I first learned about Liechtenstein in a history class four years ago. It sounded like a fairytale. A tiny country tucked into the Alps with castles and kings. I never thought I’d actually go there, let alone hike through it on my own. But biathlon has a funny way of making the world feel smaller, and adventures like this feel possible.
Liechtenstein is a 25km-long country sandwiched between Austria and Switzerland. It’s only 35 miles from where I’m staying! That might sound like a quick trip, it did to me, but with my lack of cell service, limited German, and minimal public transportation experience, it turned into a full-day solo adventure. Exactly the kind I love.
My morning started with a bus to the next biggest town, where I was supposed to catch my very first train ride ever! That didn’t go quite as planned, I missed the train by about ten seconds. But it gave me 30 extra minutes to wander through the little city of Chur and just enjoy being somewhere new.
Once I caught the next train, things got smoother. A little bus took me through the almost all of Liechtenstein, winding through several towns before we reached the capital city of Vaduz. That whole journey was about thirty minutes. From there, I stocked up on hiking snacks at the main square (always a priority) and set off toward the mountain towering over town.
This hike was more than just sightseeing, it was a chance to train somewhere completely different. Walking around a new place is one thing, but climbing a distance on foot adds a whole new layer. I passed the royal castle where the king and queen of Liechtenstein live, wandered by old ruins, hillside farms, and fields of cows. I stepped on a pier overlooking Vaduz with Switzerland just across the valley, crossed paths with some very determined snails, and hiked about six miles uphill before hitting the main trailhead.
That’s where things got really magical.
The forest turned into tundra, and the Swiss Alps opened up in every direction under a blue sky. The wildflowers were in full bloom, adding color all around me. I stopped at a little well along the trail and filled up my bottle with fresh mountain water, which is the first I’ve had this year. I’ve been craving it for months, and it felt so good to finally take a sip in such a unique place.
When I finally reached the top after three hours of climbing, it felt like I was standing on the top of the world. The views, the heat (it was almost 90° even up there!), and the little mountain breeze made it feel like time had slowed down. I ripped open my snacks, sat in the sunshine, and soaked in the fact that I was standing at the top of a whole country.
The bus ride back down to Vaduz passed through a couple little towns, where every house looked like it belonged in a storybook. I stopped at a small café for a post-hike meal and slice of cake before beginning the journey home, which of course included missing another bus about 5k from my stop. But at that point, I had achieved my goals for the day and didn’t mind too much.
One of the coolest things about being an athlete is landing in places you never imagined, seeing them in your own shoes, and letting them become part of your story. Liechtenstein wasn’t on my calendar, but now it’s a core memory.
If you’d like to support my training journey, I’ve put together a GoFundMe to help with the costs of travel, equipment, and race prep. I’m so grateful for all of you cheering me on from back home, it means everything.
