Recap May 2024

Hello there! Can you believe we’re almost halfway through the year? May has been filled with activities for us. Due to some long weekends and holidays, we managed to pack in a lot of outdoor adventures. Let’s get into what we’ve been up to this past month.

Activities

The list of activities this month is … surprising long as you can see.

A Surprising Village Walk

We started May with a leisurely walk in a nearby village, which turned out to be a hidden gem for photography. The quaint village scenes provided some surprising and delightful photo opportunities. It was a perfect way to ease into the month’s activities. Read more in “A Walk to an Unforeseen Beauty in the Backcountry“.

Stihl Timbersports Event in Lenggries

One of the highlights of the month was attending a local Stihl Timbersports event in Lenggries. For those who might not be familiar, Timbersports is a series of competitive logging events where athletes showcase their skills in chopping, sawing, and other wood-related tasks. It’s a display of strength, precision, and endurance, with competitors going head-to-head in events like the underhand chop, the single buck, and the springboard chop. The atmosphere could have been a more enthusiastic to be honest, but it was fun to see! See Timbersports on Wikipedia or the official Stihl Timbersports webpage if you want to read more.

Mountain Hike Near Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Next up was a mountain hike near Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The weather was quite variable, adding an extra layer of challenge and beauty to the hike. We captured some stunning footage and compiled a video to share the experience with you. It was a rewarding day in the mountains, and the changing weather made for some dramatic scenery. More details and a video can be found here: Springtime in Alpine Meadows

Cycling Loop on Our Wedding Anniversary

To celebrate our wedding anniversary (well not really but it’s a fun fact to mention), we went on a scenic cycling loop between Staffelsee and Ammer. The route was filled with picturesque views and tranquil moments, making it a perfect way to commemorate the day. The weather was kind, and it was a memorable ride through some beautiful landscapes.

Hörnle Mountains Hike

One of the more challenging hikes this month was over the Hörnle Mountains in the Ammergauer Alps. The trail offered a mix of steep ascents and rewarding vistas, making it a satisfying trek. The changing terrain kept things interesting, and the views from the top were well worth the effort. Details and a video can be seen here: A Four-Summits day in the Ammergauer Alps

Satisfying MTB Solo Loop

I also tackled a very satisfying solo mountain biking loop through our local mountains, revisiting a trail I hadn’t ridden in years. The experience was exhilarating, and I documented the journey in a blog post and video. It was great to see how much has changed and improved over the years, both in terms of the trail and my own biking skills. More including a (in my opinion) great MTB video: Rediscovering a Mountain Loop: A 40km MTB Tour

Quick Local Mountain Loop

Following the solo MTB loop, I went on a surprisingly quick loop over a local mountain. The speed and efficiency of the ride were unexpected, and I captured some great footage to share. It was a refreshing ride that left me feeling accomplished and energized. Photos and video can be seen here: An Unexpected Full Loop

Relaxing Walk with Macro Photography

After my wife recovered a bit, we took a relaxing walk focusing on capturing the beauty of small details with macro photography. While the views weren’t epic, the intricate close-ups of flora made for a rewarding outing. It’s amazing how much beauty you can find when you slow down and look closely. A Relaxing Hike Through Nature’s Details

Beautiful Hike in the Karwendel

Towards the end of the month, we enjoyed a beautiful hike in the Karwendel near Scharnitz. This trek was particularly scenic, and I still owe some photos and possibly a video from this adventure. The landscape was stunning, and it was one of those hikes that stays with you long after you’ve returned home.

Additional Mountain and MTB Loops

In addition to the main activities, we also completed several other mountain and MTB loops that were less noteworthy but still contributed to a very active month. Given that all these adventures were packed into weekends and bank holidays, it was a remarkably fulfilling May.

Photo- & Videography

A while ago, I decided to spread some joy by sending out 20 postcards featuring one of my favorite photo motifs. These postcards were sent randomly to people in my address book, simply to say hello or thank you. The responses were overwhelmingly positive, and one friend was so inspired that she ordered postcards to do the same. I might dedicate a blog post to this little project in the future. It’s a small, thoughtful gesture that can brighten someone’s day without much cost – something worth considering if you want to make someone smile. And if you want to make me smile, you can order my motives as postcards as well 😉

I’ve also delved deeper into video production. After quite some experimentation, I’ve become more comfortable with Davinci Resolve. This software has made editing more manageable, although it can be a significant time investment. Creating professional-looking videos is challenging (and costly!), but as long as I keep my expectations realistic and continue to enjoy the process, I plan to keep at it.

Blogs

Despite the busy month, I managed to publish seven blog posts. Each post is packed with photos and videos from our various adventures. Here’s a quick recap:

Thank you!

May 2024 was an incredibly active month, filled with lots of activities. As always, your feedback and engagement are greatly appreciated. Here’s to more exciting adventures in the coming months! Thank you for following along, and I hope you enjoyed this recap <3