Hiking Guide Tirol
Jonathan
I'm Jonathan, founder of Hiking Guide Tirol. The idea to become a mountain hiking guide was born from two passions and one big dream. My passions are, on the one hand, hiking — especially through the mountains with their stunning views — and on the other hand, creating meaningful and memorable experiences for people.
My big dream was to live in the mountains. And by live, I mean truly being out there every day. Whether it's hiking, rock climbing, or simply taking in the view from a mountain hut terrace, I find joy in it all.
Thanks to my background, I am fluent in Dutch, German, English, French and Italian, which allows me to welcome and guide people from many different countries.
Below, I’ll share a bit more about how these passions came to life and what else I do as part of this journey.
Hiking
Over the years, I've completed a variety of multi-day treks and day hikes, exploring the mountains of Austria, France, Switzerland and Italy. The highlight of these journeys was completing the GR20 in Corsica, as you can see here on the left.
Other memorable hikes were hiking in Vanoise, the Meraner Höhenweg, a personalized tour in the Ardèche and my very first thru-hike from Maastricht (NL) to Arlon in the south of Belgium
Chiro
Chiro, the largest youth movement in Belgium, has had the biggest influence on my life. It's a place where play is at the heart of everything, but above all, it’s about doing things together.
I spent 8 years as a member, followed by 5 years as a youth leader and another 5 years in a coordinating role. During that time, I gained a lot of experience in creatively organizing activities and events for all ages. As part of the coordination team, we brought youth leaders together and I facilitated workshops on motivation, leadership, and designing engaging games.
It’s also the place where I’ve grown the most on a personal level.
Climbing
Climbing is a sport I discovered in 2020, and it was love at first try. I started indoors, where I found the perfect mix of strength, balance, and problem-solving. But once I got onto real rock, it immediately became something more: a sense of freedom.
Out there, you rely entirely on yourself and your climbing partner. Hanging at a multipitch anchor 400 meters above the ground, there's nothing but silence and the stillness of nature.
After climbing my first 7a indoors, I also started teaching beginners. Being able to pass on that spark of passion to others is the most rewarding part of it all.
Ski and Snowboard
After building up a strong passion for summer mountain sports, I also discovered a love for the winter season. A good friend taught me how to snowboard, and not long after, I obtained my Snowboard Anwärter qualification. After just a month of teaching, it became clear that this was something I wanted to pursue much further.
Over the course of two full winter seasons at Skischule Kostenzer, I also completed my Ski Anwärter. I now thoroughly enjoy spending five months a year teaching people from all walks of life on the slopes.
Whenever I get the chance, I also like to go snowshoeing. It’s not about speed or distance, but about taking the time to enjoy nature in all its winter beauty.
©fineprintsbyxenia
Alpinism
The perfect mix of climbing and hiking. It often starts with a long approach to a mountain hut, carrying a heavy backpack along trails that are already a bit more technical. The next day, we’re up early to cross a glacier and head for the summit. Sometimes it’s absolutely exhausting, but always worth it. Especially now, with glaciers disappearing at a record pace and conditions constantly changing, I want to discover as many of them as I can while I still can.
Friends
Perhaps the most important element in all these adventures: friends. As Christopher McCandless once said, "Happiness is only real when shared."
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Being able to share these beautiful moments with friends is what has made every step worthwhile. And it’s that same sense of shared happiness that I hope to create with the groups I guide, so that new memories are made, and friendships that last a lifetime can begin.
Dogs
Why do I want to organise dog-friendly hikes?
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If you were to take a quick scroll through the camera roll on my phone, you'd notice one thing that keeps popping up: dogs. Ever since I was a toddler, we've always had a dog at home. For me, they’re loyal companions who are always by your side, they stick with you through the hard times and make the good moments even better.
That’s exactly why I want to make sure they can be part of your dream adventure too.
My biggest inspiration
My dad, my best friend and my guide in life.
He was the one who took me on hikes, to football matches, out on the road bike, and, now that I think of it, even on my very first climbing experience when I was 11.
In 2015, he sadly passed away from ALS, but I carry him with me in my heart on every hike I do.
Beyond the sporting adventures, he also taught me the most important lessons about how I approach life and how I treat others.
