
What we’re about
- You want to practice and improve your German but don’t want to spend your evenings locked in yet another classroom listening to the teacher’s grammar monologues, you want to “live” the language now that you got to a B1-B2 level.
- You want to keep regularly active and prefer the outdoors to the gym environment.
Welcome to the club!
This group is for people in Zurich and surroundings who are determined to learn German in Switzerland and enjoy spending time being active outdoors.
The idea is to have regular after-work walk up the Uetliberg (or similar effort outdoors around the Zurich area) and use the time to practice German together.
There is no competition and no hard goal other than enjoying an evening outside keeping to a healthy regular physical practice and learning together.
If you are a fluent German speaker and are just interested in a regular after work hike to keep fit and don't mind listening to broken German then you are also more than welcome :)
“We rarely think about change this way because everyone is consumed by the end goal. But one push-up is better than not exercising. One minute of guitar practice is better than none at all. One minute of reading is better than never picking up a book. It’s better to do less than you hoped than to do nothing at all.”
― James Clear, Atomic Habits
IMPORTANT
I am not a professional guide. You are responsible for assessing each event as if you were planning it independently.
Each event is arranged as a casual meetup of independent adults getting together over a common interest.
You participate on your own authority and entirely at your own risk. You particularly need to assure adequate assessment of the risks, preparation, equipment and insurance cover as if you were going by yourself.
Upcoming events (1)
See all- Greina plateau weekend hike with German - ItalianZurich train station, zurich
The Greina Plateau lies between the cantons of Graubünden and Ticino. Even as early as the Roman era, important routes across the Alps led through this region. The plateau has remained an untouched jewel because it is still only reached on foot.
Due to the limited number of spaces that could be secured at the mountain hut it's only possible to have a very small group of 4 people on this 2-day hike crossing the Greina Plateau from Graubunden to Ticino.
As we already have one native German and one Italian native speaker, both able to switch between the two languages, this hike would be perfect for someone who is interested in practicing/speaking one or both of these languages while enjoying this weekend outdoors.
######### the hike #################
We hike two days, crossing from Graubunden to Ticino, with an overnight at the Terrihütte.
The goal is to take it easy, enjoy the landscape and nature, however check the plan carefully and consider whether your experience in the mountains matches the profile of these hikes, under potentially varying conditions.It is the first time I do this route myself and I am not a guide.
The plan and information below is based on my research as if I was going on my own. Each participant is responsible for researching and making their own assessments before deciding to join.I put a lot of work into planning this weekend, but I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information I have found.
8 eyes are better than 2. ;-)Insurance cover is entirely your responsibility.
############ How to join
I have made bookings for the mountain hut and the compulsory reservation on the Alpin bus at the start.
The rest you need to arrange yourself (e.g. optional overnight on Friday and the public transport).To join, I ask that you TWINT me the fee for the overnight at he hut and the Alpin bus fee in advance.
Send me a private message to organise.
Once paid I will add you to the confirmed list of this event.
In case we have to cancel due to unsafe weather, I will follow the cancellation policy of the hut.Once 4 spaces are confirmed the event is full.
############ Friday 25.07.2025 ###################
Optional overnight in Rabius-Surrein on Friday, if you want to avoid the early train on Saturday morning.You need to book this by yourself.
We plan to stay at Hotel Greina https://www.booking.com/Share-kT52KGv
We will most likely go to Rabius-Surrein with this connection
18:30 - 19:52 Zurich HB - Chur
19:55 - 20:57 Chur - Rabius-Surrein############ DAY 1 - Saturday 26.07.2025 ################
If you are NOT coming Friday night, you will have to catch the 06:36 IC connection from Zurich HB - Chur and the connect to this:09:20 - 09:43 Bus: Rabius-Surrein Staziun - Bogn Tenigia/Tenigerbad (4 spaces booked)
Hike day 1: Tenigerbad - Terrihuette
T3 / 10km - 1066m up - 206m down / approx. 5hrs excluding breaks at a leisurely pace according to Switzerland Mobilityhttps://schweizmobil.ch/en/tour/673511976
The bus Alpin drops us at Tenigerbad at 09:43 in the morning.
From here we start our hike on the partly steep, well-marked path on the ridge of the Crest la Greina.
According to the description of this hike on the hutte’s website access page, this is an entertaining and varied trail with some exposed sections equipped with chains and iron pins.! No restaurants or huts on this route:
bring your own packed lunch, snacks and sufficient water for the day.Dinner and overnight for 4 people at Terrihütte booked.
Let me know if you need a vegetarian meal.Price per person:
https://www.hut-reservation.org/data/files/787051ea-74e8-44d6-8e2b-bb8f6228353d_TerriHuette%20pricelist_2025.pdfCHF 99.00 (non SAC members)
CHF 85.00 (SAC members)################### DAY 2 - Sunday 27.07.2025 #############
*** Timings are approx. just to give an ideaBreakfast at Terrihütte
09:00 start hikingHike 2: Terrihuette - Pian Geirett
T2 / 12.2km - 562m up - 732m down - approx. 4hr40 excluding breaks at a leisurely pace according to Switzerland Mobilityhttps://schweizmobil.ch/en/tour/1917767956
We take it easy to hike form Terrihütte to Pian Geirett exploring the passo della Greina and the Greina Arch.
Lunch: we plan to stop at Capanna Scaletta
16:06 - 16:42 Bus Pian Geirett - Olivone, Petullo (Bus alpin Valle di Blenio Linie 62.135 (this time is fixed: this is the last possible bus of the day)
17:08 - 17:51 Bus: Olivone Petullo - Biasca Stazione
17:55 - 18:09 Train: Biasca - Bellinzona
18:25 - 20:15 Bellinzona — Zurich HB (there is an earlier connection with change in Arth Goldau but not recommended by SBB due to high numbers, but we can always decide to take it if we reserve spaces).Note: we give ourselves some slack to arrive in Pian Geirett.
In case of issues with the bus we have still the option to hike down from Pian Geirett to Campo Blenio:From there we can find a connection to Zurich (last possible connection at 19:00).
##### don't forget #######
- packed lunch for 1st day and any snacks you may need throughout the weekend
- sleeping bag lining for the hut
- small toiletries
- ear plugs
- hiking boots protecting the ankle
- layered clothes for hiking
- rain protection suitable for hiking
- sun protection (cream, head cover, glasses)
- water
- money/card to pay extras at huts and 2nd day lunch
- good mood :-)
########## I am not a guide and this is not a guided tour ##############
You participate on your own authority and entirely at your own risk. You particularly need to assure adequate assessment of the risks, preparation, equipment and insurance cover as if you were going by yourself.Note: in case of weather forecast that could be deemed unsafe for the hike, I reserve the right to cancel the event.