These Feet Are Made For Walking

Going out for a walk is lovely. On a Sunday for example, if you have too much cake or Schnitzel.

Hiking is also nice – if you have the opportunity. A whole day away from everyday life out in nature.

But a 3-day hike? Until two years ago that was unimaginable for me. But this year in May, I dared, and I went on the “Johannesweg”.

This path leads through a beautiful region in Upper Austria called the “Mühlviertel”.

Facts About Mühlviertel

• The Mühlviertel is one of the four historic districts in the state of Upper Austria.
• The rivers Große Mühl, Kleine Mühl and Steinerne Mühl flow through it.
• The Mühlviertel extends north of the Danube and covers almost 3,000km².
• The highest mountain in the region is the Plöckenstein with a height of 1,378m. The deepest point is located at St. Nikola 228m above sea level.

Preparation is Everything

With a length of 84 km, this trail in my opinion, is very well suited for beginners. Nevertheless, I did some things in advance to prepare.

• Route planning: The route is created as a circular route and I’ve decided to go for the complete round. Some hikers take fixed accommodation at the respective stage starting points. I divided the round into 3 stages.
• Book the accommodations in advance. Fortunately, the infrastructure in this area is very well developed, so I didn’t need to detour to get to the quarters.
• Weather: Fortunately, humans have no influence on the weather. I followed the weather reports regularly one week before the start and I was lucky rain-wear was not required.

Daily Stages

Personal Packing List for a Long Hike

• Backpack: My “normal” backpacks are unsuitable for a hike so I borrowed a hiking backpack from a good friend. It’s best if the backpack is waterproof (in case it rains) and it can fasten around the waist with a belt to relieve pressure on the shoulders.
• Shoes: All hiking pros will shake their heads as they read this. I walked the track in my running shoes. I figured if I can run well in my shoes, I can also go a long distance with them. Here I would like to say that the road itself consists in approximately equal parts of paved roads, dirt roads and forest roads. I had no problems with my feet until the last day where an ankle-high shoe would have been better on the steeper sections.
• Trekking Poles: I’m glad I decided to take my poles. Especially in the forest on steep passages, I was relieved to have them.
• Nasal irrigator, tongue depressor and eye bath: Yes, you read that right. I have been doing yoga for over half a year, and daily cleansing of the nose, eyes and oral cavity is part of my daily cleaning.
• Sunscreen: My skin type: white – bright red – white. Do I have to say more? You should never go outside without sunscreen, so this is a must have for any packing list.
• Headphones and MP3 player: Although music is an important part of my day-to-day life, during the three days I was out in nature, I didn’t feel the need to listen to music to distract myself from anything.

The Route is the Goal

The day before I started I talked to a friend’s parents about this path. They asked me if I would do it in 5 or 6 days. When I told them my goal was to do it in 3 days, they were speechless. And I was unsure. Am I expecting too much from myself?

I knew the first stage would be the shortest but the one with the highest altitude. I’ve never walked 26km in one day before, and 1,200m uphill on the first day – that was beyond my imagination. I simply had no idea.

I started at 7:45am and headed straight into a three day long, exhausting and breathtakingly beautiful adventure. The nature in this area is so diverse, and I was lucky to be travelling at a time when everything was starting to bloom. After only a few miles, everyday life had disappeared from my thoughts, and I was focused on walking and my surroundings.

From the 5th kilometer almost every step was agony. The knowledge that I still had another 25 kilometers ahead of me did not make it easier. Twice I was about to give up, call a cab, and get me to my car. In retrospect, I take my hat off to myself for having clenched my teeth and finished that stage.

Yes, it was exhausting, and yes, I sometimes wondered why I did that to myself (especially on the last day, when I was struggling with 4 blisters on my feet). But it was worth it! To experience the beauty of this area, to relieve the stress of the daily grind, to get in touch with nice locals along the way, was just fantastic! And yes, on the third and last day, I did have to fight with myself, and my stamina.

This is not my last last long hike, next spring I’ll aim to get back on the road and hope to share my stories with you.