Day 1: Meet & greet and a Bavarian charcuterie
The last weekend in June saw ideal summer hiking conditions – blue skies, plenty of sunshine, and a good dose of enthusiasm from the winners of the Frischluftkick competition.
Saturday, bright and early. The meeting spot: Kohlmais cable car station, nestled in postcard-perfect Saarlach/Hinterglemm in the Salzburg province – famous in winter for its 270-plus ski slopes and its many hiking trails in summer. One by one, our Frischluftkick winners arrived—some sleepy-eyed, all excited. After a quick round of hellos and handshakes, Robens whisked us off on a short shuttle (read: comfy van) to our weekend base camp: the charming Spielberghaus – a family-run guest house dating back to 1946 but now with all the mod cons and cuisine any guest could wish for. We gathered around a typical wooden beer garden setting with a panorama over the Saarlach mountainous landscape. Staff warmly greeted us with mouth-watering charcuterie boards à la Bavarian style.
Julia Höller
Spielberghaus, Saarlbach
Elin Johanne Kvasnes
Bavarian”Brotzeit” courtesy of Spielberghaus – Photo Credits: Elin Johanne Kvasnes
Mini United Nations
Our group was the equivalent of a miniature United Nations: Germany, Austria, Great Britain, Bulgaria, Denmark, Norway, and Australia. With one common denominator—our passion for the outdoors—we were off to a good start!
The gear drop
Before we hit the trail, the “Frischluftkick” event host Robens crew surprised the lucky winners with some seriously good kit—think Christmas morning meets outdoor geek heaven.
Everyone got to unwrap their very own generous outdoor package that included a Robens Couloir 350 Sleeping Bag, the Robens Silver Core 80 Sleeping Pad (watch this space). That pad? A total game-changer. It packs down to the size of a water bottle yet delivers a plush 8cm of sleep heaven. Let’s just say my back didn’t miss my mattress one bit. Also added was the don’t-leave-home-without-it Sierra Steel Meal Set for two – a sturdy, stackable, stainless steel outdoor dinner and cutlery set PLUS (yes, there is more) the mighty Arran Rechargeable Torchlight (doubles as a power bank, by the way), and a sleek set of Ambleside Walking Poles C66 – which had their moment of glory when everyone instantly adjusted them to their height.
All this gear wasn’t just for show. It became our foundation for the night under the stars—sturdy, clever, and exactly what you want when “wild camping”.
Julia Höller
Prizes for the lucky winners courtesy of Robens
Julia Höller
Happy Scandis with their new Roben’s walking poles
Hike to Kleberkopf (1757m): Change of plans, same epic views
The original plan was to summit Spielberghorn (2044m), but our guide Peter had done a pre-hike scout and advised against it—landslide conditions post-rain. Instead, we rerouted to Kleberkopf, a nearby peak that turned out to be anything but second-best..
We set off straight from Spielberghaus, weaving through shaded forest paths. The pace was easy, the chatter nonstop. About an hour in, we stumbled across a forest pond (or croc-infested billabong, if you’re Aussie). One brave soul went full send—birthday suit and all—into the murky waters. Legend.
Domink Baedorf
Jump in the deep end
Robens
Swimming: mountain style
Peter Birle, our mountain guide, entertained us with stories about alpine plants, from the delicate Alpine Rose to herbs used as wartime medicine.
Julia Höller
Peter our mountain guide explains about flowers, plants and other stories
Karen Hegenbart
Karen Hegenbart
750 altitude meters and 2.5 hours behind us, we have Kleberkopf in our sights! The trail rises steeply upwards over the summit slope. There are now a few smaller rock steps to overcome until we reach the ridge towards the summit cross.
The reward? Jaw-dropping views of Spielberghorn, Loferer, and Leoganger Steinberge, and the distant Wilder Kaiser range. Some lay back in the grass, soaking it all in. Others took a power nap. Guilty.
Tomas Pedersen
While some gazed at the view…
Julia Höller
Others dreamt about it
Descent or…Sound of Music meets secret schnapps
We leave the summit where the trail leads us gently downhill across alpine meadows, melodically up and down, up and down. Why melodically? Because there’s singing. The Norwegians sing of childhood summers with blueberries, sunshine, and no school (sounded idyllic), some of us had the sound of music in our heads (well, how could you not), and down below, a local is yodeling – how much more kitsch can a koala bare!
Thomas Hölzl
Going down in the most melodic way
Perry Easton
Downward panorama
Then came the hut. A tiny shack with a wooden box on the side. Inside? Schnapps and glasses. A literal alpine honesty bar.
No photos. What happens on the trail…oh who am I kidding – I can’t keep a secret!
Julia Höller
Pop-up bar!
From here, it’s approximately another hour following an access road leading us back to our base camp.
Tent time: Roben’s workshop
After a quick refresh and a cold drink back at basecamp, it was time for the next adventure—tent setup 101 with Robens. Like kids in a candy shop dispensed by the candy men – Stefan & Christian from Robens.
My personal setup? The Robens Challenger 2 Tent. This compact gem of a tent was easy to erect, female-friendly, and had so many clever features. The inner guy line was an excellent hack for hanging up sweat-laden clothing, whilst the bright inner white lining helped spot where unwanted insect guests were lurking.
Others opted for the Robens Sprinter 3 Tent, and I’m not naming names, but a few campers found out the inside mesh pocket makes a perfect phone holder for streaming movies. Glamping? Maybe a little. But we earned it.
Julia Höller
Setting up camp
Julia Höller
Tent city à la Robens
Camp set; time to eat!
BBQ Mountain Edition
Dinner was a feast courtesy of our hosts at the Spielberghaus. Think smoky spareribs, grilled shrimp, overflowing salad bowls, and that golden-hour light you wish you could bottle.
Julia Höller
BBQ feast
Domink Baedorf
Time to chill
Planes, Trains & Automobiles: By 9 pm, the first yawns set in—and rightly so! Some of us had driven hours to get here by early morning—some from the north of Germany, Bulgaria, and England—others, like the “Great Danes,” had only the day before (!!) summited to the top of the Great Venetian — yes, everyone was ready to chill!
With lanterns aglow, deer barking in the distance, and the smell of pine, it was time to crawl into the Robens Tent and, as the Waltons would say, Goodnight, John Boy!
Julia Höller
The setting of a perfect day
Robens
All aglow – inside & out
Day 2: Breakfast buffet or… so long, farewell, aufwiedersehen, goodbye
After a sensational night’s sleep in a Roben’s tent, it’s another day and another buffet, this one, breakfast! The Spielberghaus, with its warm hospitality, fantastic food, beautifully appointed rooms, idyllic location, and excellent service, is on the minds of many for a return visit.
One last hug, one last coffee refill, and just like that, it was time to head home. Backpacks were packed, phones full of photos, and a few friendships (and WhatsApp groups) now firmly in place. Thanks to Robens, Spielberghaus, and everyone who made this weekend unforgettable. Until next time—Servus!