About Mountain Brat
Wondering who is behind Mountain Brat? Learn more about it here!
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)
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.
Trailrunning around the world
From the Bavarian Alps to wherever mountains are
Yes, we do have mountains in Germany. Mountain Brat events are happening in my home town Garmisch-Partenkirchen as well as worldwide.
