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Up the trails, into the lanes. And then into the mountains! Have you been dreaming of an adventurous trek in the mountains, but are dreading it like a mountain? Or have you already tied the knot and want to prepare yourself properly? Then treat yourself to the Mountain Girl Weekend! We are sure you have it in you, we will show you! We have all the knowledge and skills to prepare you for a real mountain trip. Just close to home in the Belgian Ardennes. Because even there the landscape is rich and exciting enough to master the basics of mountain hiking. Unwind, relax, learn survival mountain skills, enjoy and go offline. And, not to forget, insanely good "eating outside" from the fire.
So: do you love the outdoors, want to learn how to get through mountainous terrain safely while enjoying everything around you AND do you want to become a real Mountain Girl? Then this is the weekend for you (and your girlfriends). Put on your hiking boots and join the adventure!
The Mountain Girl Weekend is the perfect opportunity to challenge yourself and prepare for a real mountain trip. Whether you are an experienced mountaineer or have never climbed a mountain before, our weekend in the Belgian Ardennes is suitable for everyone. So what are you waiting for? Become a real Mountain Girl and join us on this unforgettable weekend!
You wake up and start looking forward to what is to come. Maybe pack the last things and then you travel to the Belgian Ardennes. Are you coming by car? It's nice if you can travel together with someone, it saves CO2.
Starting at 6 p.m., we will welcome you on site with a light meal and the rest of the evening we will get to know each other around the cozy campfire.
After breakfast we will go on a hike of about 15 km. Along the way, you will learn how to read the terrain and orient yourself from a topographic map. In the mountains, these are crucial skills that you must master in order to find your way safely. Furthermore, you get lots of interesting explanations about the flora & fauna present in the Belgian Ardennes. Tonight we enjoy a campfire dinner and good conversation and conviviality around the campfire.
This morning also starts the day with a campfire breakfast. Today there is not only a hike of +/- 10 km on the program, but also an awesome workshop Outdoor Cooking! Focus is on sustainability, slow cooking, taste and enjoyment.
For our hike today we drive a short distance by car towards a spectacular part of the Ardennes: Le Hérou.Along the way, you will face an extra challenge: rocks to climb and clamber over with steel cables! That means you learn how to find your way safely through less passable, rocky terrain as well. In the mountains, this is spectacular because of the height differences and rugged landscape. The Ardennes, however, are very suitable for teaching you the basics of via ferrata, so that you are not completely unprepared when you actually get to that rock face. A great preparation for the real thing!
Today it is already time to say goodbye. After breakfast, you will return home with a charged battery and a mountain of knowledge.
You are a nature lover and enjoy hiking. Of course you are athletic, have an adventurous spirit but also like to relax after a hike. You may have never done a multi-day hike in the mountains, but you have been in the mountains before and know what it is like to ascend and descend. You don't find this scary; on the contrary, you love doing this!
A good basic condition is necessary, but you really don't have to be a top athlete. You will make some altimeters. In the Ardennes there are often short but steep bits of uphill climbing. Altimeters and rocky trails are a challenge you are looking for!
To leave enough room during the day hikes for quality time for yourself and with each other, it is good to know that we will cover a maximum of 400 altimeters daily. Hereby the day trips are between 3 to 5 hiking hours per day (not counting breaks and stops for photos and the like). A walking condition of 4 hours is nice, where you don't mind bringing your own daypack (+/-5 kg).
We start and end each day at our basecamp. You sleep in your own tent.
This weekend is the level for the athletic hiker who loves adventure. Besides the fact that the tours are more challenging and longer than for the beginner Mountain Maid, this weekend we will also work on our navigation skills. Because without navigation skills, things can get tricky in the mountains. The trails we'll be hiking are well-traveled. If the path gets a little narrow, you won't suffer from vertigo. Here and there the terrain gets rocky and we use steel cables for support. This requires extra focus and attention but these sections are clear and give an extra dimension to the trip.
Weather or no weather, I can basically always be found outside. Whether I'm in the woods or in the mountains, I get a lot of energy from both. Exercise and getting out from behind your screen is something everyone should do more often. So my motto is to "unplug" and "play outside" in the great outdoors as often as possible. Hi, I'm Gerty, wilderness guide and a real Mountain Girl, nice to meet you.
This week I will take you into the Outdoor Cooking kitchen and together we will make and of course eat the most delicious campfire dishes! In addition, I will guide you through the beautiful Belgian Ardennes, where there is still much to learn.
For example, do you know what to do when there's a thunderstorm in the mountains? Or should you put your feet at an angle on a steep section or straight ahead? I will take you into the world of mountain living and teach you some survival and mountain skills during this unforgettable weekend. Whether you are training for a hike in the real mountains or just discovering if this is something for you, one thing is for sure: you will relax, learn and most of all really enjoy yourself here. On to new adventures!
Getting to Belgium by train, yes you can! First you travel from the Netherlands to Liege. From Liege you can travel further to Houffalize where we have built our basecamp. If you want to know more about this, let us know. Then we will take care of an itinerary. Or book your own trip via NS International.
We sleep in a rustic nature campsite in the heart of the Ardennes. An oasis of peace and nature. From the campsite there are many hiking and hike possibilities through the lush forests, the small streams you sometimes have to cross and the magnificent wildlife. The Ardennes is known for its vast forests, which is nicely divided between coniferous and deciduous trees. This provides variety in atmosphere and effect.
La Roche - en Ardenne
Unplugged Outdoor is moving into beautiful surroundings of La Roche- en Ardenne for the next few days. The forest with a thousand shades of green. The Belgian Ardennes is 'the basecamp' for the Mountain Girl Weekend.
If you want more travel information about the Belgian Ardennes, read on here.
Booking is possible until April 9, 2024
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Unplugged Outdoor
Boterbloemstraat 28
4841 LM Prinsenbeek
Basecamp spot in the forest & in the mountains
Phone number
+31 (0)6 164 476 33
KvK no. 85131709
