Erasmus Blog

Hiking the Border: A 20km Challenge in the Czech-German Mountains

One mountain, two countries, twenty kilometers and one unforgettable day with Erasmus friends.

Hiking Trip
15 April 2025
2 min
Mathis Marsault
img1
Edited 1 month ago

Early Departure, Big Plans

The day started before sunrise. At 7:30 AM, my friends Calixte, Louis and I boarded a train from Pilsen to Špičák, a small mountain town near the Czech-German border. The train ride took about 1 hour and 30 minutes, giving us time to prepare mentally (and caffeinate a little, not a beer...) before the challenge ahead.

 

station Pilsen

 

Entering the Wild

Arriving at Špičák station, we were greeted by fresh mountain air and clear skies — the perfect conditions for what would become a tough but amazing hike. The trail was marked as hard and covered over 20 kilometers through forests, across rocky paths, and over steep climbs.

We weren’t alone on the trail. Throughout the hike, we met other international students — hikers from Germany, Spain, and even a few locals who offered us directions and smiles. The forest was peaceful, and the landscape looked like a postcard.

 

Lack Spicak

 

Czech Pannel Summit

 

A Lunch to Remember

After several hours of uphill walking, sweat, and breaks to admire the view, we reached the summit — marked by a large wooden cross. From up there, the views were breathtaking. Mountains, valleys, and tiny villages could be seen in every direction.

We sat on the rocks, unpacked our sandwiches and snacks, and just enjoyed the feeling of being on top of the world. It felt like more than a meal — it was a celebration of effort, friendship, and the beauty of the Czech landscape.

 

Lunch summit view Spicak

 

Capturing the Moment

Throughout the hike, we filmed the experience and turned it into a vlog.

 

You can watch it here

 

It shows the highlights of the journey, from the climb to the summit, and the laughs we shared along the way.

 

Miniature Vlog1

 

A Quiet Finish

After descending, we found a quiet spot to rest — legs over a cliff, staring out at the horizon. We barely talked. The silence said everything. Tired, but deeply satisfied, we knew we had created a memory for life.

 

Back to Pilsen

At 18:00, we caught the return train from Špičák, tired but happy. The ride back took another 1 hour and 30 minutes, and we spent most of it looking at the pictures and laughing about the small moments that made the day special.

 

Thank you for reading this article,

See you soon!