Mountaineering in Saxony: “We don’t climb against rocks, but with them”

Since this week, mountaineering in Saxony has been added to the list of intangible cultural heritage. Uwe Daniel, chairman of the Saxon Mountaineering Association, explains why. A conversation about sleeping outside, free climbing – and humility.

TIME ONLINE: Mr. Daniel, the highest mountain in Saxon Switzerland is the Großer Zschirnstein at 561 meters. That would hardly be considered a hill in the Alps. Why is it still worth climbing in Saxony?

Yours Daniel: (laughs) With us you can experience great adventures without having to make a long climb. It doesn’t matter the altitude or the level of difficulty of a route. For me, the focus is on experiencing nature and community. And I think that applies to all of us here. Because the landscape in Saxony with its peculiarities limits our options – and that’s a good thing. Preserving nature is our priority.