About Mountain Brat

Wondering who is behind Mountain Brat? Learn more about it here!

The mission

The mountains are for everyone – regardless of gender, financial situation, sexual orientation, age, or skin color. My mission is to bring people together, empower them, and make the outdoors accessible to all.

Empowerment Through Adventure

At Mountain Brat, I believe that outdoor experiences can be transformative. Whether you’re planning a multi-day hike, crossing the Alps, or preparing for an ultramarathon, I help you build the physical and mental strength to take on new challenges with confidence.
Sustainability at the Core

Sustainability

Respecting nature is key to ensuring that future generations can enjoy the same breathtaking landscapes. That’s why I follow these principles:

Public Transport First – Getting to the mountains sustainably is easier than you think! In Europe, public transport is affordable, reliable, and well-connected to many trailheads. Whether by train, bus, or shared mobility options, you can reach incredible outdoor destinations with minimal environmental impact.
Explore on Foot – Slow down and immerse yourself fully in the natural world. Hiking isn’t just a way to travel—it’s a way to experience the mountains on a deeper level.
Leave No Trace – Respect the landscapes we love by carrying out all your waste and leaving nature just as you found it.
Rent Instead of Buy – Outdoor gear can be expensive and resource-intensive to produce. Renting equipment is a smart, sustainable alternative that saves money and reduces unnecessary consumption.
Upcycling & Reuse – Giving old gear a second life is one of the best ways to reduce waste. At Mountain Brat, we’re passionate about upcycling – transforming used outdoor gear and materials into something fresh and functional. Check out our upcycling collection to see how we turn worn-out gear into new adventure essentials

Mountain Brat is more than just an outdoor initiative – it’s a community. A space where people uplift and inspire each other, breaking barriers and forging new paths together. Join me in making the mountains a place of adventure, inclusion, and sustainability!

About me

Adventurer, Ultramarathon Runner, Author & Coach

Hi, my name is Kathrin, and sports have always been a part of my life. I started playing volleyball at the age of six and spent several years in competitive sports during my youth. At 15, I earned my volleyball coaching certification and have been coaching ever since, currently focusing on beach volleyball.

After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Political Science and a Master’s in Social Economics, I found my way into online marketing and product management. As a corporate nomad and freelancer, I’ve been able to combine work with travel and mountain adventures.

Over the years, I’ve expanded my interests beyond volleyball to include hiking and trail running. Driven by the dream of living in the mountains, I moved from Munich to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. I would love to share my years of experience planning and conducting thru-hike adventures, ultra hikes and trailruns to help more people discover the mountains. My expertise spans the Alps, the Pyrenees, Patagonia (Chile), Canada, Balkans, Canary Islands and the US. I’ve also successfully completed ultramarathons in Germany (Zugspitz Ultra) and Austria (IATF).

In early 2024, I launched my biggest hiking project yet and founded my own company, Bergnomadin. Through Bergnomadin, I aim to share my knowledge as a (solo) hiking woman and inspire others to embark on multi-day treks. Here’s a glimpse of some multi-day hikes I’ve completed so far:

Rota Vicentina, Portugal, 2019
Solo Alpine Crossing: Berchtesgaden to Lienz, 2020
GR 130 & GR 131 on La Palma, Spain, 2021
Part of the Haute Route de Pyrenees, Spain & France, trekking, 2021
Via Valais, the Haute Route for trail runners, solo hut-to-hut tour, Switzerland, 2022
Las Horquetas, solo tent trekking, Chile, 2023
Garibaldi Traverse, Canada, solo tent trekking, 2023
Wonderland Trail, USA, solo thru-hike, 2023
Tour du St. Bernard, Switzerland, 2024

Solo-Trekking auf dem Cerro Castillo, Chile, 2023

With Mountain Brat, the focus is less on my achievements and more on encouraging you to find and follow your own path in the mountains.

Training & Coaching Methods at Mountain Brat

When creating my training plans and programs, I draw on my many years of endurance sports experience and align with current scientific standards. These books have been particularly influential, and I highly recommend them if you’d like to dive deeper into mountain sports training:

Uphill Athlete by Kilian Jornet, Steve House, et al.
Fit für die Berge by Susanne Kraft

My training combines endurance workouts with strength and stability sessions. Additionally, mental training plays a vital role in preparing for challenging situations.

Qualifications

Since 2024: GGS-1 Women’s Coaching Specialist Certification by Girls Gone Strong
Since 2004: C-License for Competitive Sports Coaching – Sport: Volleyball, certified by the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB)

Girls Gone Strong Womens Coaching Specialication

Privacy, Cookies & Co.

Having worked in the digital field for years, I prioritize putting you, the adventurer and athlete, at the center—not just as a “user.” All the digital tools I use are carefully vetted for GDPR compliance. While I prefer freshly baked cookies in my backpack, I cannot entirely avoid them on my website.

I believe nothing in life is truly free. Most “free” online offers turn us into the product, paying with the data we provide. At Bergnomadin, I strive to take a different path:

Using privacy-compliant, data-sparing tools, predominantly from the EU.
Avoiding the common practice of affiliate marketing, even though it means foregoing income.

I rarely make product recommendations, and I do not receive commissions for any suggestions about hikes or regions. If this changes in the future, I will clearly disclose it.