RayonRandoZine No. 4 - The great outdoors magazine

Contents no. 4 - July 2022:

Having safe drinking water when hiking

An ultralight tent? Yes, but…

Mountain hut and historic monument

Photo portfolio: Mont Thabor

Having safe drinking water
when hiking

Finding safe drinking water when hiking can be a real challenge, either because water sources are scarce or because the available water is unsafe or questionable. While you can go without food for a while, a lack of water during exercise quickly becomes a problem, then a danger.

In this article, I offer a few ideas and good practices for having safe drinking water when hiking.

Option 1: find water that is already safe to drink

Option 2: purify “questionable” water

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An ultralight tent?
Yes, but…

Weight is a hiker's old enemy, so choosing an ultralight tent to make your load more bearable is tempting. 1 kg, 1.5 kg, or even less than 1 kg. It sounds wonderful. And very light gear is often very compact too, which is another welcome benefit.

While the benefits need little explanation, in this article I want to draw your attention to the limitations and constraints of an ultralight hiking tent.

By weighing up the pros and cons, you can ensure that saving grams does not mean adding problems…

Looking for a tent that is extremely comfortable, exceptionally tough and ultralight? I do not think that will be possible… You will need to find the right compromises.

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Sleeping in a historic monument: the Berliner Hutte

Personally, I prefer wild camping… But a few years ago I stayed in a mountain hut that made a lasting impression: built in the late 19^th century, it is listed as a historic monument.

Full of charm, the Berliner Hutter is a Tyrolean mountain hut. You need to go to Austria to discover this fine building. It stands high up at the far end of the Zillertal valley, at an altitude of 2,042 m, near the Italian border. It is an area particularly popular with hikers, and one I recommend.

History, great and small:

Opened in 1879, the Berliner Hutte was listed as a historic monument in 1997 and fully restored.

When it was built, it was an ultramodern mountain hut with its own hydroelectric plant and the first telephone line at the far end of the Zillertal valley.

The hut is run by the Austrian Alpine Club. During my visit I read something worth mentioning. After the Anschluss, the Austrian Alpine Club was one of the few organisations to reject the order to expel its Jewish members.

A place where you feel at home:

With its pine panelling, it is a particularly cosy place where you will enjoy relaxing after a hike.

The dining room, with its 5 m ceiling, is very pleasant. The whole hut has an old-fashioned atmosphere, with period decor that transports you to another era. Trophies, equipment and old photographs on the walls make time seem to stand still. It is simply a lovely place to be.

That is no reason to stay put: there is a beautiful route to explore nearby… We continued with an exposed climb towards the Schonbichler Horn (3,134 m).

The Berliner Hutte offers a cosy, historic stop along a beautiful Alpine route. Do stop there if you can.