Herbert Raffalt

Born in 1964, mountain and ski guide, author and passionate photographer. He is a training officer for Styrian mountain guides and has been a full-time mountain guide for more than 35 years. He knows the mountains of his homeland like no other, but all the other great peaks of the Austrian Alps are also part of his working area.

For more than 20 years, I have relied on quality products from LOWA for my mountain and photo tours. The shoes are unconditionally reliable and comfortable. The Lowa employees are like a big family to me, a close-knit team with a keen sense of their customers' needs and an unbridled dedication to value and quality.

Herbert Raffalt,

HOW DID YOU GET INTO MOUNTAIN SPORT AND WHY DID YOU CHOOSE IT?
"The fact that my passion for the mountains would develop into a career was neither planned nor foreseeable - it just happened in a wonderful way. On the one hand, I never wanted to do anything other than climbing, and on the other, mountaineering took up so much of my time that there was hardly any time left for other interests. A lucky coincidence led me to train as a mountain guide at a young age. This gave me a professional foothold and I started my own business as a state-certified mountain and ski guide."

HOW HAS SPORT CHANGED YOUR LIFE?
"As I've always spent a lot of time outdoors, I can't say what life would be like without mountains and sport. Mountaineering and photography have always characterised my activities. I'm not sure whether it's the mountain that really motivates me to set off early in the morning or whether it's the prospect of a particularly atmospheric picture in the great outdoors. It's probably the interplay of these passions."

DO YOU HAVE A TIP FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO START MOUNTAIN SPORTS?
"Definitely start with short tours. Use good equipment and listen to advice."

HOW DO YOU CONQUER YOUR INNER PIG DOG WHEN TRAINING?
"The desire to exercise must be at the forefront. Otherwise the motivation wears off quickly."

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE TOUR? AND WHY?
"My favourite tours are those that last several days. My favourite tour is definitely the "From Glacier to Wine" route from the Dachstein across the whole of Styria. I enjoy the rhythm of walking without a fixed destination, without knowing where to set up camp at the end of the day."

WHICH PLACE SHOULD EVERY PERSON HAVE SEEN ONCE?
"The place that has touched your heart the most is your personal place of longing. Perhaps a well-kept secret."

WHAT DOES YOUR PERFECT DAY LOOK LIKE?
"A happy face at the end of a day of leadership."

WHAT DOES HAPPINESS MEAN TO YOU?
"When I recognise the beauty of my surroundings."

WHAT ARE YOU MOST THANKFUL FOR?
"For my family."

IN WHAT WAY DO YOU ENJOY LIFE MUCH MORE THAN OTHERS?
"I enjoy the privilege of being outside every day, which is not something I take for granted."

WHAT IS YOUR MOST IMPORTANT LIFE WISDOM?
"To be happy and make others happy. (Peter Rosegger)"

WHAT OTHER HOBBIES DO YOU Pursue, apart from mountain sports?
"Photography, cycling, family."

WHICH DAY TRIP CAN YOU RECOMMEND? AND WHY?
"For me, the summit of the Dachstein is one of those tours that I always enjoy doing, both professionally and privately, because the impressions on the mountain are never the same."

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE LOWA SHOE?
"There are several. It depends a lot on the purpose. But I particularly like the very light ALPINE EXPERT II GTX performance shoe and the all-purpose MADDOX GTX for light sporty use."

THREE THINGS EVERY HIKER/ALPINIST SHOULD HAVE IN THE BACKPACK:
"A shirt to change into, a hat to keep your ears warm and a good camera to capture that special moment."