Transalp video series: In 7 days to Lake Garda: Day 7 - a matter of nerves

For anyone who has crossed the Andes, the Caucasus and the Himalayas, the Alps should be something of a home game. After all, Europe's highest mountain range is better developed than any other mountain range in the world. Especially if you have set yourself a more classic MTB route from Penzberg to Lake Garda. And yet the new Transalp video series by adventure filmmaker Peter Baumeister shows once again that the Alps - even with the best preparation - simply remain unpredictable.

The route: a Transalp classic - but with detours into the unknown

In 7 stages by mountain bike from Penzberg via the Karwendel and the Dolomites to Lake Garda: the planned route will be a real firework display in terms of scenery. Some of the competitors have also upgraded their technical equipment: This year, the planned route includes more single trails. Some of them have switched from their old hardtail to a brand new fully. But will that be enough? To spice up the classic route, route planner Peter Baumeister went back to the drawing board and marked a few promising trail branches on the paper map. Trails that he himself doesn't yet know how to ride and neither do his 10 companions. Of course, a dash of adventure is a must and shouldn't harm the film dramaturgy either. We are excited.

The new Transalp project by adventurer Peter Baumeister

And that's what this crossing of the Alps is all about: Peter Baumeister had his film camera and drone with him again in August to capture the experiences of this Transalp. Like last year, he will now upload the individual stages to his YouTube channel as a seven-part series. If you want to join in the excitement again, we will be following the series and announcing each clip here in good time with advance information so that you don't miss a single episode.

Stage 7: From the Schlernhaus to Lake Garda - the long finale

• Length: 140 kilometres
• Uphill: 400 metres in altitude
• Difficulty: gruellingly long
• Mood: between ouchy and festive

From the summit cross of the Schlern down the beaten path through the rocky gorge, through South Tyrolean alpine meadows and then against the wind to Lake Garda: such a variety of landscapes is possible if you get up really early and set yourself 140 kilometres for the last day. On the 7th stage, the boys get the last bit of energy out of themselves. After all, today is mostly downhill and the anticipation of Lake Garda is immense. But that was to be the undoing of one or two of them. Because as their strength wanes, so does their concentration. Short breaks with carbohydrate refuelling can help. The boys also do this in Trento and Rovereto. But not all of them, because one of them lost the night before while playing. His punishment: at the first rest stop, when everyone is eating a delicious ice cream and sipping a nice espresso, he goes home empty-handed and has to watch. How mean. But: gambling debts are and always will be debts of honour. At the end of this very, very long day in the saddle, the boys reach the roundabout in Nago and roll down the last descent, where the view of Lake Garda opens up after the next bend. Congratulations guys!

The video premiere of the final is Sunday, 3 December at 6 pm.

Stage 6: From the Sella to the Schlernhaus

• Length: 40 kilometres
• Uphill: 2200 metres altitude
• Difficulty: high percentage
• Weather: nice, but it's getting thick...

2,200 metres in altitude are piled up over just 40 kilometres today - that's the price you pay for riding your Transalp course through the most beautiful scenery in the Alps. After all, the Dolomites are not only beautiful, but also steep. Especially if you want to push forward into the most spectacular scenery on your mountain bike. So the prospects for stage 6 are: painful. But the Transalp group around Peter Baumeister doesn't realise any of this in the morning. Once again, they peel themselves out of bed at an even darker, earlier hour to experience the sunrise with the 3343 metre high Marmolada in the most beautiful summer weather. Its glacier tower is freshly sugared after all the precipitation of the last few days. A sight that is hard to tear yourself away from.

But the boys have to keep going. After all, 2200 metres in altitude are on the agenda. The first of these are covered relatively quickly with the tarmac bends up to Passo Pordoi. But the tourist hype at the top of the pass is annoying. That's why the boys rush straight on down the trail to Canazei and decide to tackle Val Duron at the bottom before the lunch break. Then, after the rest, there is only one day's ascent left.

A good plan, but this last test of the day turns out to be an executioner: the gravel path towards Tierser Alpl is super steep. A rustic mountain hut located directly on the Schlernwand. Problem: the group has to get up to the Schlern! And that means for the rest of the route in this wall: bike on the back, carrying passage in the rock. In this incredible scenery, some of the group reach their physical and mental limits. Also because now of all times, during this slog, the weather comes to the fore again. This time with a whole new twist: fog. Or as the boys call it when they have finally climbed the Schlern: Whiteout. And that sums it up pretty well, because up there: zero panorama and zero visibility on the trail descent to the Schlernhaus stage finish.

Stage 5: From the Dürrenstein hut to the Sella massif

Braies Dolomites, Fanes, Sella Group: the scenery in the Alps could hardly be more magnificent: on the morning of stage 5, the Transalp group led by Peter Baumeister wakes up in the Dürrenstein hut in the middle of the Braies Dolomites. To deeply inhale the spirit of these mountains, the boys crank up the Strudelkopf at sunrise. The weather is still not great, but the view of the famous Three Peaks is still bombastic. Beforehand, by the way, there was a very, very early, very special breakfast. Served by the loser of the previous evening's match. Just as well, because today the group could really do with every calorie. Rough trail descents and two long, painfully steep climbs are on the programme towards Sella today. Including the one to the overnight destination: the reserved beds are waiting in the dreamlike Crep de Munt hut near Corvara at an altitude of 2000 metres.

Stage 4: From St. Johann into the heart of the Dolomites

• Length: 70 kilometres
• Uphill: 1400 metres in altitude
• Panorama: Sensation!

Back in the saddle at last: after the 10 friends almost had to abandon their tour due to torrential rain in North Tyrol, Peter is merciful on the morning of the fourth stage. At least it's not raining any more. So, well rested, the boys get back on their saddles and head for Bruneck, the capital of the Puster Valley. There they take a cappuccino break before the main scenic programme of this year's Transalp route opens up: the Dolomites! Today the group climbs up to Prato Piazza and wants to spend the night in the Dürrenstein hut. A comparatively pleasant ascent in the Dolomites, which are particularly rampy. But as always, a few more or less pleasant extras await on the route.

Stage 3: From Mayrhofen to St. Johann im Ahrntal

The weather forecast didn't sound good the evening before: "It's going to rain non-stop in North Tyrol tomorrow, there's a risk of mudslides." Exactly, and unfortunately that's what happened. In fact, on the morning of the third stage, it was the end of the world. The rivers were foaming over, all Tyrolean pass roads were closed and there was a risk of mudslides. So it was clear: the route from the Zillertal over the Hundskehljoch into the Ahrntal, which everyone had been looking forward to, would have to be cancelled. Now you might think that a group of Alpine crossers would simply spend the whole day relaxing in the sauna, but that wasn't the case. There were too many things to do in the hotel for another challenge. You can see this and how the boys managed to reach their destination in the end in the clip from the third episode.

Stage 2: From the Hallerangerhaus to the Zillertal

• Length: 80 kilometres
• Uphill: 600 metres in altitude
• Difficulty: difficult

Today we're heading into the first unknown! Anyone who has ever pushed themselves up the ramp to the Hallerangerhaus in the rear Karwendel valley will probably have climbed the steps to the hut terrace and then shot back down the valley on the same gravel path after stopping for refreshments. But not without noticing the trail junction directly at the hut. The Hintere Karwendeltal is not a dead end at all. At least not if you're prepared to invest a little energy. Unfortunately, the trail up towards Lafatscherjoch (2081 m) only looks rideable up to the first hairpin bend. After that, it mutates into a climb. Once again, you have to push and carry for almost 300 metres in altitude.

But for those who have eaten and slept well in the Hallerangerhaus, this is no big deal. Especially because the Karwendel backdrop becomes more impressive with every step. Unless the weather doesn't play ball, it's freezing cold and you can't see anything because of the clouds. But that would be bad luck. Wouldn't it? We don't want to give too much away. Just this much: newcomer Lori has to pay off her gambling debts and start the second day with a very special breakfast: outside, alone and in the rain.

Stage 1: from Penzberg to the Karwendel

The Transalp textbook says: You should always choose a shorter first stage. This is to allow you to roll in and because on the first day there are usually still a few adjustments to be made to the bike and equipment. Especially with larger groups, this can add up to quite a bit of break time. But Peter, the route leader, starts his friends off on a sportier note right at the beginning: The start is on his doorstep in Penzberg, the first hut bed is booked in the Hallerangerhaus in the rear Karwendel valley. This means: 80 kilometres and 1750 metres in altitude await on the very first day. Only those who had taken a look at the map beforehand could have guessed that the metres in altitude would pile up, especially on the final ascent...

Teeny-tiny spoiler: There was no low mood on arrival at the hut this time. This year, the beds were reserved in the right hut. But of course there were completely different problems.

Part 1 with the first stage starts on Sunday, 12 November at 6 pm. The other stage clips will follow on Wednesdays and Sundays at the same time.