View from the summit of Roßstein mountain, Bavaria, Germany

© Christian Bäck/eStock Phot

International Mountain Day

It's International Mountain Day! To celebrate, we’re in the German state of Bavaria on top of the Roßstein, looking out over its slightly taller neighbouring peak, the Buchstein, at 5,580ft (1,701m) in altitude. Together, they form a double summit in the Tegernsee mountains. Nestled between them is the Tegernsee hut, sometimes referred to as the “eagle’s nest” due to its location. This little refuge offers board and lodging to hikers and climbers up here in the Bavarian Prealps.

International Mountain Day was established by the UN in 2003 to highlight the importance of mountains, which host about half of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. This year the focus is on sustainable mountain tourism – to help preserve their natural and cultural heritage as well as promoting conservation efforts.