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A heroine on the dream path: Sylvia Congost conquers the Alps!
Discover the story of Sylvia Congost, who was the first woman to hike the Munich-Venice dream path in 1974.
A heroine on the dream path: Sylvia Congost conquers the Alps!
The Alps shine in their full splendor and attract thousands of hikers every year who want to explore the legendary Munich-Venice dream path. A brief look back at the beginnings of the popular hiking trail shows us how it all began: In 1974, the then 16-year-old Sylvia Congost ventured on the 30-day journey from Munich to Venice with two experienced mountaineers, Ludwig Graßler and Arnulf Killmann, which subsequently became known as the dream trail. Mercury reports that Congost retreated from the public eye after the hike, while Graßler became a legend in mountaineering circles before his death in 2019. Killmann followed him in 2024.
The route itself leads through an impressive landscape, from the Bavarian foothills of the Alps over the Karwendel to the majestic Dolomites, before finally ending at the Venice Lagoon. Graßler talked about this fascinating route in a book from 1977, which describes the hiking trail as a “dream path”. Munich-Venice.de explains that the entire hike takes about four weeks and that immersing yourself in the sea water on the Adriatic coast creates an indescribable feeling.
The dream comes to life
The path is still an insider tip as it has not yet been recognized as a European long-distance hiking trail. A newly designed website is intended to help better document and publicize the route. This platform not only offers information about the 28 hiking stages, but also tips on preparation, best travel times and necessary equipment. For hiking enthusiasts, there is a “Reports” section where personal experiences and tour reports can be shared so that future hikers can start well informed. Practical tips and a list of maps and guides can also be found on the website.
In an exciting twist, Congost has recently brought on board a Dutch television journalist, Twan Huys, who is planning a book about the dream path. This contact gave Congost the opportunity to show her personal photo album from the time of the hike, which she had almost thrown away. Memories that she associates with a poster about the hike lead to a rather wistful look back at her unique experience. She feels the urge to relive the freedom and vastness of the landscape that she enjoyed during the trip.
Memories and the here and now
The hike not only strengthened Congost's self-confidence, it was also a formative experience for her life. After the tour, she gave up long walks and took to jogging. She traveled to Singapore and hikes in Indonesia, but remains true to her mountain roots and often visits the Dolomites. She only walked the dream path once, but the memories of it remain unforgettable.
Interested hikers can follow the route in detail and divide the stages flexibly. An interactive map that shows various views such as satellite images and contour lines is also available. This makes planning your next hike child's play. Munich-Venice.net offers helpful tools to tackle the dream path.