With Neuschwanstein Castle in the backdrop, the German Boutiquehotel Das Rübezahl is a popular starting point for hikes of all levels. As a new special service, the hotel offers a hiking concierge with hiking guide Bergbaschdi. We asked him to explain what that service looks like.

Sebastian Remmler (36), “Bergbaschdi”, climbed his 54th five-thousander (in Turkey) last year and has climbed many mountains in East Africa and South America. At the time of the interview, he was preparing for his trek to Nepal, which was set to start two days later.

A hiking concierge with WhatsApp service

Green Travel Blog (GTB): What exactly is a hiking concierge? You already work as a hiking guide at Hotel Das Rübezahl, how has your work changed?

Basti: The most important new feature of the hiking concierge is that people can contact me without meeting me in person. For example, instead of asking me about the right shoes to wear when already on the hike, they can contact me in advance via WhatsApp. Or even if they are alone in the mountains, I am available as a contact person. A lot of people find this helpful because they often don’t know their way around in the mountains.

GTB: What was the weirdest question someone ever asked you?

Basti: Many strange questions are about the weather. You can’t plan for it, even with weather apps. But other than that, I have to say that people are pretty mature 🙂

These are the most common hiking mistakes

GTB: What do you think are the most common hiking mistakes?

Basti:  I once had a guy who was hiking with brand new Haferl shoes and no socks. I told him that was a pretty bad idea. Because those Haferl shoes tend to cause blisters, especially without socks. He said: “Holidays in Bavaria have to hurt.” He went through with it, got two huge blisters and spent the rest of his vacation walking around the hotel in flip-flops.

In recent years, mountaineering has become an extreme sport. Everyone’s trying to beat everyone else’s record, and many people are only interested in having the best time on Outdooractive. And when people are running and panting like that, many people lose interest in hiking simply because they are not practicing it properly!

GTB: What attitude do you want to convey?

Basti: For me, soul healing is part of hiking and mountaineering. To be at peace with oneself. But that only works if I don’t put pressure on myself. I always say: “No matter how fast or slow you walk; you are always faster than those who don’t walk at all!”

“Rhythm is the key to success in mountaineering.”

Basti: I climbed 54 five-thousanders and achieved all these goals with a bit of ambition, mental focus, fitness and the right rhythm. Rhythm and pace is something that the younger generation does not understand. I don’t have to run up the mountain in 20 minutes.

To help them understand, I am lucky enough to know the flora and fauna pretty well, and I try to explain everything along the way. If you take the time to do that, you can be more aware of your surroundings and not pass everything by.

You have to be patient, especially with the animals. Here on the Tegelberg, for example, you have a good chance of seeing chamois. You just have to be willing to take breaks and be quiet where it’s nice. I can take an hour off and still get there!

GTB: Unless I have to hurry because it’s getting dark soon…

Basti: Even then, you still have a headlamp, and nobody dies at 15 degrees Celsius in the summer-nights.

The most beautiful hikes on the Tegelberg

GTB: If someone came to you with no idea and wanted to explore the area, which tour would you recommend? Do you have a favorite tour?

Basti: Yes, the Rohrkopfhütte. The Rohrkopfhütte is THE classic introductory tour. There are two ways to get there. The Schutzengelweg is a bit more challenging because it is a bit steeper, but it is really suitable for almost everyone! It takes a good hour to hike moderately uphill. The Tegelberg is very well developed for hikers. But not lonely. There is always a downside.

GTB: That’s right. And what is your personal favorite when you are with advanced hikers who have a good basic level of fitness and maybe even some experience hiking in the Alps?

Basti: In terms of the view and the landscape, I think the tour over the Marienbrücke to the Tegelberg is spectacular. It’s super fun and varied. There are two or three places where you have to use your hands. Then there’s always the view of the castle, the foothills of the Alps or the barren Alps. I think this is the most beautiful tour in the area.

“Summit conquerors” are celebrated

GTB: And which of your many hiking trips do you like to think back to?

Basti: To Ethiopia. We climbed Ras Dashän, the highest mountain in Ethiopia, and when we came back, the whole village had a party. They slaughtered their biggest goat, made a huge bonfire, and the “summit conquerors” were all decorated with flowers.

I was fascinated by the fact that they were celebrating us when their focus is on a completely different life. The villagers there don’t waste time and money flying to a foreign country and then climbing a mountain somewhere. But they are still very happy to have you with them. So that was cool.

GTB: Then I hope you will have similar great experiences in Nepal and wish you a good trip. Thank you for your time!

👉 👉 Hotel Das Rübezahl offers its guests a hiking concierge as well as guided hikes as an included service. For more information, visit the hotel’s website.

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