Meet the team

Passionate hiker and founder of hiking-trails.com Elmar spends every year months ands on the trail. Mostly on the lookout for hidden gems in his favourite countries Slovenia, Switzerland and Japan. Has worked for the Alpine asscociation in the Netherlands[ (NKBV) but has lost his heart on the trails.

With this website and socials I hope to shape an inclusive community for hikers all over world. No matter your speed, experience or level, go out there, enjoy the trails and community. Life is so much better out there and I hope to inspire and connect hikers to set their first or next step on the trail.

After a whirlwind of 8 years on the road (and trail!), Katie has hiked the Camino Frances, the Peaks of the Balkans, the Fisherman’s Trail, and extensively in the United States. She is an avid trail runner and now lives in Colorado where she plays in the mountains in her free time. You can follow her adventures on Instagram.

Hi, I’m Björn, from Kiel, Northern Germany. I’m a 35-year-old Civil Engineer succesfully hiked the Pacific Crest Trail NoBo in 2023. As an alien, there’s lots of stuff to do, before you lock your house in Germany and move to the U.S. for half a year.I love being outside, hiking, climbing, running, and swimming. Cooking, Baking, and dehydrating food is also a passion of mine.

Together with his partner Anika, Björn invented the Laeppie for European thru-hikers.

Hey everybody, My name is Chris, 32, I was born and raised in eastern Austria, lived in Vienna for more then 10 years, and since 2020 I am travelling the world with a bunch of stops for work, as hiking and travelling doesn’t pay the bills 😉

I did my first Trail in 2016, which was the at this time not soooo famous Fishermans Trail in Portugal. I hiked it in January and enjoyed the solitude I had during those impressive hikes. Since then I did around 10 Trails all over Europe, but mainly in the south as I really prefer the Mediterranean climate.
I have a quite big knowledge about flora and fauna, and really enjoy to share it while exploring new places and learning new things.

I also document my journey and hikes on my Youtube Channel. Have a look if you like.

Deen and Alette, from Hikaholics, originally started hiking for their mental health and haven’t stopped since. They are outdoor filmmakers on YouTube where they share the beauty of long-distance trails, give information about backpacking trips, and talk about outdoor gear. After multiple well-known European long-distance trails, it is time for their next big adventure: the PCT class of 2025.

Born in the city, I was always annoyed by the streets crowded with cars, the buildings that hid the sky, and the rush of people. I soon realized that my place was no longer in Padova but in the white rocks of the Dolomites. So I used to spend the week at the University of Forest Sciences, and the weekend exploring the trails of the Wight Mountains because I wanted to get to know them in all their nuances.

It was my parents who took me to the mountains from an early age. They took me to Val di Zoldo, in the winter with skis on my feet and in the summer to walk, but… I hated it! I was annoyed, all I did was ask, “How much longer?” But then I grew up, and I discovered that walking is essential for me. Scouting then taught me about the outdoors and the satisfaction of long treks in tents. The Italian Alpine Club made me discover mountaineering and the world outside Val di Zoldo. But walking was never enough for me, I was hungry for trails, views, and adventures. So I accumulated experience and kilometers, and in 2021 I realized a dream I had cradled for years: in 3 months I crossed the Alps on foot, from Finale Ligure to Trieste, alone and sleeping in a tent!

On this trip, I searched for my way in these mountains, until I realized that there is nothing that gives me greater joy than bringing people up here and watching their astonished expressions in front of so much beauty. So at the end of the trip, I took the course to become an Environmental Hiking Guide, and now I bring people up here, where falling in love is easy.

Ellie Berry is a long-distance walker and Irish mountain climber. Since 2017, she has walked over 4,000km of trails around Ireland with partner Carl Lange. In 2023, she set a new Irish record for the fastest known time for climbing all 275 mountains on the island of Ireland in a little over 50 days. You can find her adventures documented on toughsoles.ie, and follow her on Instagram @tough_soles.

Hadrien and Lisa weren’t born in the mountains, as they respectively come from Brittany (France) and Belgium, and live in the Netherlands. Nevertheless, over the past 10 years, they gradually gained experience and knowledge each year, ultimately leading them to Thru-hike the French Alps and the Pyrenees, as well as doing the Camino twice! You can follow Hadrien and Lisa on Instagram @the.wild.dukes

Hanne Govaerts is a Belgian outdoors enthusiast. During the week she works a full-time office job but every moment of spare time she tends to spend outdoors, on trail. Her passion for hiking started at the early age of 16, when she impulsively went on a summer camp hiking the Wicklow Way in Ireland. Ever since, her holidays have been filled with hiking trips such as the Matterhorn Trek in Switzerland and the Kumano Kodo Nakahechi Route in Japan. Hanne’s main goal is to hike all the Belgian long-distance trails. With its +/- 10.000 kilometers of trails throughout the country, it’s a challenge that should not be taken lightly. You can follow her hiking adventures on her Instagram account @hannehikes.

Ilse was born in Belgium but lost her heart – literally – to North America. She has hiked the Great Divide Trail and part of the Pacific Crest Trail. Somewhere on the PCT, she met her husband Ryan. Together, they have hiked trails in Sweden and Portugal. After a year on the road, they are back in Belgium, saving up money for future adventures. You can follow Ilse on Instagram.

I’m Jannik and I like hiking. Trekking even more. And I also like to document my adventures. That’s why I founded @Trekkinglife together with my good friend Thomas. Check out our Blog trekkinglife.de for serious content or our YouTube and Instagram for fun content!

Jerome left everything he had behind in Belgium ten years ago and after a long trip reached Southeast Asia where he lived there for a couple of years. From Vietnamese rice terraces to Borneo’s deep jungles, from Mount Fuji to the Everest base camp, he hasn’t stopped moving since, always looking for new challenges and seeing as many wonders as he can. You can discover his photographer’s work and follow Jerome on Instagram here: @jerome_srv

Having always been ‘sporty’ but never one to excel in any particular pursuit, Jess loves the simplicity of long distance: you don’t need to be particularly talented or fast at walking, you need only put one foot in front of the other. 

And it’s going the distance that truly tests one’s character. Slowing right down to see the natural world and its magnificence, and truly seeing it. To continuously be navigating new waters, and learning along the way. It’s the sense of freedom and resilience that Jess is consistently hungry for, to witness herself in all manner of experiences and extremes. To trust each tiny step, and to remember the bigger picture will take care of itself.

After a few long distance cycle tours, Jess was supposed to cycle around the world. Having planned and saved for many years, only a global pandemic could be the reason she didn’t go. So in the summer of 2020, craving some transformation and adventure, she decided to shave her head and start walking from her house in Bristol. She would go for 3-4 days at a time and enjoyed a few trips exploring the landscapes around the city and beyond. It was on these hikes that she and her partner started dreaming of bigger hikes for even more nature immersion. The thru hiking obsession had begun so by the summer of 2021 they were ready to take on the UK’s longest footpath along the South West Coast Path. The following summer they decided to return to Turkey to trek the Lycian Way, followed by hiking the GR5 route across the French Alps. After some shorter thru hikes in the UK, Europe and walking in the Himalayas, they are currently preparing for the PCT in 2024.

Jess has type one diabetes, eats a plant based diet and wears barefoot shoes. For work she is a wedding celebrant and yoga teacher on retreats. Check out her website to read more about her offerings and insights on her blog, and follow her PCT journey @uprootlife.

Lenny Bassleer is born in the Flemish Ardennes, in Belgium. He is known as the youngest person who ever walked the highest distance in a lifetime under the age category of -30 years old. With 2 world records and one European record, he is a crazy hiker. He hiked all over the world, finishing the Pacific Crest Trail, the GR5, the Via Francigena, and way more.

You can follow Lenny on Instagram Lenny Bassleer (@ultrawalkerlenny) • Instagram photos and videos

 

 

Lisa Butler has been obsessively hiking long-distance trails for more than ten years. She’s covered more than 7,000km all over the world. She prefers to hike solo to give her a deeper connection to nature and encourages as many women as possible to hike and wild camp solo too. You can follow Lisa on Instagram @thruhikes.

Maja grew up in Bavaria. Her outdoorsy parents inspired her to start adventuring and backpacking as a teenager. After adventures in Scandinavia and Patagonia, she thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail in 2023 and has her eyes set on the Triple Crown. If she doesn’t hike, she runs: you can follow Maja on Instagram @running.pdf

Philipp Eilmer was born in Austria, a country known for the breathtaking landscapes of the Alps and unspoiled nature. He thrives in the outdoors and his curiosity leads him to explore the wonders of nature by foot. He loves the untamed trails of North America and finds solace under the beauty of star-covered skies, whether sleeping in his tent or embracing the rugged simplicity of cowboy camping. You can follow Philipp on Instagram @phips_snowcat

Pradeep is a passionate solo hiker residing in Eindhoven, a vibrant city in the Netherlands. He enjoys traveling and shooting pictures of big rocks. When he’s not gallivanting through the wilderness, he’s often found contemplating unemploying himself and bringing dishonor to his Asian ancestors. You can follow Pradeep on Instagram @the.tipsy.professor.

Blessed with the blissful curse of wanderlust, Roel has built his life around adventurous travel since 2018. He can either be found roaming remote wilderness or on the outskirts of mass tourism, hunting for unique experiences among worn-out tourist trails. Over the years, his ambition to become a full-time travel writer has led him to explore trails and adventurous destinations all over the world. You can follow his adventures on Instagram @beatthetrail or via his website.

Sancia Gimbel, born and raised in Germany, has always searched for her next adventure. Having predominantly traveled solo, she is well acquainted with the advantages and disadvantages of being a solo hiking woman. Having hiked several trails all over Europe, her favorite place (and biggest adventure) is still Scotland.

Her current plan is to explore South America, mostly through backpacking and hiking in Patagonia, and North America through road trips and hiking over the next few years. You can follow her adventures on Instagram!

Sarah Busby is a British freelance editor based in Cornwall. Happiest when on a long-distance trail, she aims to spend at least two to three months each year hiking. Highlights of the last ten years include the Pacific Crest Trail in America, the W Trek in Patagonia, the Annapurna Sanctuary and Poon Hill trails in Nepal, the GR10 across the Pyrenees, the GR5 from Geneva to Nice, the Via Alpina in Switzerland, the Lycian Way in Turkey, the Peaks of the Balkans Trail, the Tour du Mont Blanc, the Andalucian Coast to Coast Walk in Spain, the West Highland Way and Great Glen Way in Scotland, and the Pennine Way in England. You can follow Sarah on Instagram.

Rayu is a solo hiker at heart. She has hiked in the wilds of Canada, embarked on freestyling through Montenegro and Latvia, and has also hit the beaten track of Kungsleden, Rota Vicentina and the Jordan Trail, among others. She is a certified hike & survival instructor, and also runs the all-round preparation process for the Fjällräven Classic Sweden and gives workshops. Be sure to check out her website: hikenbeginthier.nl.

Silvie Asler was born in Berlin with no mountains far and wide. However, as soon as she moved to Switzerland for a job, she immediately fell in love with the country and its mountains. She spends her free time  in the Alps or the Dolomites, whenever possible with her family. She particularly likes multi-day hut-to-hut hikes and her life goal is to visit every of the official SAC mountain huts in Switzerland. You can follow Silvie on her blog, on Facebook or on Instagram.

Sofia Rosendo was born in Portugal, by the sea. It was not until a later date that she found the mountains and fell in love. From the Alps to the Andes and several stops in the Himalayas, she is still trying to find her favorite mountain. You can follow Sofia on Instagram @berrygirltravels.

Stiina is an IML-qualified mountain leader and an experienced long-distance hiker. Together with her partner Kris, they love to explore trails all around the world, learning more about themselves with every adventure.

Tiina has been running, hiking and describing trials for over a decade. She grew up in the Baltics, which instilled her with love for forest trails, wild swimming and foraging. Outside of her day job as a product designer, she regularly competes in endurance running races and enjoys exploring the UK and European trails on foot. You can follow Tiina on Instagram @tiinagolub.