But first things first: My name is Lubika and I have been working as a trainee at ALPIN (Print & Online) since December 2021. While I tend to clamber along in the pleasure area when climbing, I also like to go on mountain and high-altitude tours in mentally and physically demanding terrain. A few weeks ago I climbed the southern ridge of the Vordere Brandjochspitze with two friends with whom I travel regularly. We are a well-established group that seeks challenges on the mountain and pushes our own limits (especially in our heads).
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Südgrat Vordere Brandjochspitze@betweenHeadlineTag>
On the tour to the Vordere Brandjochspitze in the Nordkette in the Karwendel, you follow the course of the ridge, which is sometimes more or less airy, in a logical line. There are hardly any set up security options, the tour must be secured independently if necessary. This is one of the reasons why it is primarily climbed by people who can handle it without a rope. The crux is a short “spreading step” of about one meter on both sides. However, all three of us jumped (the tallest in my group is about 1.85 meters, I’m small 1.60 meters).
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The first of us filmed me from a safe place, you can see the video here on Instagram:
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Critical comments and our responses @betweenHeadlineTag>
When we decided to release the video with an updated tour description from the archive at the morning’s online editorial conference, I had no idea it would be clicked so many times. In addition to many positive reactions, we also received critical comments. We think that’s a good thing, after all it’s a topic we want to discuss with you.
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A follower wrote on Instagram: “I’m critical of posting a video like this on social media…could find reckless/insane imitators…it looks so easy on the film….”
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Our answer: “We talked longer in the online editorial office about whether we wanted to post the video and this time we decided to do so. After all, we are a magazine for mountaineers and it is precisely the key point of a tour that interests us. Right , the ridge is a tour for ambitious/experienced people. That’s why we write it here under the post and several times in the tour description.”
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A second comment read: “On the one hand, post this video and glorify carelessness in alpine terrain and, on the other hand, spread news about a mountaineer who died in an accident in the stories. Somehow I don’t like that.”
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We answered: “We are both an information medium and a contact for tour tips – that sometimes includes something more demanding. In our opinion, showing a key point only has something to do with carelessness or glorification if it happens without comment and without valid information, which is not the case here is”
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Insults against us@betweenHeadlineTag>
As the video really “gained momentum”, the first insults trickled in – either against me personally or against us as a team. On our Facebook site To date (as of June 23, 11:30 a.m.), the video has reached more than 700,000 people, and more than 630 people have clicked the “I like” button. Most were positive, but some described the video and/or me as “sick”, “stupid”, “brainless”, “insane” or even wished them “have a good flight”…
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You read about hate so often on social media, but I found it blatant and hurtful to feel it myself. I felt put on the defensive, although I stand by the video and our information about it and the tour would go like this again at any time.
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Volunteer Lubika with her mountain friends at the summit of the Vorderen Brandjochspitze.
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© Florian Marshal
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We are often confronted with such hateful comments in the team. If we show easy, frequently used tours, we “lure” even more people into the already crowded mountain world. If, on the other hand, we choose something difficult, we “lure” imitators into tours that are too difficult.
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We at ALPIN are a platform for all mountaineers and part of it – we think – is sharing authentic impressions of our mountain life with you. This can sometimes be a more difficult route. Our idea is that a well-researched tour description with warnings is better than a misleading layman’s post on relevant portals.
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Vote: We want your opinion@betweenHeadlineTag>
Now it’s your turn! What do you think of our video and how do you generally feel about the question of whether such videos should be posted?
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Write us in the text field or in the comments, we look forward to your opinions!
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