Five little outdoor adventures in the winter

Microadventures are a great way to escape from the daily grind. You don’t have to travel far and there’s no need to buy expensive new equipment. As the philosopher Walter Benjamin once said: ‘Discover the world where you already live.’ Whether you want to spend a whole weekend or just a few hours in the great outdoors, you can try out these five ideas yourself anywhere in Switzerland.

Two-day photography tour under the stars 

A great little trip for those who enjoy gazing at the starry sky from the comfort of their sleeping bag. After you finish up work, grab your camera, mats, gas cooker, headlamp, sleeping bag and bivy sack, and set off at dusk. Choose a nearby vantage point where light pollution is low and where you can observe the stars and the Milky Way. Spend the night under the stars and take photos of the rising sun as you enjoy breakfast.

Note: as a general rule, wild camping is not prohibited under Swiss law. However, this does not mean that it is generally permitted either. Enquire at your local municipality or police station about whether you can stay overnight at this site.

Explore snowy Switzerland by foot 

You don’t have to venture far to explore the unknown. We’re often less familiar with our immediate surroundings than those elsewhere. No doubt there are hiking opportunities right on your doorstep that you haven’t yet discovered. Here are some ideas for those who prefer the unconventional route:

• Travel to the end of the line.Jump on a train, get off at the last stop and hike your way back. It’s almost impossible to get lost in Switzerland. You’ll discover places and areas that you otherwise would never have known existed.

• Hiking around your hometown.Switch off your computer. Spread a map across a table and place a glass over where you live. Move a pen around the edge of the glass and voilà – you’ve found your hiking trail.

• Theme-based hikesVisit all the lakes, mountains, bridges, rivers or forests in the region.

• Hike around a nearby lake.

• Hikefrom the lowest to the highest pointin your region and spend the night there.

• Ask someone what theirfavourite place isand visit it. Maybe they could join you on this adventure?

Night sledging

Here’s another short outdoor trip to clear your head in the winter: if there’s enough snow, make your way to a nearby hill and zoom down the slope with your headlamp on and your thermos bottle filled with nice, warm tea. Double your fun with the whole family or a few friends. What makes this adventure great is that you can enjoy the dreamy winter landscape away from the big ski resorts. And to top things off, enjoy a delicious fondue over the fire in the great outdoors.

Winter swimming 

Wading into the water when it’s snowy and cold outside might take some convincing, admittedly. Cold temperatures cause the blood vessels to dilate. This improves circulation and helps your body regenerate. You don’t have to travel far to boost your immune system in ice-cold water. You can do this on a trip to a nearby lake or river. But be careful: if you have circulatory problems or other health issues, you might want to think twice about embarking on this particular outdoor adventure. You’ll also need to prepare your body for an outdoor ice bath (see info box).

Hiking along the riverbank

Walk along a stream in your region until you reach its source. Hikes of this kind offer you a potpourri of impressions: as you trek along wild and unruly waters, you’ll also pass quiet and snug places further upstream. Having reached the source, you can make a cosy fire and enjoy the winter landscape. What’s great about these hikes is that there’s no route planning involved, as the river will guide you along. Make sure you stay close to the river at all times and do not leave the paths. Another advantage: you can go on a riverside hike at any time of the year.

Note: before you embark on a hiking adventure along wild streams, make sure you check the weather forecast. Nearby storms can cause water levels to rise rapidly.