Alpenventures UNGUIDED Blog
The Alta Via 1 and its World War I history
The Alta Via 1 is Italy’s premier long-distance multi-day trek. Stretching from north to south across the Dolomites, this trail may inspire feelings of contentment and tranquility. But these imposing mountains hold a dark past full of death and warfare. On May 23rd, 1915, the Kingdom of Italy entered World War I in alliance with…
Best Hikes and Other Adventures for Food Lovers
If you’ve been to any of my presentations or if you’ve watched any of my Webcasts, you probably already know that I’m a food lover. There sure is some amazing food out there in the Alps! And while you probably won’t ever be disappointed by the food on any of our tours in the Alps,…
8 Reasons Why Every Hiker Should do a Bike Tour
Hiking season in the Alps is coming to a close. But that doesn’t mean that adventure season is over. There’s still time for one of my favorite modes of adventuring…bicycle touring. I think every hiker should dabble in bicycle touring, even if you don’t consider yourself a cyclist. Bicycle tours are loaded with adventure, but…
Tour du Mont Blanc Packing List
Knowing what to pack for a hut to hut tour in the Alps can be a big challenge, especially if you have never been on one before. It’s important to ensure you have a light pack so that it doesn’t become too much of a burden, while on the other side it is critical have…
The Outdoor Adventurer Gift Guide
I’ve heard it before. Outdoor adventurers like me are difficult to shop for. You know, the ones who seem to have all the gear they need, and are now just fine tuning their gear collection with very specific and deliberate purchases? But we have good news! After a lot of thought and consultation, we have…
Apple Strudel – A Taste of the Alps Series
We are completing our A Taste of the Alps Series, where we bring you recipes straight from mountain huts in the Alps. This week we are sharing the delicious and authentic Apple Strudel. This is our grand finale of the series and, in our opinion, we saved the best for last! The best apple strudel…
Älplermakkaroni – A Taste of the Alps Series
We are continuing our A Taste of the Alps Series, where we bring you recipes straight from mountain huts in the Alps. This week we are sharing the simple and hearty Älplermakkaroni Recipe from the Swiss Alps. You might recognize the name a little better if I call it Alps Macaroni. This recipe was sent…
Hütten Rösti (A Taste of the Alps Series)
We are continuing our A Taste of the Alps Series, where we bring you recipes straight from mountain huts in the Alps. This week we are introducing Hütten (Hut) Rösti, a simple potato dish often served throughout Switzerland. This is a slightly fancier version than the Swiss Rösti recipe we shared earlier. This recipe was…
Prosecco Cake Recipe – A Taste of the Alps Series
We are continuing our A Taste of the Alps Series, where we bring you recipes straight from mountain huts in the Alps. This week we are sharing the delicious Prosecco Cake Recipe from the Alta Via 1. This recipe was sent to us by Rifugio Averau, which is located on the Alta Via 1, Italy’s…
Fondue Valaisanne à la Tomate
We are continuing our A Taste of the Alps Series, where we bring you recipes straight from mountain huts in the Alps. This week we are introducing a delicious Tomato Fondue from the Valais (Wallis) region of Switzerland. I love fondue and this was even more delicious than anticipated. This dish does not require any…
Swiss Rösti (A Taste of the Alps Series)
We are continuing our A Taste of the Alps Series, where we bring you recipes straight from mountain huts in the Alps. This week we are introducing Rösti, a simple potato dish often served as a vegetarian lunch or dinner. Rösti is gluten and dairy free. This recipe was not sent to us by any…
Käsespätzle (Cheesy Noodles) – A Taste of the Alps Series
We are continuing our Taste of the Alps Series, where we bring you recipes straight from mountain huts in the Alps. This week we are introducing Käsespätzle, a delicious and cheesy dish using homemade noodles. This recipe was not sent to us by any of our huts, but it is a dish we find often…
The Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu
Check out the Salkantay Trek self-guided tour I inhaled the hollow air and struggled to focus on the rugged mountain views. Salkantay Pass, at 4,600 m. (15,090 ft.), was steps away, and the air thinned with each inch of ascent. This was the high point of the Salkantay Trek, the more challenging route to Machu…
Bergsteiger Omelet Recipe – A Taste of the Alps Series
We are continuing our Taste of the Alps Series, where we bring you recipes straight from mountain huts in the Alps. This week we are introducing the Bergsteiger Omelet. Bergsteiger means “mountain climber,” so if you like to climb mountains, you’ll definitely want to try this recipe. I would like to thank Rifugio Sennes, or…
Kaiserschmarrn Recipe – A Taste of the Alps Series
This is the second in a series of recipes that are served at mountain huts throughout the Alps. We reached out to many of the huts we work with on a regular basis and asked them for recipes that they would like to share with you. As we roll out this series, we are in…
Käseschnitte Recipe – A Taste of the Alps Series
This is the first in a series of recipes that are served at mountain huts throughout the Alps. We reached out to many of the huts we work with on a regular basis and asked them for recipes that they would like to share with you. As we roll out this series, we are in…
6 Ways to Travel More Responsibly, When it’s Responsible to Travel Again
I have been planning for months to publish a Responsible Travel blog post on Earth day. Then the world changed, and right now, the only responsible way to travel is not to travel at all. As I write this post, going for a walk is a criminal offense in some countries, schools are closed across…
The W-Trek in Torres del Paine Patagonia
The rain ruffled my raincoat as I struggled to push my way forward to the viewpoint against its force. The rocky outcrop was surrounded by large drops on three sides, making the view of the serrated glacial ice the main attraction. I took a step forward as a powerful gust knocked me off balance. I…
Solo Trekking in the Alps – 9 reasons solo hikers should choose the Alps
We all have our reasons for solo hiking. Maybe we can’t find an available hiking partner, maybe we crave alone time or maybe our pace is just not suitable to others. Whatever our reason may be, some places are more appropriate for solo hiking than others. I have hiked on 5 continents, and I love…
10 Reasons to Finally Book that Ski Trip to the Alps
If you haven’t skied in the Alps yet, you really don’t know what you are missing. Colorado and Utah ski resorts may be famous for their powder, but the Alps are famous for just about everything else. Here are ten reasons to hit the slopes in the Alps this year. 10. Top-notch infrastructure (think heated…
9 Safety Tips for Adventuring in the Alps
The mountains look very peaceful from a distance. But with this beauty, comes a little bit of risk. In order, to get the most out of your alpine trips, please be aware of the following safety tips when hiking in the Alps. Keep in mind: Happy adventuring is always linked to safe adventuring! The Alps…
“Kids in the Canyon” take on the Tour du Mont Blanc & Alta Via 1
In our first edition of our “Adventurers on the Move” series, we talk to Don Blais (53 years), an outdoor enthusiast and passionate photographer. He lives with his amazing wife and 15-year old daughter, Katie, in Cumberland, Rhode Island (USA). Don has a job that is truly fulfilling. As a Special Education Teacher he gets…
9 Things to Know About Summer Adventures in the Alps
9. The best time to go on a hut hike is from mid-July to the end of August You may have heard mid-June to mid-September is an appropriate time-frame for a hut hike. This is the operating season of most mountain huts, and obviously a prerequisite for a hut hiking tour. But it is important…
9-Step Guide to Booking the Tour du Mont Blanc
The Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) is, arguably, the most famous hut hiking tour in the Alps. It is so famous, that over 10,000 hikers take on the circuit each year. Your Tour du Mont Blanc booking experience is going to greatly depend upon how early you start the process. November the year prior is…
Ladders in the Sky – Via Ferratas in the Dolomites
As I set my foot on the first rung of the ladder, which was precariously suspended from a sheer rock wall, I looked up and counted at least 25 rungs on the ladder above my head. At the level of the top rung, another long ladder was attached to the first, climbing even higher, out…
Autumn in the Alps
It’s the least expensive time of year to visit the Alps, and autumn offers more solitude and wildlife sightings than any other time of the year. The changing colors are brilliant, but that goes without saying. If you hit the timing just right, you might just hit the Golden October, which brings pure sunshine and…
Slovenia – A Scrambler’s Paradise
There are hikers, and there are rock climbers, but then there are also scramblers. Scramblers, like rock climbers, love to team up with the rock to facilitate their movement through the mountains. But scramblers, like hikers, love the freedom of movement without the burden of climbing gear. True scramblers, those that prefer to move through…
10 Things to Know About the Tour du Mont Blanc
The Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) is, arguably, the best-known hut hiking tour in the Alps. This high-altitude multi-day hike in the Western Alps uses an extensive network of mountain huts, as well as accommodations in small villages, to circuit around the highest mountain in the Alps, Mont Blanc. Hikers on the TMB experience an…
Adventuring in the Alps on a Budget
We love to adventure, and the pictures we post of our adventures on social media give our friends the impression that we live a glamorous life as travelers with a bottomless bear canister full of disposable income. But the truth is, as outdoor adventurers, we are typically pretty good at traveling on a budget. We…
10 Reasons to Enjoy the Alps in the Snow
It was one of those days you just never forget. My friend and I had the giggles following the best descent from a winter summit I have ever had. The peak we were summiting on this day was mostly ascended on a forest road, which meant that most of it could be sledded back down…
Alps-style Adventuring
Tips for getting the most out of adventures in the Alps. Moving to Germany was life-changing for me. I expected that and actually sought it out. What I did not expect was that how I adventure in the mountains would also change. Previously, my favorite outdoor activities included backpacking and cross-country skiing. Today I do…
The Hut Life
It was late in November and I had just checked into the flat that would be my home in Garmisch, Germany for the weekend. Before me stood a sweet, gray-haired lady, called “Mutti,” which is affectionate for “Mutter” in German, or “mother” in English. The flat was a tip from a mountaineering buddy I had…