As a kid, I was really against any kind of hiking, whatever it was. I simply couldn't see the fun in just rambling all over the place. For me, tearing across the fields on horseback or somersaulting around the gym was a thousand times better. While those are still things I like, I’m now a bit older and of course muuuch wiser, and hiking has finally managed to win me over. So a happy end, I suppose, but above all the beginning of many exciting and beautiful hiking experiences.

Deluxe hiking maps

Oh, and, I’m also pretty sure, or else I’ll just claim right now, that back then there weren’t any such lovingly prepared super hiking maps as “Hiking experiences for bundles of energy, the well-balanced, the super happy & the exhausted”. And definitely no maps with any animals to accompany me. I think. Anyway. One thing after the other. But yeah, I’m convinced that in my childhood I might otherwise have swapped my pony for a pair of hiking boots. Because after all, a hike with Emma the marmot or Max the eagle is pretty cool.

The Stans hike or hiking with Julia the bee

That fact that we need insects, and bees in particular, for our survival is maybe part of the reason I really want to have a go at the Stans hike. It’s Julia the bee that represents this outing – one of the eight animals that accompany each of the hikes. But because I like challenges, maybe I’ll choose “The mountain experience for the persevering”. And so I plan my climb to the peak of the Stanserhorn and cross my fingers that the weather will be good.

The hike

Equipped with good hiking boots, sun cream and sunglasses, adequate provisions and above all plenty of water, I hop one sunny day onto the train from Zurich to Lucerne. It’s then only a quarter of an hour from the lakeside town to Stans, where either the challenging and sometimes quite steep climb or the cogwheel railway and then the open-top CabriO gondola (!) await. Right: I want to walk the whole way up, so I’ll take the gondola on the way back. An open-top ride at a dizzy height is something I definitely don’t want to miss out on.

Right from the first kilometre, I’m impressed by the beautiful surroundings with fields and old farmhouses. This is definitely Switzerland at its best! Again and again, almost the entire hike offers beautiful views of Lake Lucerne and the surrounding mountains and fields.

And yes, you’ll definitely work up a sweat, and I recommend right here that you bring a spare top. But I’ll also promise you now: every drop of sweat is worth it!

After what must have been about a four-hour climb, I reach the top of the Stanserhorn tired but happy. And what do you know?! How come no one ever told me before: the view from up here is an absolute stunner. And when you’re then sitting comfortably in the summit restaurant, a hot cup of tea in your hand, maybe with a portion of fries to go with it, you know why Julia the bee has chosen this patch of Switzerland to call home. And why it’s right here that you find this remarkable gondola, with which you float down into the valley, again with an incredible view, and with the wind in your face.

I'm already secretly thinking about who to do this hike with again as I want to return as soon as possible. I think about friends from abroad who will definitely have to be taken to the Stanserhorn on their next visit. And I also think a little about Julia the bee, flying through the air for kilometres here and always looking forward to a visit. But what I think about first and foremost, in wonder and quiet admiration is, wow Switzerland, you're just unbelievably beautiful!

To sum up: the hike is indeed pretty sporty, but it’s quite doable. It’s important to have good-quality hiking equipment, adequate provisions and water, and enough time, especially if there are also little ones coming along. If need be, you can take the gondola from halfway up, or you can also start the hike from halfway up. It’s also worth your while checking the snow situation before your hike, because in winter in particular, parts of the trails are closed by snow and you can’t hike to the very top. The summit is always accessible, but only by gondola in the snow. All in all, the Stans hike really is a beautiful walk that, with wonderful views along the way and – particularly at the end – your reward for reaching the top will far outweigh the effort to get there.

Anina Mutter is a sustainability blogger who can often be found roving around the great outdoors. She is committed to a more conscious approach to the environment and tries to inspire greater sustainability in a playful way. It’s been a long time since eco was boring and square – it’s now totally stylish and cool. You can find her at www.ekkoist.com and on Instagram at @aninamutter.