Onwards to new peaks...
Written on the flags of the German Alpine Club (DAV) Expedition Teams are the words "On to new peaks". The aim of the two and a half year long Expedition Team program is simple: to encourage a new generation of alpinists to explore unclimbed routes.
The first training expedition was announced in the early 1980s. The aim was to promote expedition and performance mountaineering, and to encourage DAV sections to undertake mountain trips abroad independently; in order to introduce young, ambitious mountaineers to the mountains of the world. The concept of the expedition team was launched in 1999, and the first team started a year later under the direction of trainer Jan Mersch.
For us, our partnership with the Men's and Women's DAV Expedition Teams represents a commitment to the next generation of alpinists. It is no surprise that many members of our own team, Susi Süßmeier, Raphaela Haug, and Martin Feistl, are themselves former members of DAV Expedition Teams.
What was your best experience as part of the DAV Expedition Team?
"Certainly the final expedition as a whole, but of course also individual summit experiences on the way there." Martin Feistl | 2018 Team
"For me there is not one experience, but a lot of experiences: sunrises, sunsets, cold nights, bad bivouacs, good burgers after the tour and and and ... I don't want to miss any of the experiences!" Raphaela Haug | 2019 Team
"It was a lot of great experiences! I particularly remember our training week in April 2015 in Chamonix, where we found perfect conditions and were able to do many long tours in rock, ice and snow. The trip to Tajikistan was a special experience too!" Susi Süßmeier | 2016 Team
Women’s DAV Expedition Team
Amelie Kühne, Caro Neukam, Luisa Deubzer, Lea Luithle, Janina Reichstein, and Rosa Windelband make up the 2020-2022 cohort of the Women's DAV Expedition Team.
For the Expedition teams, working in extreme weather conditions in the Alps and beyond comes with the territory. This is kit they'll be putting to the test in Winter 2021.
Men’s DAV Expedition Team
The Men's 2021 DAV Expedition Team comprises of Thomas März, Korbinian Grünauer, Hermann Böttcher, Fabian Hagenauer, Florian Storkenmaier, and Korbinian Fischer.
For the Expedition teams, working in extreme weather conditions in the Alps and beyond comes with the territory. This is kit they'll be putting to the test in Winter 2021.