HUT EXPERIENCES IN A MOUNTAIN FOREST

You will be helping to maintain the mountain forests at the edge of the Alps. You ll be planting small trees, in order to keep the forest youthful and to establish a mix of different tree species which keeps climate change at bay. This allows the mountain forest to continue to enact its various protective measures in the future. In addition to planting young seedlings, there will be many other tasks during the camp for you to complete in order to support of the forest. These include, for example, mowing trees, building and making crates, and building pasture fences. Pasture fences help the ranger to keep an eye on the wildlife in the area. You ll be working amongst the beautiful nature and will therefore experience the background of the mountain forest. Since the weather in the Alps can change very suddenly, you will need to bring the following clothes: strong ankle-high mountain boots with a firm sole are absolutely necessary, as well as waterproof clothing and sun protection During the first week you ll be working for 5 hours every day, during the second week youll have one extra day off, so youll be working for 6.5 hours on the other days. The journey from your accommodation to the place of work is 30 ( 45 minute with a minibus. Your accommodation is in the Rastnock Huts on the north edge of the Retieralpe mountain massif, around 855m above sea level. It s located around 15km south west of Bad Reichenhall and is easily reachable through a steep forest road by car. You therefore don t need to carry your luggage all the way up the mountain. There is a large room on the ground floor with tables, chairs, benches, a wood oven, gas lighting, a gas cooker and crockery and cutlery. On the floor above there is another room with mattresses. You should bring your own sleeping bags, bed sheets and pillows with you. The toilet cabin (dry toilet/outhouse) is located outside of the huts. Water is also only available outside of the huts from a fountain or a trough. The quality of the water is not officially supervised, so you should first boil the water before drinking it. There is only warm water if you warm it up yourself using the oven, or if you build a solar shower. Please bring biodegradable soap with you. There is a meadow outside the huts on which you can play and look at the stars. More information about the mountain forest campaign can be found here: www.aelf-ts.bayern.de/forstwirtschaft/wald/124635/index.php (unfortunately only in German, but you could use an online translator in order to read the information in English or your own language).