Facing the 50th anniversary of their mountaineering group “Natuurvrienden-Bergstijgers” in 2015, Belgium Naturefriends ATB started a special project: the plan was to climb seven mountain summits, each in a typical nature-friendly way – not only regarding environmental but also social issues such as inclusiveness with all Belgian Naturefriends invited to join. 

In autumn and winter Naturefriends groups from all over Belgium walked (climbed!) the famous mountain-tops of Belgium such as Kluisberg (53 m!), Beerzelberg (48 m!) and even the highest one of Belgium, Botrange, a challenging hike up to not less than 698 m. The joint experience connected Belgian Naturefriends of all ages and made them experience lots of fun! 

In spring seven different teams prepared for their summits:
One team hitch-hiked north to Norway, where they climbed some great multi-pitch routes in a complete clean way: using only mobile safety-gear, thus leaving no trace on the rock walls. Another team biked from Belgium to Austria and hiked there across the mighty Silvretta mountain range, climbing “en route” the beautiful Piz Buin. Five other Naturefriends sailed across the North Sea and then crossed the moorlands in northern England to plant the Naturefriends flag on the highest peaks of Yorkshire. A group of families went by train to the Dolomites in Italy. They went up to the Piz Boë: for the children in the group, it was their first 3000 m peak! A team of seven though guys and girls travelled south by public transport and crossed the Pyrenees. Four of ATB’s strongest alpinists travelled to the Caucasus by bus, train and van, where they hiked higher up (partly on horseback) to climb snow covered mountains like Tednuld (4,974 m) and Laïla (4,820 m). 

However, the most challenging trip was to the Nebelhorn, a mountain in southern Germany, with a team involving eight youngsters with mental and physical disabilities, who had been training together with highly motivated alpine-instructors of ATB during the whole springtime to finally climb this 2,224 m high peak. 

All participants in this project – those who climbed the seven summits, but also all the Belgian Naturefriends that supported them – spent a wonderful year of warm friendship and extraordinary nature experiences in full respect of nature and people.