more about knife making, especially about the small details that kept tripping me up in terms of craftsmanship. In November 2023, I joined a knife-making course run by Trekk'n Guide. Christoph Maretzek, the founder of Trekk'n Guide, built his first knife back in 1982 in a scout group. Christoph can't say how many knives he has made in his life. But one thing is certain: every single one is unique and a reliable companion on tours.

I asked Christoph to write a guest article for Fernweh-Motive to take us into the world of traditional knife-making. By the way: Christoph is also the founder of the Guide Academy Europe, where I did my training as a trekking guide. That's when I saw his self-made knives for the first time.

Enjoy reading!

Guest article by Christoph Maretzek

Christmas Eve 2023, a small hut in the northern Black Forest.....

So now the car is standing still in front of the hut again. The year is coming to an end, the world is rumbling... what could be better than treating yourself to something good...? The tools and pieces of wood for a new knife are looking at me on the table. For days now, many ideas for a new piece have been running through my head and slowly forming into a picture. I've often been asked why I keep making a new knife when I can only use one? Well, because it simply brings satisfaction and relaxation, challenge and maximum concentration all in one. And just as some men have several wristwatches and some women have several pairs of shoes, as an old man of the woods I have several knives to choose from.

The creative part of knife making doesn't start with the tools, but always with an idea or many ideas. It is similar to a painting - it is first developed in the mind. The holiday soup from the can has now been eaten, the last Swedish crumb coffee from the summer has been boiled for the third time on the old stove and almost everything is as it should be on this day. The fat duck is gently simmering away in the old kitchen witch and can safely stay warm for another 2-3 hours. The roast for tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. Outside, the old beech and Douglas fir trees are bending in the strong gusts of wind. Contemplation, peace, and contentment with the opportunity to once again build a small knife here in the inner silence. And the best Christmas present is peace and quiet. Only the storm's roar outside makes me sit up and take notice. After all, an old hut like this is not a bunker with a concrete cap.... You have to listen carefully.

Here we go. As is so often the case when building a knife, my thoughts turn to the shape, form, material, and arrangement of the components, but after 10 minutes of faltering scribbling on the pad, I put everything aside, somewhat annoyed, and put it off until tomorrow. It's not really taking off tonight. My head is still too full. That can happen when you're working artistically....'s not a problem. But writing is already much easier for me! There's so much I could tell you about what I've done in almost 40 years of knife-making and what I might still do. There's no shortage of ideas 😊. So, let's whip out the electronic pen, rinse our throats with freshly prepared pine schnapps, and get going.
Doch das Schreiben geht mir schon deutlich leichter von der Hand! So vieles könnte ich berichten, was in nun fast 40 Jahren Messerbauen war und vielleicht noch sein wird. An Ideen mangelt es nicht 😊. Also, zücken wir mal die elektronische Feder, spülen den Rachen mit einem frisch angesetzten Zirbenschnäpslein und legen mit Schwung los.

Click here for Trekk'n Guide and the Guide Academy Europe (GAE).
The knife-making courses can be found here, current dates for 2024 will be coming soon.

Knife-Making - an ancient Craft

This usually makes the men's eyes glaze over. And only rarely do they voluntarily reach for the small blades. Somewhere in them, the value of a strong blade still seems to be anchored today. Or is it just boredom in the office and in front of the computer... hm. The dream of a great touring adventure... who knows for sure. Except that today nobody needs a short sword, cutlass or a long hunting dagger anymore. A 10 cm blade does the trick and is also compliant with the local weapons laws. The ladies are often a little more reserved and don't associate their knives with fighting, hunting or adventure. They often seem to me to enjoy the building itself rather than the prospect of sending their inner Jack London into the woods :-).

Knife-Making Courses with Children

Knife-making courses with children are different. All sorts of things are mixed together and the greatest adventure for the kids is to be able to do it themselves at the end. In our high-tech and increasingly virtual world, this is probably the greatest adventure for them! And anyone who says that children can't get involved in something for eight hours has either studied wrong or simply has no idea about kids and crafts!

The last knife-making course in snowy November this year once again clearly demonstrated this. If you instruct children properly, get them excited instead of just stuffing them with knowledge and forcing them to sit still, challenge them, and not bore them, then they create real little works of art. And their safe handling of sharp tools, well demonstrated and shown, exemplified and, if necessary, clearly enforced, is no problem at all. There are sometimes small cuts in their fingers...but they usually learn from them faster than many adults. Dozens of courses with youth and adult groups since 1983 have always been a feast for the senses and the eye. And many a time I was delighted when a former participant came to a camp years later and showed the good piece around.

1982...back to the Beginning: the first self-made Knife

Almost 40 years ago, we were sitting with Balu, an older scout leader, doing autumn crafts at the Handwerkerhof, a scout meeting place in Bauland near Mosbach, and were happy because we eight boys and girls had got one of the rare places on his knife-making course! Balu carefully unpacked the blades he had brought from Sweden and poured out a bag of pieces of wood, deer and reindeer antlers on the beer table set under the old walnut tree.

The quiet passion that gripped me that day will probably only leave me when there is no more steel for blades or when my fingers can no longer hold a tool due to gout:-). But that will certainly be a while yet. And I'm sure I'll get into trouble in the old people's home when I'm once again up at 2 a.m. at the kitchen table fiddling with tools and dusting everything with grinding dust and horn flour.

Magic Move...Timestep: Knife-making Course at the Outdoor Camp

First the Sketch

Almost 40 years later, I have the honor and pleasure of repeating the same magic on screwed-together beer table sets in November 2023. And now I'm the older one from back then. In 1982, just like today, everyone grabs a blade and the other components are quickly grabbed with nimble fingers. It was all very brisk, but peaceful. The restless anticipation was certainly in our eyes back then, just like my knife-making guests at the 2023 camp. Everyone turned their stuff back and forth in their hands and after just a few minutes, a 1:1 sketch was on paper.

Then the Tools

A few corrections here and there and everyone is already sitting at the small vices quickly screwed to the beer tables and starting to grind the slot for the tang into the front fit and some other components of the handle. My job is to immediately and reliably recognize where the user still has room for improvement in their craftsmanship. Similar to a shooting instructor on the range, the error must be quickly recognized and named in order to quickly and safely implement the correct handling of unfamiliar tools without any prior practice. A piece of horn or a drilled-out handle blank is quickly rendered useless if the tool is not handled correctly. The time factor is also important because a weekend at the winter hut also ties up time for chopping wood, firing the stove, pitching tents, cooking, and hut duty. A weekend is quite short. It has to run smoothly.

Only a rasp, fine saw, carving knife, hammer, and sandpaper are used in the knife-making course. That's all the equipment we need! There is a small power generator outside for support with a belt sander here and there, but the small craftsman's yard is actually at work here. As with the old Sami, whose style has inspired me for 40 years, we go about our work literally over the knee, i.e. without heavy equipment, just with our eyes and muscle power.

Knives...a Fascination, almost as old as Mankind

Even if today knives are regarded as weapons almost per se, Sami, or actually even Nordic knives as a whole were and are not weapons. They are not descended from cutlasses, bowie or sidearm. They are one of the most versatile small tools for outdoors and the ones we build have nothing in common with the pseudo-military style tusks from the relevant survival stores. However, this is something that needs to be communicated quite emphatically nowadays, because the media and hearsay have given everyone an "opinion", often without any idea. In Norway, Finland, and Sweden, knife-making is a traditional cultural asset that requires a great deal of judgment, patience, determination, knowledge of wood, tool mastery, and creativity. In some cases, the correct use of knives for outdoor activities is even taught at school.

Anyone who builds knives and concentrates for hours while doing so does so in the same way as a good mountain hiker. If too much wood breaks away, the beautifully shaped bow that has been created over hours of perseverance and persistence is ruined in the handle. And every time, this very flaw will catch the eye like the tiny, unsuccessful wallpaper corner in the living room, right in the corner of your eye above the TV....:-).

So the noisy world has to stay outside for a while for it to work. If it succeeds, and if the knife ends up being faithful and stable for decades, it is a pleasure to use it on tour every time. And perhaps to pass it on to a friend at the end of the tour. Well, as my touring life after 40 years will also have a foreseeable end in 10 or 20 years at the latest, I have already decided on the next owner for one or two of the knives I have built.

For my old sergeant comrades from the mountain troops, with whom I enjoyed serving for a very long time, I have been making small knives for two years as a thank you and a timely farewell. We are still in contact, but we only see each other very rarely. I have many of the boys and girls in my heart and a little knife seemed like a fitting gift and thank you. Because loyal sergeant comrades on the mountain are like good knives in a rucksack... they don't grow on trees and the relationships grow like the knife under your own hands. It is up to the adults to set an example and, if necessary, to address this. When the war started, I spontaneously made and sent one to the President of Ukraine... with the wish that he and his compatriots would soon be able to go hiking and fishing in peace again.

For me, all of this is part of knife making. After all, a knife is a skillfully crafted, elegant and beautifully shaped tool that is only used as a tool. As a gift, it can be a highly personalized object that is tailored to finger length, left- or right-handedness, intended use, personal preferences and hand diameter, for example.

The Sami Knife

The Knife Blades

Traditionally, Sami knives were and are made from simple, high-carbon blades. They are not highly refined and can therefore be easily resharpened on any stone or ceramic cup. They are available polished or scaled. Like the handle, they develop a patina over the years and are either rust-resistant or only rust-resistant. Many people in the country reflexively buy a stainless steel blade...but are almost never able to sharpen or keep it sharp themselves.

In combination with an aging handle, which becomes more and more beautiful through sweat and dust, grease, and wax, the aging carbon blade is no harm! Quite the opposite, because it is the matching counterpart, and only as a whole does the living unit please the eye of the beholder. Who hasn't seen it before? A beautiful, old, well-maintained, and darkened leather is appealing. And so the knife sheath also becomes part of the whole. It is not for nothing that Sami knife making is considered a high school of craftsmanship throughout northern Sweden.

Purchased, self-searched or self-made

Today, we use blades made in large quantities in Sweden, Norway and Finland. In 1982, there were no knife makers as we know them today, nor were there any dealers who stocked Swedish blades. You had to buy them in the country and bring them home, just like the reindeer antlers, which you had to look for yourself in the fjäll and then carry with you in your backpack, which got heavier and heavier every day. Birch tubers were easily cut from the tree and dried at home for 2-3 years. Today, everything can be bought and the laws have changed. But for my own knives, I still use the long treks in the north or in local forests to look for beautiful things and prepare them myself. Within the framework of today's laws and the sometimes changed views.

I buy some parts such as blades or finishes for the knife-making courses, and sometimes also very beautiful pieces of curly birch. But more and more I am returning to my own origins. I collect the wood on extended tours and more and more often I make my own blades from old files or grind old blades. And more and more often I try my hand at forging small blades because there is something magical about shaping a blade from an old stonemason's pestle and hardening it yourself using simple means. And year after year it gets better, because even today it's trial and error, try again, and even today only constant practice makes perfect. Sometimes I give them to a professional company for hardening if my gut tells me to. Sometimes I give them to a professional company for hardening if my gut tells me to.

The Materials for Knife-Making in the Sami Style

Handles and sheaths were and are traditionally made of reindeer antler, elk antler or bone, mixed with brass and silver fittings, combined with birch/willow or alder wood. Today, with the possibilities much finer than the beautiful old pieces that can be seen in some huts or museums, completely different woods are also used in the north. Some of the most beautiful old pieces can be admired in the Samimuseeum "Aitje" in Jokkmokk . The eyes of anyone interested in handicrafts will be wide open. What the guys were able to build without workshops, in the evenings by the fire in their lavvus and kotas, is simply enchanting. Attempts to do the same have certainly been successful. Even without a workshop, you can do a lot if you have practiced it often enough with full equipment beforehand. then the hand movements are right and you can come up with something without a lot of tools.

Gluing or Clamping

In those days, the old knife makers did not yet have epoxy resin, machines, or numerous tools. Their main tool was usually another knife. And in Lapland, not all knives are the same! Many Sami had several knives hanging on their belt at the same time, as each had its own purpose. They made their own glue: Natural resin, mixed with grated charcoal, fine fibers, and wax, made a stable and durable glue in the right proportions. Sometimes also simple, boiled birch pitch with sawdust or fibers. However, the absorption of the large forces in the handle was usually ensured by end rivets and a very tight construction. Large-scale pouring, or rather rough smearing with synthetic resin, as shown in some YouTube videos... that didn't exist. And those of us who are guided by this craftsmanship today use as little synthetic glue as possible. The old role models always spur me on.

Even the ancient Sami, other peoples living in the north, such as the Nenets or Siberian ethnic groups and the ancient Vikings knew about the art of making a knife from birch bark slices and attaching it without any glue! This can also be done with other bark, but it is a lot of work and requires some experience. Except for Mareike, the owner of the blog "Fernweh-Motive". With her solid technical training and experience, her keen eye, and a real feel for her fingers, she has been conjuring up enchanting pieces for a year now. In a quality that took me years of practice without any instruction! She now benefits from some guidance and she is a real natural.... with leather as well as wood and metal.

Building simple Knives yourself

About "simple Craftsmanship" and following the Rules

"Simple" is often all too quickly seen as "cheap" or not so artistic, especially by young participants with no craft experience and often blessed with more theoretical knowledge than practical skills. They also often question tried-and-tested craft techniques without hesitation or carelessly reject necessary usage specifications for materials and tools. With a view to safety and correctness, it is sometimes necessary to draw boundaries and, as an instructor, convey that "simple craftsmanship" is largely based on adherence to rules in addition to creativity. And that "simple" refers more to the equipment than to the processes, hand movements, and the result. Building a knife that lasts outside is not exactly easy or simple. Otherwise, a tool will quickly get stuck in your finger. And building it in such a way that it is not sent Amazon style "ordered today, delivered yesterday", can also grow step by step. This is a real collision with today's world.

However, after 10 hours of honest manual work, this initial misjudgment usually disappears quite quickly. It is quite "simple". If you stretch your aching hands and tense back, you can feel it "in your bones". And there is no better barometer. Don't get your expectations too high at the beginning, because even if clips promise "you can do anything", it's not like that. Someone making their first knife should be guided by their own ideas, not by the skills acquired by the instructor through countless sample knives. Something like this has to grow continuously. You can quickly learn the basics for your own knife with good instruction. For the rest, you need your own eyes, ideas and growing dexterity. Step by step and sometimes with failure. With time and perseverance, you'll get there. Practice makes perfect and cannot be learned at the weekend. Rare exceptions like Mareike only confirm the rule... 😊
Man hänge am Anfang den eigenen Apfel der Erwartung nicht zu hoch, denn auch wenn Clips „du kannst alles“ versprechen, ist es so nicht. Jemand, der sein erstes Messer macht, sollte sich an seinen eigenen Ideen, nicht an den durch unzählige Übungsmesser erworbenen Fähigkeiten des Anleiters orientieren. Denn der hat ja erheblichen Vorsprung und das holt man nicht eben auf. So was muss kontinuierlich wachsen. Die Grundlagen als Basis für das eigene Messer lernt man schnell bei guter Anleitung. Für den Rest sind dann die eigenen Augen, Ideen und wachsende Fingerfertigkeiten nötig. Schritt für Schritt und auch mal mit Misserfolg. Mit Zeit und Ausdauer wird es was. Übung macht den Meister und ist nicht mal eben am Wochenende erlernbar. Seltene Ausnahmen wie Mareike bestätigen nur die Regel…😊

Sanding and oiling

And when this first knife slowly takes shape under a rasp and file, when it is oiled for the first time after being sanded with fine sandpaper, it comes to life. The heat from polishing opens the pores and the oil penetrates deep into the wood. The different dense wood structures absorb the oil differently and become lighter or darker in color. We call this "firing up". When the group then comes together and enjoys the afternoon they have spent together with so much effort, praising each other and sharing in the joy of the other builder's knife, then it is time for me as the instructor to step back for a moment and let them get on with it. They have truly earned it.

How often have I enjoyed seeing the participants' eyes sparkle with joy in these moments. That joy when we fired the new knife together for the first time with linseed oil and beeswax, when all the depths and inclusions in the wood were suddenly emphasized. That's when I calm down a bit too. THAT is MY reward.

The participants are rightly proud and in a short time I have taught them to make something really beautiful for themselves and with their own hands. To most inexperienced observers, it looks easy. But simultaneously "co-constructing" several knives in the making with the eye and the head, usually with strangers, demands all the senses and binds the attention for hours. As an instructor, you have to recognize the possibilities of the wood, as well as the conceivable shapes and combinations, and also tease out what the participant has in mind. This doesn't always work straight away and some young people need to be shown the value of life experience and craftsmanship rather than simply learned knowledge. This calls for pedagogical skills and verbal acrobatics as well as the ability to vigorously prevent an eager neighbor from making a mistake out of the corner of your eye, while a third person tries to interject with a question without any polite restraint. It's a balancing act that lasts for hours and by the end of the day, you're really exhausted. Pride would be the wrong word for me...it's more of a deep, calm satisfaction.

Knife-making Courses at the Outdoorcamp with old Craft Techniques

The Workshop at the Hut Table

Our specialty. And not everyone can do it. Building a knife outside or sitting by the fire in the evening is what the ancients used to do. They didn't have a workshop and they hardly had any proper tools. It was in their fingers, in their eyes, in their backs, sitting there and building and chatting by the fire is a unique experience even today. The hut table is also a substitute. Back then, nobody had the possibilities we have today. And yet - voluntarily reducing yourself to the essentials and daring to do it with your own strength is the modern adventure of building knives using old techniques. When the wind rustles outside the hut, the stove crackles and you spend hours using pure muscle and mental strength to build a knife that will easily last two to three generations if set up correctly and treated well. THAT is what fascinates us about it.

The leather knife pouch rounds it off and every time you're out fishing or even just carving or slicing bread, the faithful piece grips and cuts cleanly, bringing all the hard work back to life. So it's no wonder that you don't wear it out and let it rot away in the corner of the cellar.

Old Craftsmanship and new Perspectives

In a modern age like ours, living craftsmanship has become a rare, valuable commodity and a real asset. There is no app for it and anyone who has painstakingly built their own knife is more likely to show other craftspeople the respect they deserve than someone who just buys and consumes. They know what craftsmanship is from their own experience. It is honest and authentic, so full of attention to detail. It is a real art and an expression of his own creativity. And unlike the knives of today's Sami masters, who have to follow the very strict rules of their craft chambers in order to be allowed to sell them as Sami art, we are not bound by them.

We can build and shape the knife as we please and yet we are emulating the Sami tradition in the way we make it. By the way, the Sami just shake their heads at the nonsensical German nonsense about "cultural appropriation". If you don't call it a Sami knife and make it clear that you are honoring their millennia-old culture as an indigenous people who have been oppressed for so long, then you will certainly receive recognition for good craftsmanship. And so we honor the ancient knife makers of the Sami, who for so many centuries ensured the lives of their own with their artistry and craftsmanship. Because without a good knife, life in the Nordic wilderness was simply not possible... even today!

This year, we will once again be building knives in small groups and, if necessary, we will be happy to pack up the outdoor school mobile and come to your group. Click here for the knife-making courses at Trekk'n Guide. In the three-day courses, you not only make your own knife, but also learn a lot about handling simple tools and working with different materials.

Recommendations for further Reading

Do you want to plan your next trekking tour where you will use your self-made knife for the first time? Then take a look at my articles about the Laugavegur in Iceland or the Harz Witches' Trail. .

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Der Beitrag Messerbaukurs – Handwerk nach Vorbild der Sami bei Trekk’n Guide erschien zuerst auf Fernweh-Motive.

In cooperation with SportFits. SportFits.

How can recycled PET bottles be so soft? Nordisk demonstrates it with the Norguard Eco synthetic filling in the Oscar -2 sleeping bag. At just 940 grams, the 100% recycled fiber sleeping bag is a lightweight 3-season sleeping bag with a comfort temperature in the low single digits. But is the very thin and tightly cut three-season sleeping bag functional and warm enough?

I was on tour with the Oscar -2. First, it went two weeks through the mountains of the Lofoten and then two weeks over the Kungsleden in Sweden. In July and August, the night temperatures here were between 12° and 4° Celsius. And because the sleeping bag is always only a part of the heat insulation and sleeping comfort: for this I use the NeoAir sleeping pad from Therm-a-rest and a 3-season tent.

Why did I choose the Oscar -2 from Nordisk?

It should be light, sustainable, and in any case with synthetic filling. On my tours, the backpack easily weighs between 23 and 26 kilograms. So I'm happy about every gram I can save. Usually, down sleeping bags are always a nose ahead of synthetic fiber sleeping bags in terms of weight. But if you like to travel in rainy regions like I do, you'll appreciate the synthetic fibers that are insensitive to moisture. I was also specifically looking for a three-year sleeping bag that didn't have to be quite so warm. The 4° Celsius in the comfort range should be enough. And if it should be colder on tour, then an additional silk ticking is used. And for the even colder tours, the winter sleeping bag is at home on the shelf.

My first Impression of the Sleeping Bag

When I unpacked it, I immediately noticed how wonderfully soft the material was. Especially on the inside, the sleeping bag is so soft that I was afraid I would break it just by touching it.

The outer and inner material is made of the ultra-fine Nortech Style S-NY 7D fabric. The micro ripstop construction makes it tough and durable. On the outside, the sleeping bag is protected by a DWR coating so moisture can't get in. In fact, I never had any problems with moisture. Condensation that condensed on the sleeping bag due to my breathing I could simply wipe off and there was no soaking of the material.

Nach vier Wochen Einsatz ist der Oscar  immer noch fast wie neu. Aber eben nur fast: außen gibt es trotz sorgsamer Benutzung leichte Abnutzungsspuren.

Fit and Comfort of the Nordisk Oscar -2

In addition to the material, the shape of a sleeping bag is crucial for its weight, thermal performance, and sleeping comfort. Thus, a sleeping bag with a mummy cut is usually warmer and lighter than one with an egg shape. With the "Curved" cut, Nordisk goes one step further. This shape is described by Nordisk as the "optimal balance between insulation and space". There is no unnecessary empty space that needs to be heated. For me, as a slimly built person, this cut also provides enough space to still carry a ticking as well as my camera batteries and cell phone in the sleeping bag. There is even a small internal pocket in the chest area for batteries or other small stuff. I was also able to comfortably turn from one side to the other in the completely closed sleeping bag. But for one or the other the curved cut may be too tight.

The cords of the hood and the thermal protection collar can be easily operated from the inside. Likewise the 2-way zipper. What I found very helpful was that the construction of the zipper avoids accidentally opening it too wide and then having to fumble the two sides of the zipper back together laboriously, or even in the dark, while you slowly but surely cool down.

In addition to the side two-way zipper, there is another zipper on the right shoulder and one on the shark fin foot area. These can be used for thermoregulation and also allow the use of both arms even with the sleeping bag pulled up, for example for breakfast coffee in the sleeping bag.

Thermal Performance

The Oscar -2 is a 3-season sleeping bag with a comfort temperature of up to + 4°Celsius and a limit temperature of -2 Celsius (tested according to European standard EN 13537). The insulation is made from 100% recycled PET bottles, which was a contributing factor in my selection. The hollow fibers of the Norguard Eco filling and the two-layer H-chamber construction ensure not only good thermal performance but also optimal moisture transport and a comfortable interior climate. But does Oscar deliver what it promises?

During my two tours in Norway and in Sweden, the nightly temperatures were between 12° and 4° Celsius. During the cold nights, it was not only cold but also damp and the wind blew through the mesh fabric of my tent. With a T-shirt and shorts, the sleeping bag was too cold for me on those nights. A tightly pulled thermal protection collar and the hood, which left only my nose free, helped. However, the warmth gained was not enough for me. Only my silk sleeping bag ticking and a Merino long sleeve drove away the chill and I could snuggle up relaxed again.

Overall Conclusion on the 3-season Sleeping Bag Oscar -2 from Nordisk

The Oscar -2 from Nordisk really kept me amazingly warm with its thin synthetic fill and was very comfortable for me to sleep in.

However, at temperatures around the comfort range of 4° Celsius, I found it not warm enough and used an additional silk ticking. For tours in, for example, northern Scandinavia, far from sheltering infrastructure, I can therefore only recommend it with an additional ticking, bivy sack, warm sleeping clothes, or bed bottle with hot water. In these areas, temperatures can quickly be in the low single digits even in summer. Combined with wetness, wind, or even physical exhaustion, you would otherwise have no more thermal reserves.

Together with the lightweight and small pack size, the Nordisk Oscar -2 definitely competes with down sleeping bags. For those who are looking for a warm, lightweight sleeping bag and want to go without down and rely on recycled material that is insensitive to moisture, the Oscar -2 is a good choice.

Note: This review was written in cooperation with SportFits. My test verdict was not influenced by this.

Do you have any experience with the Oscar -2 from Nordisk on your trips? What is your favorite sleeping bag? I look forward to your comments!

Want to know when there are new articles on my blog? Then follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram. I am also very happy if you share my article with your friends.

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Recommendations for further Reading

Do you love trekking tours and long hikes as much as I do? Then you might also be interested in my articles about the Laugavegur in Iceland or about the The 9 most beautiful Hikes on the Isle of Skye.

Der Beitrag PET-Flaschen zum Kuscheln! Schlafsack Oscar -2 von Nordisk im Test erschien zuerst auf Fernweh-Motive.

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You have collected beautiful memories on your travels that you will never forget? Now you want to keep them physically, show them to your friends or hang them in your living room? Then read on, as I have a few tips for you on how you can easily do this with your own fridge magnets or a poster print. It's a great way to bring your memories back to life.

Digital Pictures to touch

Nowadays, it's easy to take high-resolution photos of great experiences with your smartphone. You don't even need an expensive camera to take them. But most of the pictures end up as a digital data package somewhere in the depths of your phone memory or disappear into the vastness of the cloud. That's far too sad! After all, the photos from your last trip, the trip you've been looking forward to for months beforehand, deserve to be showcased. That' s why I've got five tips for you on how to make your experiences tangible in the future.

Tip 1: Photo Calendar

You have already collected a lot of pictures from different vacations, longer trips and excursions that you would like to remember? Then a photo calendar is the classic way to show off your photos.Either for your own four walls or as a gift. It's best to choose photos that match the season. For example, pictures of your last winter vacation or the icy landscapes of Antarctica are perfect for the months of January and February. On the other hand, a romantic shot of a local cherry blossom is perfect for spring. Just browse through your collected pictures. There is guaranteed to be a suitable image for every month.)

Maybe you decide for a perpetual photo calendar, where no weekdays are assigned. You can use it every year again. This is sustainable, saves money and you will enjoy it for a long time.

Tip 2: Have a Photo printed as a Poster

You have a really nice picture that you like to look at again and again? Then it's time to bring out your favorite picture in a big way: as a poster print with or without a frame, as a print on aluminum or behind acrylic glass for an elegant look. There is something for every taste. And such a large landscape panorama in landscape format looks great above the sideboard or the sofa. When printing your posters, you also have a wide range of photo papers and formats to choose from, giving you endless options for decorating your four walls.

You are not yet completely satisfied with your photos? Then a photo workshop, such as this one in the Harz Mountains, would be a great idea. There you will learn everything about technique, cropping and co. and your pictures will quickly look really professional. Just look at the internet, there you will definitely find great photo workshops near you.

Extra tip for Vanlife:
Your living room is on four wheels?
How about printing a poster for your van?
It looks great and makes it even more comfortable.

Tip 3: Photo Book

What could be better than a complete photo book from a special trip? Keep a record of your hiking tour through Scandinavia or your stay in the Harz mountains in a dedicated book that you can take out and leaf through again and again. For big trips, there are also more voluminous books, while small excursions can be captured wonderfully in a mini photo book . I particularly like DIN A4 in landscape format, because you can print a landscape panorama over a whole double page. You can design the inside according to your wishes. Many providers offer online editors that are intuitive to use and where you can save your work in your account. So you don't need any experience in image design or special software. Often you can choose between an automatic and a manual layout and arrange the images accordingly on the page.

Tip 4: Photo Magnets

You can find a selection of photo magnets in almost every souvenir store. Unfortunately, many of them don't look very appealing. How about making your own magnets? You can then use your best travel photos to individually decorate your refrigerator or attach your notes to a magnetic board.The small magnets are usually available in several sizes. They can also be used to create photo collages. This is perfect if you have a series of photos in the same style.

Extra tip for deco fans:
You love to decorate your home according to the seasons?
Then maybe a set of "winter magnets", a set of "spring magnets" etc. would be something for you.

Magnets are especially good if there is no more room for big posters in your apartment. This way you can preserve the most beautiful photos of your experiences on photo magnets in a very space-saving way.

Tip 5: Photo Puzzle for your Kids

Do you have kids? Are the little ones involved in your adventures? Then a photo puzzle could also be the perfect choice for immortalizing your experiences. The puzzles can be printed with different numbers of pieces, so you can choose the appropriate level of difficulty for your child. On boring rainy afternoons, these puzzles can work wonders. Just get your very own photo puzzle out of the closet and put it together with the kids. At the end, as soon as the motif becomes recognizable, you can reminisce together and remember this special day. By the way, the puzzle trains your child's logical thinking and short-term memory.

Is there something in it for you? Then it's your turn. Have fun looking through your photo collection and enjoy designing and printing your posters and calendars. Do you have any questions about my article? Then just write me a comment.

Do you want to know when there are new articles on my blog? Then follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram. I would also be very happy if you share my article with your friends.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Recommendations for further Reading

Do you love photography as much as I do? Then you might also be interested in my articles with photo tips for great penguin photos or my tips on how to best photograph the picturesque Mono Lake in California.

Der Beitrag Erinnerungen und Erlebnisse verewigen – 5 Tipps für eure schönsten Fotos erschien zuerst auf Fernweh-Motive.

Non-solicited, unpaid advertising. This article contains affiliate links*, marked with an asterisk.

Note: The films are available in German and English. However, I have only linked to the English-language trailer on YouTube in each case. I watched the movies either on YouTube, Amazon Prime or Netflix. Please check the channel of your choice for availability.

#1 Big Miracle – USA, 2012

Rescue of whales trapped in the ice.

In 1988, the small village of Point Barrow is all over the news. That's because a family of California gray whales is trapped in the ice, their access to the open sea cut off. The three animals survive only as long as the only remaining breathing hole does not freeze over. Animal rights activists, whalers, the National Guard, politicians, the U.S. President, onlookers and oil industry representatives end up working together to try to save the whales. Who will make it in the end? The Russians with their gigantic icebreaker and a captain who will stop at nothing.

Click here for the movie trailer on YouTube.

Conclusion: A really beautiful and touching polar film to cheer along.

By the way, the film is based on a true story, which is described in the book Freeing the Whales* as Operation Breakthrough.

#2 Arctic – Iceland, 2018

Survival thriller following a plane crash in the Arctic.

Arctic is a 2018 Icelandic survival thriller from director Joe Penna. Set in a remote, Arctic area, it is about pilot Overgård who is the only survivor of a plane crash. Day after day, he tries to summon rescue by radio signal. The wreckage of the plane provides him with shelter and he feeds on raw fish, which he catches in a nearby lake. When the rescue helicopter finally arrives, everything gets worse and a fight for survival begins. Not only for his own survival, but also for that of the co-pilot, who is the only one to survive the helicopter crash in the storm. On a sled, Overgård pulls the badly injured woman through a hostile landscape of polar bears, storms, frostbite and crashes. Do they make it? I won't tell you here - watch it!

Click here for the movie trailer on YouTube.

Conclusion: Pure goosebumps!

#3 Orca the Killerwhale – USA, 1977

A bull orca whose pregnant mate has been murdered by whalers takes revenge.

Orca the Killer Whale is a US animal horror film with cult status. Canadian whaler Captain Nolan wants to catch an orca for an aquarium. But this goes wrong. He harpoons a pregnant female and pulls her aboard. While hanging upside down from the crane, she loses her calf. This all happens before the eyes of the orca bull. He memorizes the whalers' faces and a vendetta against the boat crew ensues. Captain Nolan is forced to take his boat out and face the battle with the whale. He is accompanied by, among others, the sympathetic whale researcher Rachel. They follow the whale up from Newfoundland to the pack ice, where the whale sinks the ship. The final battle between Nolan and the orca is fought out in the ice and water. Only Rachel survives and is rescued by a previously called helicopter.

Click here for the movie trailer on YouTube.

Conclusion: My absolute favorite polar movie. I don't know how many times I have watched it. Somehow this must have had a strong influence on me: the first car I bought was a green Series 2 Land Rover - exactly like the one the whale researcher drives in the movie.

#4 The red Tent – Soviet Union, Italy, 1969

Prominent adventure film with Sean Connery, Claudia Cardinale, Hardy Krüger and Peter Finch.

Italian Umberto Nobile sets out for the North Pole in the airship Italia in May 1928. Adverse weather conditions, however, make a landing at the North Pole impossible. On the return flight to Spitsbergen, the airship becomes increasingly difficult to steer due to increasing icing and finally crashes. The survivors find shelter in a tent, which they paint red. The subsequent rescue operation turns out to be difficult. Thus, the polar explorer Roald Amundsen has an accident himself during the search and the icebreaker sent by the Russians is stuck in the ice. When the pilot Lundborg finds the victims, he persuades the injured Nobile to be the first to be flown out. However, the rescue of the other team members is then delayed due to weather conditions. From then on, Nobile is plagued by a guilty conscience. Nightmares haunt him night after night in which he discusses the question of guilt with the other participants.

Conclusion: A thrilling adventure film based on real facts.

Click here for the movie trailer on YouTube.

Are you cold? Find warm fleece sweaters, down jackets and gloves at Bergzeit*.

#5 Eight Below – USA, 2006

Walt Disney film about the survival story of a group of sled dogs left behind in Antarctica.

The crew of the small US research station in Antarctica is already preparing to return home. It' s the end of the season. But one last mission remains to be accomplished: Jerry Shepard is to assist professor Dr. Davis McClaren in his search for a meteorite from Mercury. With the sled dog team the two set off to Mount Melbourne and find the meteorite. Then the weather changes and the professor collapses in the ice. With the help of the brave dogs and their super sense of direction they make it back to the station. Because of the rising storm front the crew is to be flown out immediately. But there is no more room for the dogs in the plane, they have to stay behind. Jerry tries to get his dogs back - unsuccessfully. Only several months later he makes it back to the station. What happened to the dogs? Just watch it!

Click here for the movie trailer on YouTube.

Conclusion: A really nice polar movie, which I have already watched several times. And again and again I have tears in my eyes at the end.

You also want to go dog sledding? Click here to read my article about a Dog Sledding in Greenland.

#6 Encounters at the End of the World – Canada, USA, Germany, 2007

Documentary by Werner Herzog about people and places in Antarctica.

Werner Herzog's films are always something special. So is this one. Herzog and the Austrian cameraman Zeitlinger travel to Antarctica. There, at the end of the world, they meet people and tell their stories. What connects them to this place and how did they get here? The journey begins at the American McMurdo Station and continues via Ernest Shackleton's station to the South Pole and Mount Erebus. What drove Werner Herzog here himself? The underwater footage of divers: ice from below and life under the ice. Have you ever heard seals under water? In the film you have the opportunity – it sounds like an encounter on another planet.

Click here for the movie trailer on YouTube.

Conclusion: A very personal and endearing documentary about the people of Antarctica. At the end you ask yourself why you don't work there yourself.

You want more Antarctica? Then have a look at my Antarctica Articles.

#7 Nanook of the North – USA, 1922

Documentary from the silent film era.

The film follows the Inuit Nanuk and his family over several weeks. Nanuk lives with his family as a nomad in the Canadian Arctic. Together with his two wives Nyla and Cunayou, his son Allee, the baby Rainbow and the sled dogs he fights daily for survival. The daily life of the Inuit family is shown, including seal and walrus hunting, fishing, igloo building and fur trading. The care of the children and care of the sled dogs are also vividly documented. In addition to the beauty of nature, the harshness of Arctic life is also shown as the family's lives are put in danger during a sudden snowstorm.

Conclusion: For all who want to know how the daily life of the Inuit was in the twenties.

Click here for the whole movie on YouTube.

#8 Never Cry Wolf – USA, 1983

Nature film by Walt Disney, based on the autobiographical novel "Never Cry Wolf" (1963) by Canadian biologist and writer Farley Mowat.

After the plane takes off again, young biologist Tyler finds himself alone on an icy lake. Poorly equipped and inexperienced, surrounded by the white expanse of the Arctic tundra. On behalf of the government, he is to investigate the decline of the caribou population. The suspects are wolves, about which many horror stories are circulating.

After a while and with the help of an old Inuit, Tyler slowly finds his way around. Only he doesn't find any caribou. Instead, he explores a wolf pack and builds a respectful bond with the alpha pair. When the caribou herd finally arrives, he watches as the wolves chase the caribou and snatch an animal. After the fact, Tyler realizes that it was a sick animal. Might it be the hunting tourists who are behind the caribou kill after all? After this realization, and after an Inuit hunter kills "his" pair of wolves and three cubs are orphaned, Tyler's world collapses.

Click here for the movie trailer on YouTube.

Summary: The film shows the nature of the arctic tundra in wonderful pictures. A lot of wildlife, Inuit culture and a young man who turns from a fearful scientist into a nature lad and wolf lover.

#9 The Thing 2 – USA, Canada, 2011

Horror and science fiction film with woman power and shape shifter.

Norwegian scientists find a crashed spaceship and a creature trapped in the ice in Antarctica. Both are estimated to be 100,000 years old. They bring the block of ice containing the creature to their station and flown-in paleontologist Kate begins to study it. Elated by their spectacular find, the team celebrates the evening exuberantly. But they are abruptly interrupted. Because the extraterrestrial being is still alive. It frees itself from the ice block and kills the scientists. One after the other. To do this, the being transforms into the shape of the scientists as soon as it touches them. No one can distinguish anymore who is human or monster. Only inorganic material cannot transform the creature - a small detail that saves Kate's life in the end. She is the only one to survive the monster's attacks, but now finds herself alone in an icy desert.

The film tells the prequel to John Carpenter's The Thing from 1982, which was itself a remake of Christian Nyby's 1951 classic.

Click here for the movie trailer on YouTube.

Conclusion: A bit too much horror and a very unattractive creature. But great that in the film a woman is the smartest of them all.

#10 The Thing – USA, 1982

Horror and science fiction film for the hard-bitten.

It picks up where the 2011 film ends: a man tries to shoot a fleeing dog from a flying helicopter. When they reach an American research station, everything goes haywire: the helicopter explodes, the crazed shooting Norwegian is shot by the Americans themselves, and the dog is put in the kennel with the other dogs. There he then shows his true colors and kills the other dogs. Using a flamethrower, the Americans kill the creature - or so they think.

To understand the events, two of them fly to the Norwegian station. They find it almost completely destroyed. With the help of the Norwegians' records, the Americans find out what they are dealing with. The alien being is a shape-shifter that was trapped in the ice after its spaceship crashed about 100,000 years ago. After physical contact, the being can take on the form of the person in question. No one can distinguish who is human or monster anymore, they all distrust each other. There is only one thing they agree on: they must prevent the alien being from leaving the station and threatening all of humanity at all costs.

Click here for the movie trailer on YouTube.

Conclusion: You have to like horror movies...

#11 Smilla’s Sense of Snow – Denmark, Germany, Sweden, 1997

A meteorite crashed in Greenland and a suspected accident involving an Inuit boy awaken the detective in a reclusive scientist.

Smilla Jaspersen liked her neighbor, the little Greenlandic boy Isaiah. She didn't think he fell off the roof while playing. Because his footprints in the snow, in her eyes, rather indicate an escape. The scientist investigates. Her search leads her to the Greenland Mining company and finally to a research ship and Greenland. In the meantime, she experiences many dicey situations and only narrowly escapes a bomb attack. In the end she finds out the truth in Greenland and realizes the connection between the meteorite that crashed in 1859 and the death of the boy.

Click here for the movie trailer on YouTube.

Conclusion: An exciting thriller that takes us from Copenhagen to Kiruna and Greenland.

#12 Antarctica: Ice and Sky – Germany, 2015

Portrait of glaciologist Claude Lorius and plea for climate protection.

In this documentary by Luc Jacquet, we accompany French explorer Claude Lorius into the endless snow and ice landscapes of Antarctica. Lorius sets out in 1957 to study the ice masses of Antarctica.

He discovered that the air bubbles trapped in the ice provided information about the climate of past times. His work made it possible for the first time to trace climate history back 800,000 years. The insights gained into climate change are groundbreaking and proof of man-made global warming, the consequences of which Lorius warns of as early as 1965.

Click here for the movie trailer on YouTube.

Conclusion: A documentary worth seeing, which shows not only the beauty of Antarctica, but also its fragility.

#13 Glory & Honor – USA, 1998

The biographical feature film tells the story of the expeditions of Robert Edwin Peary and Matthew Henson.

At the end of the nineteenth century, the American Robert Edwin Peary set himself the goal of planting America's flag in the North Pole.

During his first exploratory voyage to Greenland in 1891, Peary is accompanied by his assistant Matthew Henson, among others. The Inuit recognize the black Henson as a kidnapped cousin. They outfit him with polar clothing and teach him their language and how to use dog sleds. This gives him a clear advantage during the rest of the expedition.

On the second expedition, Matthew Henson has risen to full expedition member and is an important link between the explorers and the Inuit. But both advances to the Pole fail and Peary loses eight of his toes to frostbite.

The Third Expedition in 1908-1909 is better equipped: with Inuit fur clothing, dog sleds and igloos, the advance to the Pole is finally to succeed. (Note: It is still disputed whether Peary actually reached the North Pole).

Click here for the whole film on YouTube.

Conclusion: For everyone who is interested in the early polar expeditions and the relationship between the explorers and the Inuit, this is a great polar film.

Are your eyes now square from watching so many movies? Then how about a book? In my article Polar Literature - Book Tips on the Arctic and Antarctic you will surely find what you are looking for. Have a look right now!

Here are a few books* as a foretaste:

There are many more great polar movies, especially documentaries. A second article with more great Arctic and Antarctic films will follow. What is your favorite film? I would love to add it to my list. Which is your favorite movie? Ich würde ihn gerne in meiner Liste ergänzen.

Do you want to know when there are new articles on my blog? Then follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram. I would also be very happy if you share my article with your friends.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Recommendations for further Reading

Do you love the polar regions as much as I do? Then check out my articles about Antarctica and a Winter Tour in Greenland .

Der Beitrag Filmtipps! Die 13 besten Polarfilme erschien zuerst auf Fernweh-Motive.

Unassigned, unpaid advertising. The article contains affiliate links.

Help! Midge Attack!!!
Who are these Pests? A few Facts
When is the Season for Mosquitoes in Scotland?
Where are the most Midges in Scotland?
When are Midges most active?
What Weather do Midges like?
The Scottish midges Forecast
What helps against Midges?
Tips for Camping in Midge Land

Help! Midge Attack!!!

I pull my mosquito net over my head and take a last deep breath. Then I open the zipper and force myself through the tent flap into the swarm. After only 10 seconds I am covered from top to bottom by midges. There must be thousands. Some of them have found a way into my mosquito net. I curse and pull the stakes out of the ground. We have never taken down our tent as fast as this morning. We gather everything up. Bad that our car is standing so far away. Heavily loaded we run off. I gasp for air and breathe in midges... That day we became heroes before our morning coffee - driven by the worst midge attack we have experienced during our road trip in Scotland.

Who are these Pests? A few Facts

There are about 37 species of mosquitoes in Scotland. Five of them have also taken a liking to human blood. The species Culicoides Impunctatus - the so-called Highland Midge - is the most notorious of all. It usually feeds on the blood of cattle, sheep and deer. Where many animals live, mosquitoes are also to be expected. They can locate their prey at a distance of up to 200 m. Carbon dioxide serves the exact localization. If the midge remains undisturbed, it sucks about 2 µl of blood in 3-4 minutes.

When is the Season for Mosquitoes in Scotland?

The mosquito season in Scotland usually starts in May and ends in September. From the beginning of June, the season really starts,because that's when the biting females are there. July and August are generally considered the worst time.

The midges start to hatch around May. First the males, about a week later the females. The males have only a short life, because they die after mating. Each female lays on average 30 to 100 eggs. The larvae hatch after 24 hours. Before they pupate into mosquitoes they go through four different larval stages. They survive the winter in the fourth larval stage a few centimeters below the ground surface, where they feed on rotting substance. The remaining midges die as soon as the autumn weather begins.

Where are the most Midges in Scotland?

Midges are the most commonly found in Scotland in the Western Highlands, especially near water bodies, peat bogs, bushes and shrubs. They need the damp, swampy ground for the egg-laying. Where many sheep, cattle or wild animals live, there are especially many midges. At altitudes above 500 m, midges are far less common. anzutreffen. 

When are Midges most active?

Midges are most active in the early morning hours from 5 am with a peak between 7 and 9 am, just before dusk, and in the evening until around 11 pm. As soon as the irradiance of the sun is lower than 260 W/m2, the midges come out of their hiding places. Below 130 W/m2 all hell breaks loose.

What Weather do Midges like?

The Scottish midges Forecast

A helpful tool: The Midge Forecast by Smidge.

The midge forecast is based on data collected from midge traps and weather stations throughout Scotland. The scale ranges from 1 to 5, and from level three on it is time for a mosquito spray. From level 4 on it can be called a midge fog. What comes after the fog? Is there more? I would rather not know!

Interesting: The Scottish Forest Service has estimated that every summer up to 20% of working days can be lost to mosquito attacks. It is also estimated that the tourism industry misses out on around £268 million a year because holidaymakers avoid the mosquito season. So the mosquitoes help to protect the wilderness of Scotland from mass tourism.

What helps against Midges?

Mosquito protection to wear

My Mosquito net for the head has become dear to my heart in Scotland. It was always handy and not only once saved me from midge suffocation. In the beginning it might be a bit uncomfortable and unfamiliar to wear. But believe me, it will quickly become your most important piece of luggage. Guard it like the apple of your eye so you don't lose it.

Additional protection is provided by long pants and long-sleeved shirts. It's best to tuck your trouser legs into your socks and wear a shirt that fits tight and high around your neck. You can protect your hands with gloves schützen. Light-colored clothes should attract mosquitoes less than dark ones.

midge repellent.

Many locals swear by Smidge. It is DEET-free and was developed in Scotland specifically for midges. Smidge works in two ways: An active ingredient blocks the antenna receptors. So the midges can't find you anymore. However, this was not quite as strong as hoped for. Nevertheless, the mosquitoes came to us in droves and landed on our skin, where they then stuck in a mixture of sweat and Smidge. But the midges hardly bit us anymore. They must have been pretty disappointed. Because thanks to Smidge we were no longer tasty for midges - that's the second mode of action of the repellent.

Auf Repellents based on DEET are not supposed to offer such good protection against the Scottish midges. They can also cause skin irritation in some people.

If possible, mosquito repellents should not be applied to clothing, watch straps or other items, as they can attack certain fabrics.

Natural Insect Repellents

The smoke of a campfire and citronella candles have proven to be natural insect repellents. Citronella and bog myrtle have also proven to be effective as a means of applying to the skin.

There is even said to be mosquito protection from the inside: Garlic Capsules and Vitamin B should make us unattractive to mosquitoes. But I have not tried it myself.

And then some people also have a kind of body-own mosquito repellent. What is that? Researchers have discovered that this is due to body odor. Some people have a higher ketone content than others. Mosquitoes hate the smell of ketone.

Tips for Camping in Midge Land

Camping can be a challenge in some places in Scotland because of the midges. So keep your eyes open when choosing a campsite! Don't pitch your tent too sheltered from the wind, because that's where most midges are. Avoid swampy areas, damp forests and sheep pastures. Coastal areas or mountain tops are better suited than inland or lowlands.

In the evening: make a fire - but only if allowed and possible. Otherwise: apply mosquito spray, mosquito net over your head and keep the tent flap tightly closed - especially if you have lights on inside the tent. When you go inside the tent, try to knock the midges off your clothes first.

In the morning: If you are lucky, you may have woken up in the night and gone to the "toilet" before dusk. If not, in the worst case it will have to wait now. Just like brushing your teeth and the breakfast coffee. The only thing that helps is to take down the tent, pack up and go to a place where there is a little wind as soon as possible.

Book Recommendations for Scotland

You want to know where the journey goes? Then I recommend the following travel guides, which have proven themselves on my trip:

Lonely Planet Scotland*

Schottland. Wanderungen an den Küsten und in den Highlands. 50 Touren. Mit GPS-Tracks* (only German)

Wild Guide Scotland: Hidden Places, Great Adventures & the Good Life*

Have you ever been to Scotland during the Midge season? What kind of experiences have you had? Do you have any more tips how to fight midges? If so, please write me a comment!

Do you want to know when there are new articles on my blog? Then follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram. I would also be very happy if you share my article with your friends.

Guided Tours on the Isle of Skye

You don't feel like wandering around on your own and would rather join a guided tour? Nothing could be easier. If you book an excursion via the following affiliate links, you will support Wanderlust Motifs with a small commission. The tour will not be more expensive for you. Merci!

Recommendations for further Reading

Not only Scotland is famous for its mosquitoes. Iceland and Sweden are also known for their pests. In Iceland even a whole lake was named after the mosquitoes. Have a look at Mývatn in Iceland.You want to experience Sweden and not be chased by mosquitoes? How about a kayak tour in the archipelago?

Der Beitrag Midges in Schottland – Wann? Wo? Was hilft? erschien zuerst auf Fernweh-Motive.