When the mountain calls you – and you find a part of yourself again A very personal travel story from Aoraki/Mount Cook

When the mountain calls you – and you find a part of yourself again

A very personal travel story from Aoraki/Mount Cook

Sometimes you enter a place without realizing it will leave a mark. Sometimes a day starts like any other – and ends up being something that stirs, inspires, and changes you from within. Aoraki/Mount Cook was such a place for me. Amidst wind, mountains, and the stories of people who have crossed boundaries, I rediscovered something today that often remains hidden in everyday life: the perspective on who I really am – and why entrepreneurship, courage, and humanity touch me so deeply.

Even waking up, the day felt special. Maybe it was the crisp air, maybe the vastness of the mountains, or perhaps just a quiet intuition. When we set off, I didn’t yet know that this day would strike me profoundly both personally and entrepreneurially.

As we drove into the Mount Cook valley, a landscape unfolded that was bigger than words. Mighty mountains, a sky that seemed almost too clear, and a feeling I don’t often experience: something is happening to you here. The wind was already howling in the valley below, but that was just a taste of what was yet to come. I stood there, looking up, and although I’ve experienced a lot and seen much, this sight struck me right in the heart. It was as if nature was saying: “Glad to have you here. Now hold on tight.”

At the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre, I came across the story of Rodolph Wigley. And this truly moved me. This man was, to me, somewhat like an Elon Musk of his time: one whom no one wanted, who no one believed in, and about whom many said: “That will never work.” And yet, he did it. He found solutions, circumvented rules, started anew when all seemed lost – and laid the foundation for today’s tourism around Mount Cook. What fascinated me was not his success, but the way he got there. This unwavering “I’ll do it anyway.” This working against resistance, against doubt, against boundaries. I saw myself in those entrepreneurial moments where courage was more important than comfort. Stories of people who were originally unwanted and who later changed everything – those are the stories that captivate me.

The portrayal of Sir Edmund Hillary also left an impression. Knowing that the man who conquered Everest trained here, at exactly the spot where I stood today, gives it all a special energy. You can feel his spirit, his courage, his determination. It is a place that shapes people. Perhaps it shaped me a bit today as well.

And then the wind came. I’ve experienced so much – but never a wind like this. No gentle breeze, no soft waft. This was sheer force of nature. A wind that grabs you, shakes you up, and pushes you back. One that reaches speeds of 200 to 300 km/h at higher altitudes. At the viewpoint, I had to spread my legs to avoid stumbling. My jacket flapped so loudly that I couldn’t hear my own words. And yet – or perhaps precisely because of this – I loved that moment. No filter, no protection, just reality. A reminder of how small we are and how vast the world is.

What also surprised me today was the hiking. I always thought walking was boring. But this was not walking – it was a hike, a little adventure that you can navigate yourself. Going as far as it feels good. Daring as much as it feels right. And while we were on our way, I suddenly envisioned doing this regularly with my wife. Not too dangerous, not too long – but in a way that is beneficial for both of us. We need to discuss this, of course, but I believe it could be something that connects us: going to a limit together without crossing it. This thought made me truly happy.

As we drove back, I felt fulfilled. Not just because of the landscape, but because of the stories behind it. Nature, people, courage, risk, and pioneering spirit – all of this deeply resonated with me today. It was a day that advanced me personally. A day that inspired me entrepreneurially. A day that showed me that sometimes you just need to look at the mountains to remember who you are.

Aoraki/Mount Cook is a place that remains. A place I recommend to anyone who wants to experience nature, feel adventure, and come a bit closer to oneself. For me, it was a day full of emotions, humility, inspiration, and gratitude. The pictures I upload tell the rest of the story.

And as I looked over at the mountain one more time in the evening, glowing warmly in the last light, I knew:

This place has given me something that stays – courage, clarity, and the anticipation of perhaps soon taking new vacation paths with my wife, step by step, as far as it feels good.