• About me
• Certified guided hiking
• What are the trails going to be like in the Alps, how steep are they? 
• What is included in the price?
• What accommodation do you use?
• Who leads your trips?
• How large are your groups?
• Do itineraries change from the scheduled programme?
• Do you offer group discounts?
• What will the weather be like in the Alps?
• Is it OK if I've never backpacked before?
• Safety considerations
• Equipment for a day trip (summer & winter)
• Equipment for a hut to hut trekking

• About me Born in France I spent part of my childhood in Germany and the Republic of Djibouti/Africa. Back in France, I completed degrees in economics and geography. After 1 year in New Caledonia, I settled down in Vienna, Austria. In 2001, a 8 months long adventure took me through parts of southern Asia where we travelled by bicycle: http://patlaff.chez-alice.fr/ (in french and german). After successfully finishing a three-year course, I became a fully certified hiking & trekking guide (AEM). I am member of the Styrian Mountain Guide Association. I speak german, french and english fluently and have been living in Austria for 11 years now.

• Certified guided hiking If you want to get the most out of hiking in our mountains, consider hiring a professional guide. 

A certified hiking and trekking guide has been granted the authority by his or her government to lead walks in summer and winter on non-glaciated terrain. 

Certified hiking and trekking guides are skilled in both summer and winter travel and have completed courses on avalanche hazard assessment, mountain rescue and first aid, the use of transceivers, weather, flora and fauna, history, physiology of exercise and many other subjects. 

• What are the trails going to be like in the Alps, how steep are they? Hiking in the Alps is a wonderful experience. The history, food, views and above all, the trail network allow for an incredible experience. The trails are what get you to the most beautiful parts of the mountains. 

Each area of the Alps will have a dedicated trail crew spending the summer months maintaining and repairing damaged trails. For the most part, trails are in excellent condition. 
Where there is a risk of a fall or a tricky section, the trail crews have equipped these sections with cables and ladders for the safety of the walkers. This does not mean that each metre of trail is safe. There are objective dangers to walking in the mountains, such as rock fall, lightening and, of course, simply falling off the trail. 

Most days, we spend roughly 8 hours hiking. This of course takes into account stops for lunch, photographs and for taking in the incredible views. You may need to hike uphill for more than 3 hours, or roughly 1000 metres of vertical gain. The same may be expected for the descent. We often exceed 1000 metres on average. 

The Alps are steep, young mountains and therefore, you will be hiking uphill for several hours at one time. Unless you live in a mountainous area, you will have great difficulty in simulating a hike in the Alps. Trails will be steep at times, and walking poles can help you keeping your balance. Trail surfaces in the Alps change often. After a heavy thunderstorm, trails will be muddy and rock fall may occur. 

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• What is included in the price? My prices typically include all the guide/instructor fees and expenses. Travel, lift passes, local transfers, lunches, personal insurance or equipment hire are not included. 

• What accommodation do you use? My trips involve nights in middle altitude mountain huts where accommodation is usually in bunkrooms sleeping 4-8 people. 

• Who lead your trips? I lead myself all trips.

• How large are your groups? For trekking trips the groups are usually between 4 and 12 people. 

• Do itineraries change from the scheduled programme? Yes, sometimes. The itineraries that I provide on the website are sample itineraries and subject to change depending on the weather, snow and underfoot conditions. 

• Do you offer group discounts? Yes, I am happy to give discounts to groups. Please contact me for further details. 

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• What will the weather be like in the Alps? The weather obviously varies, depending on when your booked trip starts. 

My trips in the Alps begin in June because prior to that, the trails are covered in snow. Mid June is about as early as you can start hiking. The days will be long with daylight until well past 9 p.m. The temperatures are never that high, with morning temperatures hovering around 8 - 12° C. As the sun heats the atmosphere, daytime temperatures rarely go higher than 25° C and that of course it depends on the altitude at which you are hiking. If we are spending the night in a mountain hut, you can expect early morning frost. Snow is not uncommon in the Alps during the first week of june. 

July is often stable when it comes to weather patterns. High-pressure systems often ensure that blue skies will prevail but isolated thunderstorms may still occur as cumulous clouds form over the valleys and peaks. July is often the best month to observe the incredible Alpine fauna. There are few issues with bugs except around livestock. Temperatures in July can reach 25 - 30° C especially during the last few summers, which seem to have been hotter than others. 

August is a real problem month with thunderstorm activity reaching its peak toward the end of the month. Thunderstorms are about the only danger we face as hikers on the trail. There is nothing we can do to avoid them except by leaving early in the morning and getting in as early as possible. The weather in August tends to focus on the thunderstorms, which dictate the pace of the day. Luckily, Europe has some of the best weather forecasting systems in the world and we can trust the reliability of the forecasts. 

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• Is it OK if I've never backpacked before? I do not expect any prior backpacking or even hiking experience, however backpacking can be a physically demanding activity. All of my trips are differentiated by level of difficulty. Regardless of the difficulty of the hike, you can expect to carry between a 25 and 45 pound pack and the need for ankle-high trekking boots or very sturdy hiking shoes. 

I recommend starting an exercise routine several weeks to several months prior to your trip date. Many of my trips are at middle altitude, demanding at least a modest level of cardiovascular fitness.

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• Safety considerations Your safety is my top priority, followed by fun and comfort. Your hiking tour will be led by a professional guide. If you have any further questions about safety, please contact me for more information.

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• Equipment for a day hike

□ Hat
□ Warm gloves
□ 2 wool, part wool or synthetic T-shirt 
□ Sweater/jacket, wool or fleece
□ Mountain trouser
□ Rain jacket: good rain gear will make your adventure much more enjoyable. I recommend bringing a high quality Gore-Tex jacket
□ Rain trouser (to keep the trouser dry)
□ Mountain boots covering your ankles. Your boots must be well broken in before the trip! Please do not let the enjoyment of your trip be severely compromised by blisters.
□ Trekking poles: a collapsible pair is best
□ A medium size backpack to carry personal gear. Approx. 40 l. backpack would suffice. The pack should fit properly and have a good waist belt. Side pockets are recommended. A pack cover is a plus.
□ Sunglasses: essential for eye protection at altitude. Bring a good quality pair, preferably with 100% UV protection. Most effective for blocking sunlight are the wrap around type or side covers.
□ Thermos or One litre water bottle
□ Headlamp
□ Toilet paper, sunblock and lip balm with SPF rating of 15 or higher 
□ Blister treatment. Compeed patches are the best.
□ ID or passport, alpine club membership card, mobile phone, camera
□ Money
□ Plastic bags to store gear inside your and for the waste
□ Lunch packet, emergency rations (chocolate, candy bars, etc.), personal snack food
□ Mountain rescue insurance certificate (highly recommended...)
□ Personal first aid kit
□ Personal medications

• Of course, you can add your personal belongings to the minimum equipment mentioned above
• In case you have forgotten parts of your compulsory equipment at home, please be so kind as to let me know about it before starting the tour
• I bring along a comprehensive first aid kit on each trip
• Pack light and don't take too much (total weight: 5 - 7 kg)!
• If needed, special technical equipment will be detailed in the tour description

• Equipment for snowshoeing:

□ Warm hat
□ Warm gloves. A pair of good gloves is a must for warm hands
□ 2 wool, part wool or synthetic T-shirt 
□ Sweater/jacket, wool or fleece
□ Mountain trouser. Double–layer trouser (the ski trousers are ok)
□ Rain jacket: good rain gear will make your adventure much more enjoyable. I recommend bringing a high quality Gore-Tex jacket
□ Rain trouser (to keep the trouser dry)
□ Mountain boots covering your ankles. Your boots must be well broken in before the trip! Please do not let the enjoyment of your trip be severely compromised by blisters.
□ Gaiters (recommended)
□ Socks: you should have 2 pair of wool or synthetic socks.
□ Snowshoes
□ Trekking or ski poles: a collapsible pair is best
□ A medium size backpack to carry personal gear. Approx. 40 l. backpack would suffice. The pack should fit properly and have a good waist belt. Side pockets are recommended. A pack cover is a plus.
□ Sunglasses: essential for eye protection at altitude. Bring a good quality pair, preferably with 100% UV protection. Most effective for blocking sunlight are the wrap around type or side covers.
□ Thermos or One litre water bottle
□ Headlamp
□ Toilet paper, sunblock and lip balm with SPF rating of 15 or higher 
□ Blister treatment. Compeed patches are the best.
□ ID or passport, alpine club membership card, mobile phone, camera
□ Money
□ Plastic bags to store gear inside your and for the waste
□ Lunch packet, emergency rations (chocolate, candy bars, etc.), personal snack food
□ Mountain rescue insurance certificate (highly recommended...)
□ Personal first aid kit
□ Personal medications

• In case you have forgotten parts of your compulsory equipment at home, please be so kind as to let me know about it before starting the tour
• I bring along a comprehensive first aid kit on each trip
• Pack light and don't take too much (total weight: 5 - 7 kg)!
• If needed, special technical equipment will be detailed in the tour description

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• Equipment for a hut to hut trekking I suggest you bring the following clothes and hiking gear during your summer hiking. Pack light and don't take too much (total weight: 7 - 10 kg)!

□ Hiking boots: your boots must be well broken in before the trip! Please do not let the enjoyment of your trip be severely compromised by blisters.
□ Rain jacket: this is one of the most important items. Good rain gear will make your adventure much more enjoyable. We recommend bringing a high quality Gore-Tex jacket
□ Sweater/jacket, wool or fleece
□ Socks: you should have at least 3 pair of wool or synthetic socks. Sock selection varies on personal preference, but we recommend bringing two mid-weight socks for hiking and one heavyweight pair to sleep in.
□ Fleece gloves: a pair of good fleece gloves is a must for warm hands while hiking. Fleece gloves with Windstopper are best, but regular fleece or even wool gloves work fine as well.
□ Wool, part wool or synthetic underwear
□ Mountain trousers
□ Shirt or light sweater of wool or fleece
□ Extra underwear (trousers, shirt, socks)
□ Extra indoor trousers (optional)
□ Warm hat and sun hat
□ Backpack: medium size backpack, approx 50-70 liter to carry personal gear. The pack should fit properly and have a good waist belt. Side pockets are recommended.
□ Pack cover: this is required equipment. You should buy one made for your pack, or an extra large pack cover if you cannot find a custom fit. This will protect your pack from rain and wet brush. For the hardcore minimalist, you can bring two extra large trash bags.
□ Trekking poles: although optional, we highly recommend a pair for the rigors of alpine terrain. A collapsible pair is best so that you can easily carry them on your backpack when you do not want to use them.
□ Gaiters, in case of rain or snow
□ Sleeping bag for hut (cotton or silk)
□ Toiletry kit: toothpaste, toothbrush, moleskin. Other personal items to consider are: chapstick, biodegradable soap, dental floss, wet wipes, a small container of waterless hand sanitizer, tampons or pads, Q-tips, lotion.
□ Small towel
□ Toilet paper
□ Sunblock with SPF rating of 15 or higher 
□ Lip balm with SPF rating of 15 or higher 
□ Sunglasses: essential for eye protection at altitude. Bring a good quality pair, preferably with 100% UV protection. Most effective for blocking sunlight are the wrap around type or side covers.
□ Head lamp with 2 sets of batteries
□ Pocket knife or multi-purpose tool
□ Fork
□ Spoon
□ Ear plugs: to block out snoring and hut noise, to insure peaceful rest.
□ Lunch packet, emergency rations (chocolate, candy bars, etc.), personal snack food: the food is great on the trek but you might enjoy a few snacks from home and also some drink mixes.
□ Thermos or One litre water bottle
□ Money
□ Plastic bags or stuff sacks to store/separate trekking gear inside your main bag and to help keep clothes dry
□ Insurance certificate

Personal first aid kit - suggestions (check with your doctor)

□ Blister treatment. Compeed patches are the best.
□ Headache tablets
□ Diarrhoea tablets
□ Antibiotics
□ Anti inflammatory medication (as prescribed by your GP)
□ Large size band-aids (plenty)
□ Strapping
□ Ankle/knee guard
□ Foot fungi powder
□ Antiseptic lotion/cream e.g Bepanthen, Paraderm plus, Betadine
□ Antiseptic powder
□ Cotton buds or cotton wool (to apply creams) 
□ Scissors
□ Water purification tablets
□ Personal medications

• Of course, you can add your personal belongings to the minimum equipment mentioned above
• In case you have forgotten parts of your compulsory equipment at home, please be so kind as to let me know about it before starting the tour
• I bring along a comprehensive first aid kit on each trip
• Please tell me before the trip of any medications you are taking
• Pack light and don't take too much (total weight: 7 - 10 kg)!
• If needed, special technical equipment will be detailed in the tour description

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