The Berlin High Trail (Berliner Höhenweg in German) is an ambulatory gem of the Zillertal Alps and one of Austria’s finest multi-day treks. Measuring 86 km (53 mi), and with a total elevation gain of 6,605 m (21,670 ft), I hiked the trail over four days in mid-October, 2019. My base weight for the BHT was 4.8 kg (10.6 lb), with a total pack weight of 6.2 kg (13.7 lb). Temperatures on the hike ranged between 12°C (54°F) and -9°C (15°F), and during the journey, I encountered persistent freezing rain, snow, and icy conditions. For an overview of the hike, see A Quick and Dirty Guide to the Berlin High Trail.
Nearing Friesenberg Haus, late afternoon on Day 1 (the only clear day of my hike).
| ITEM | WT. (OZ) | SUB (oz) | SUB (kg) | COMMENTS |
| BACKPACK | ||||
| MLD Burn DCF | 16 | Ultralight, frameless, slim profile – I’ve been using different incarnations of the Burn since the mid-2000s / I’ve had the DCF model since 2018. | ||
| Pack Liner (Trash Compactor Bag) | 2 | Cheap & effective | ||
| 18 | 0.51 | |||
| SHELTER | ||||
| Tarptent Aeon Li | 16.8 | Uber-lite, holds up OK in a storm when pitched low (108cm), and very roomy for something which weighs around a pound / Note: I didn’t end up using it as I stayed in the winter rooms. | ||
| Stakes – Easton “Nail” models (6) | 1.7 | |||
| 18.5 | 0.52 | |||
| SLEEPING SYSTEM | ||||
| Pad – Thermarest NeoAir XLite (Sm) | 8 | Very comfy / Doubles as makeshift framesheet for pack (See 20,000 + mile review) (Note: As with the tent, I didn’t end up using it on the BHT). | ||
| Quilt – Katabatic Alsek 22 (Long / 900fp) | 22.2 | Conservatively rated 22°F / More than 900 nights using Katabatic quilts since 2011. | ||
| 30.2 | 0.86 | |||
| KITCHEN | ||||
| LokSak 20×12 (Food Bag) | 1.2 | Food storage bag of choice since the mid 2000s. I often hear people complain about the seals breaking quickly, but I’ve always found them to be fairly durable (4 to 6 weeks of daily use) if you don’t overfill them. | ||
| Toaks 700ml Titanium Pot | 3.1 | |||
| Toaks Titanium Siphon Alcohol Stove |
0.7 | |||
| Toaks Titanium Alcohol Stove Pot Stand | 1.2 | |||
| Titanium Long-handled spoon | 0.7 | |||
| SmartWater Bottles 1 LT (2) | 2.6 | |||
| 9.5 | 0.27 | |||
| FIRST AID / HYGIENE | ||||
| Sunscreen (repackaged in tiny bottle) | ||||
| Hand Sanitizer (repackaged in dropper bottle) | It’s been more than 20 years since I’ve had a case of the runs in the backcountry. I think a big reason is my diligent use of hand sanitizer. | |||
| Aquamira (repackaged in dropper bottles) | Purification method of choice since 2007. | |||
| Toothbrush | ||||
| Toothpaste (mini tube) | ||||
| Dental Floss | Doubles as sewing thread | |||
| Antiseptic Wipes (2) | Clean cuts/wounds | |||
| Gauze | ||||
| Triple Antibiotic Cream (tiny tube) | ||||
| 3M Micropore Medical Tape | Breathable, paper tape / Adheres well. | |||
| Ibuprofen (6) | ||||
| Sewing Needle | One-armed blind people can sew better than I can. | |||
| Tenacious Tape, Duct Tape, Mini Tube Super Glue (repairs) | To compensate for lack of sewing skills. | |||
| 4 | 0.11 | |||
| CLOTHES | ||||
| Rain Pants – Montbell Versalite | 3.2 | Very light and water-resistant. Fine for on-trail hiking, care needs to be taken when heading off-trail/bushwhacking. | ||
| Thermal Underwear – Montbell Super Merino Middle Weight Tights | 6 | |||
| Rain Jacket – Montbell Torrent Flier | 6.5 | The newest incarnation of the Torrent Flier. A couple of ounces lighter than the older model. For off-trail, I prefer the heavier 3-Layer Montbell Storm Cruiser. | ||
| Insulation – Insulation – Montbell Chameece Inner Jacket (No longer made/Replaced by Montbell Chameece Jacket) | 8.8 | I’ve owned this fleece for the last four years / Ideal summer insulation layer for the Alps– not too heavy, performs well when damp, takes the edge off chilly mornings. | ||
| Insulation – Montbell 1000 Alpine Down Parka | 9.1 | Great warmth-to-weight ratio. Upgrade over long-time favorite 3-season puffy, the Superior Down Parka. | ||
| Extra Socks – Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew | 2.6 | Kept dry for sleeping/ Doubled as mittens when temps dipped well below freezing. | ||
| Buff (Original Polyester) | 1.4 | Beanie, neck/face protection, condensation wipe, convenience store holdups if low on cash. | ||
| Montbell Chameece Liner gloves | 0.9 | Almost four years of regular use and still going strong / Easily the best liner gloves I’ve used, and it’s not even close. | ||
| Montbell Dry Tec Over Mittens | 3.2 | |||
| 42.7 | 1.2 | |||
| MISCELLANEOUS | ||||
| Phone – iPhone 11 | 7.1 | |||
| Otter Symmetry case for iPhone 11 (orange) | 1.3 | |||
| Camera – Sony RX100 3 + Neoprene camera case | 11.3 | After a few years of using only my phone, I bit the photography bullet in 2018 and upgraded for the Scotland/Norway trip. Happy with the results so far (Note: In 2021, I went a little further down the photography rabbit hole and picked up a Sony a6400 / 18-135 mm lens). | ||
| Stuff sacks – HMG Cuben Fiber (2) | 2.4 | |||
| Headlamp – Nitecore NU25 | 1.8 | Excellent rechargeable headlamp. Most of the time I tend to use the low red setting to preserve night vision. | ||
| Montbell Trail Wallet (orange model) | 0.5 | Love this little wallet. Use it both on trail and off. Upgrade from the plastic cardholder. | ||
| Swiss Army Classic | 0.7 | For a long time, I really only used the tweezers and scissors, but in recent years I’ve carried more cheese and veggies on shorter hikes, meaning that I now use the knife as much, or more than the other two features. | ||
| Compass – Suunto M-3G Global Pro | 1.6 | Adjustable declination and globally balanced needle (more responsive than my old Suunto M-2). | ||
| Small pen | 0.3 | |||
| Deuce of Spades potty trowel | 0.6 | |||
| Map Bag – Quart Size Ziploc | 0.2 | Keeps maps clean, dry & organized. | ||
| Salewa Mountain Spikes | 11 | Similar to Kathoola Microspikes | ||
| Montbell Alpine Carbon Pole Cam Lock | 7.1 | Upgraded after many years of using the Fizans, due to the fact that I’ve had the twist-lock mechanism fail on me a couple of times in extreme conditions / Cam (flip) lock easier to handle, more secure, and worth the extra ounce and a half. (Note: The 2022 model is lighter, tipping the scales at 6.7 oz). | ||
| 46.5 | 1.3 | |||
| BASE WEIGHT | TOTAL | 10.6 lb | 4.8 kg | |
| ITEMS WORN | ||||
| Shorts – Patagonia Baggies 7″ | 6.7 | Hiking shorts of choice since 2014/15. The 7″ are long enough that they can be used on trail but still look respectable around town. See Review. | ||
| Base layer – Montbell Cool Hoodie | 6.6 | This was the first sun hoodie I’ve ever tried and I have to say I was impressed. Light, airy, dries quickly, the kangaroo pouch was handy for snacks/phone/map, and when combined with the baseball cap, it provided great sun protection. | ||
| Hat – CDT Baseball Cap | 3.2 | |||
| Shoes – Brooks Cascadia 13 | 23.6 | I’ve worn every model of the Cascadias since the 3’s, which came out more than a decade ago. Since that time I’ve tried Altras, La Sportivas, and a couple of other different brands, but I always come back to the Cascadias. | ||
| Socks – REI Merino Wool liners | 1.6 | Still my favourite liner socks, though the current models aren’t as durable as the pre-2013 versions. | ||
| Dirty Girl Gaiters | 1.2 | Handy for keeping out dirt and mud. I’ve been using DG’s since 2007. | ||
| Montbell Gore-tex All Round socks | 2.2 | |||
| Timex Ironman Watch | 1.4 | Cheap, durable, light, multiple alarms | ||
| Sunglasses | 0.8 | Polarized lenses, 100% UV protection, wrap-around. | ||
| 58.3 | 1.7 | |||
| TOTAL WEIGHT | 13.7 lb | 6.2 kg | ||
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Hi Cam
Was it the cold conditions that you included your Toaks cook pot and stove? Are you planning on taking your stove more often? I hiked on the Superior Hiking Trail, last year and on the 2nd day had a bear 100 to 150 yards ahead of me on the trail. I was glad I didn’t have a stove or food that needed prepared. Never missed hot coffee until after the 3rd bad storm. But soon forgot about it.
This was the first time hiking without a stove and really it was nice not to worry about it.
Thank you for a Great website and all the tips and information!!! Class Act!!!!
Regards
Randy
Hey Randy,
Thanks for the message and kind words. During warm/hot summer trips, more often than not I’ll still go stoveless. The same goes when hiking in bear country. For shoulder season/winter excursions or chilly high-altitude summer hikes, I’ve been increasingly taking a stove.
Cheers,
Cam