After Jeremy P Caulfield filled us in on his going-ons last week, as promised he's given us a full, bustling report of his recent trip to the German/Austrian Alps with the Vakant fellas. Sit back and enjoy their vivid and gripping journey through the Alps...and then come join the Dumb-Unit crew as they journey through our cavernous Room Two this Saturday. Both journeys are of equal weight and importance, naturally.

It’s Tuesday morning, after a long weekend hosting our DU/Vakant party at Watergate we are pumped to exit Berlin for a while. Our mission is to head deep into the wilderness and climb high above the clouds. We are flying to Salzburg where we will catch a bus into the Alps and through to Berchtesgaten. Alex and I thank Ingo for doing the planning duties for this adventure and I promise to add equal effort to our VEGAS EXTRAVAGANZA 2011! Here’s hoping…



Our flight to Salzburg is less than an hour and after a few well timed bus connections we arrive at Königssee, a pristine and picturesque village at the base from where we’ll catch the lift up a portion of the mountain. At the local grocery store we choose food to last two days and feed three distinct appetites, one of which is Vegetarian. It’s all about the basics: bread, cheese, and of course, the important Snickers bars - King of Instant Energy. Ingo and I (who are not vegetarian) also indulge in the acquisition of some locally made Leberkase, basically a loaf of liver...a tasty treat I know we’ll deserve at some point on the hike.

As we arrive at the offloading point, the wind is getting brisker and the view more spectacular. The valley where we disembark is deep with a convergence of 5 or 6 peaks, all of which seem to be fighting for attention. Hohes Brett, the ridge we will be attempting, is both magnificent and intimidating. Today, though, it is only a short 45-minute hike to our lodging. Tonight we’ll bed at the Carl-Von-Stahl-Hau, a small chalet located on a ridge that straddles the German/Austrian Border. It is a breathtaking location and as we arrive the cool valley mist is slowly creeping its way past the sun lit house. Built in 1923, the chalet can fit up to 75 people, but luckily tonight it is less than a quarter filled. Alex, Ingo and I score a comfortable, 4 person bunk room and we thank the Mountain Gods that some snoring lumberjack will not be sharing our roost.

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