I love hiking ! I have hiked everywhere around the world especially on the trails around mountains and glaciers. I enjoy the feeling of being outside and being part of nature. I can hike for hours without getting tired but I will die walking for an hour inside a shopping mall. Hiking is the simplest way to travel and it is probably the slowest way to reach a destination. But it means that you can really enjoy the hike and views, taking in the fresh air, and the sounds and smells of nature.

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In the beginning, I chose mainly popular trail as searching for hiking information or inspiration is challenging without the internet. For longer hikes, sometimes I would buy travel books and maps as guide. Most of the times though I just walked without much planning, which was quite a stupid thing to do.

Hiking in nature have made my kids more resilient. When things are tough and they feel like quitting, they still have to push through because we’re still an hour away from our destination. The realization that they could overcome challenges in life in precious.

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When my kids are older and physically stronger, I started to look for hikes that are more adventurous. After a few years of travelling and hiking, I realised that to make hiking an adventure, it is not about increasing the walking distance or the number of hiking days. It is about finding the right activity and experience that really makes your hiking trip memorable and adventurous. The following are 4 types of experience that will make your hiking trip into an adventurous journey.

• Hut to Hut Hiking
• Hiking on Glacier
• Mountain Ridge Hike
• Via Ferrata

Hut to Hut Hiking

Day hike is great but if you really want an adventure hiking to unique and remote places then hut to hut hiking is the best choice. Hut-to-hut hiking involves walking along a mountain trail during the day and staying overnight at mountain huts. For novice hikers especially those who have kids, this allows you take on longer hikes without needing to carry huge loads such as tents and food items.

Hut to hut hiking is a magical experience and it can be a fun alternative to tent camping. It can provide you with the same adventure but with the convenience and comfort of mountain hut. With a place to stay and eat, there is no need to carry heavy loads of tent, sleeping bag, or food. All the things that you will need are your clothes, rain gear, water, and snacks during the day.

Mountain huts are numerous across Europe, from the Alps to the Dolomites. There are huts too in other parts of the world but not as extensive as in the European countries. These huts could range from basic shacks with shared sleeping areas to lodges with private rooms. Most huts provide a bunk bed with a mattress with communal bathrooms and in-house restaurant. While mattresses and pillows are provided, you may be required to bring your own sleeping bag liner.

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Sleeping in a hut at a high altitude, surrounded by the silence of nature and the unique atmosphere of the mountain is truly a memorable experience. Staying overnight at altitude also reduces the amount of ascent and descent required on your hike and it can be a lot of fun meeting new and like-minded people in the huts.

Sleeping in the hut has its drawback too. Even though mountain hut is generally clean, taking a cold shower during cold nights is unbearable. I think I am spoiled with having hot water in my own house. The other drawback is once you have booked, it is difficult to readjust your hiking plan. On one of our hiking trip, we have to brave through heavy rain in order to reach the hut.

Glacier Hiking

If you’ve never walked on a glacier, you need to add glacier hiking into your bucket list. I could still recall the first time I walked on a glacier; it was actually very hot! If weather is clear and sunny, the reflection from the sun can be blinding. The first important lesson in glacier hiking, you have to bring your sunglasses! and a good shoes. Whether you need to have crampons or walking stick really depends on the trail you are on. For my first experience, it was really surreal. Huge ice sheet spanning as far as my eyes could see and as high as 10 storey building. Lots are crevasses here and there, small streams running down the glacier and small and huge holes which have no visible floor.

Walking on the glacier is also mixed with certain degree of anxiety as well. There is no indication of how thick the ice plate we were walking on, certainly there is no guarantee for our safety. We just got to trust and follow the marking people had put on the surface as a guide.

For most glacier hike, a guide is a must. There are however few glaciers crossing in Europe in which you can hike on your own. One of them is described in the post “Triple Glacier Crossing”. I will endeavor to write up more of my glacier hiking experience soon.

Mountain Ridge Hike

Ridge walk is similar to hiking; with 2 differences. First, it is more thrilling as you are basically hiking at or near the top of mountain. Mountain ridges by their very nature are high and exposed, with steep precipitous drops on both sides. Some Ridge routes may demand a small amount of scrambling. Second, the view is out-of-this world. If you are a photographer, ridge hiking is heaven. There is no bad angle or bad shot wherever you aim your camera at.

Not all ridge hike are created equal though. The following are 2 ridge hikes that differs significantly in terms of the difficulty level. Click on the buttons to read more about each hike.

Via Ferrata

Via Ferrata is a secured hiking trail where you can climb the inaccessible parts of mountain via ladders, ramps and cables fixed to the rock ledge. It can be considered as the middle point between hiking and climbing. If you bored with hiking and would like to experience climbing, then Via ferrata is the ultimate choice. Once you have try it, you will look for more.

Among all the trails I have been, Piz Trovat Via Ferrata is the most “rugged” and closest to a real professional climbing experience as one could get. The scenery, rugged rock cliff and exposed ledges really makes me feel that I am on a thrilling adventure. If you are new to via ferrata, you could hire a guide for the experience. For the Piz Trovat climb, even though we have only one prior experience, we managed to complete the climb in 3 hours without any guide.

People often ask me how I felt during the climb. To be honest, I could not really put the feeling into words. It was definitely not as calm and peaceful as seen in the video above, but rather it is a combination of feeling nervous, excited yet calm. In order to do a vertical via ferrata climb, one has to be fully conscious or mindful of every single step. If you are a person who panics then perhaps via ferrata is not for you. At the end of the climb, I felt humbled by the experience of what was beyond the ordinary.

The Tierbergli climbing trail is a stunning, high alpine route with wonderful views of the Susten Pass and the Gadmen Valley. The trail can be climbed as a day tour or with an overnight stay in the Tierbergli hut. The whole climb can be completed in 4 hours. We only climbed half of the trail and walked down once we reached the middle section.

This trail is relatively easier than Piz Trovat. All you need is a via ferrata kit and a helmet which can be rented in nearby towns. Your experience will be more comfortable if you wear padded fingerless gloves and take a small rucksack.

The current pandemic has reminded me again that life is really precious and short. Whatever we choose to do with the time that is given to us, we have to choose wisely and to make each choices the best possible experience. When the situation recovers, I will continue the search for journey that is beyond the ordinarily.

It is important to remember that making hiking into an adventure is not about taking risk. In fact, it is especially important to know and respect your limits. Some of these journey like via ferrata or glacier hiking, may seem challenging but they are actually quite achievable with some planning and courage.

Here’s to your adventure, in whatever corner of the world you find them.