Healthy Stress & Hiking Paths

Humans are complex beings  – at least I am…. a study in contrasts at times.

I have traveled around the world, yet I was almost too afraid to explore Vienna’s hiking paths on my own, and I hadn’t found anyone to join me. It’s not like I spent my first 4 months here locked up in my room, but this is something I had wanted to do and hadn’t.   I didn’t know how safe it would be for a woman alone to be walking in the woods around here.  I didn’t know how to get to the trail heads.  All sorts of little fears had gotten in the way of my making it to the thirteen hiking paths around Vienna.  Until yesterday.  The sun was shining and I had done my research (plus I’d written I would in my blog, so….).  I felt the fear, but did it anyway.  Have you read that book? “Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway” by Susan Jeffers?  I did about 15 years ago, and I’m a big fan!  I’m also a fan of a saying that was printed on my Lulu Lemon yoga bag:  “Do one thing a day that scares you.”  It’s good to stretch our comfort zones – that’s how we grow.  My life is a testimony to that.  And lo and behold, Sunday morning, I even learned how to make my body’s stress induced reactions healthy! During breakfast, I watched a great TED Talk (14 minutes) that revealed scientific evidence on how our beliefs change our reality – worth a watch!  Stress, it turns out, is not a public enemy.  It’s only bad if you believe it is.  If you believe it’s good, your body will respond differently and you’ll live much longer.  Check out the video – I’m sure it has added a few years to my life!

After watching that, I headed out with a healthy attitude.  I had chosen Hiking Path #1 (logical, I know) – Kahlenberg, described as “an uphill walk through vineyards and wooded hills rewarded by a marvelous view of Vienna and the Danube.”  Perfect!  And it was.  As it often happens, there was absolutely no reason for fear… It was simply wonderful! It often is.

They advertised that it is a 3-4 hour hike – it took me 4 hours and 20 minutes from the end station of tramway D – the start of the 11km loop.  I only brought my iPhone to take pictures, but I still like to walk at a leisurely pace, so I’m usually slower than most.  It was awesome!  There were times I was on my own, but the trails were far from empty: people of all ages – walking, jogging, mountain-biking, dog-walking, pushing strollers and wheelchairs, and nordic pole walking.  This is how Viennese balance their café & confectionery culture!

The path was pretty well marked, but I’m glad I had written down the route’s major landmarks.  There are lots of trails that intersect this loop and I had to ask a few times to make sure I was still on track (literally!).  There was only once when I was wasn’t – I had gone a hundred meters down a very steep hill, only to have to climb back up again.  Good exercise!  As you’ll see in the photos, some of the paths are paved, on gravel, or packed dirt – or mud.  I enjoyed the variety and loved being able to see past the buildings across the street.  It felt so good to be in nature!

When I got to the top, the clear blue skies had turned a bit cloudy, so the views of Vienna weren’t perfectly clear.  That’s OK.  I joined all those who had gotten there by bus or by car (the parking lot was full!) to admire the view.  I also treated myself to some roasted potatoes and a delicious bowl of goulash soup (that was for you Papa), which I ate sitting on a bench in the sun. I don’t usually eat beef, but was in the mood to taste this traditional dish.  I then entered the packed church in time to hear a lovely hymn.  In addition to the church, Kahlenberg is home to a transmission tower, a historic tower, food stands, tourist shop, a fancy restaurant, ballrooms, hotel, private university, conference rooms, and a house with a big back yard and several Newfoundlander dogs.  Nice! By the way, the washrooms on the descending path near the bus stop are the only free ones.  I saved a Euro there and many people do along the trails, as I found out when I saw something move downhill from me while I was talking a picture.  (The elderly gentleman standing next to me didn’t say a thing while I was shooting away near his wife’s hideaway… oops!)  After spending half an hour at the top, I headed back down past a really cool hebertism trail (obstacle course among and up the trees) and through the forest and vineyards.  In the fall, tourists and locals spend a lot of time up here at all the heurige – wine taverns.  Since I could never get past the smell of wine, this hasn’t been part of my experience.  I love Vienna’s spring water though 🙂

Note: There was an interesting plaque at the top of the hill that left me curious – I don’t have much time to research it now as I need to get to school soon, but it turns out that it’s about a parallel universe and the creatures that live there. Seems that Kahlenberg is also known to some as Seen des Himmels (Lakes of the Sky). Check out their website if you want to know more and click on this image to see it larger – hopefully you’ll be able to read the text.

Anyhow, I had a great day in nature and now I’m excited to explore the other 12 trails – I’ve got til June! I tell ya – feel the fear and do it anyway!  It’s worth it!

P.S.  On Saturday night, Ellen and Monica, two of my roommates, went to a ball in the Hofburg Palace – it was organized by their university.  Ball season is such an important part of Vienna culture, and one I won’t be participating in, so I wanted to share a couple of their photos.

Have a great week and hope you get some time in nature!