FKT: Daniel Podzimek - Pandurensteig - 2026-01-22

I started the run in Waldmünchen on Monday, January 19th, at 10:05. Our original plan, based on previous results, was to finish within 37 hours. Instead, the mountain winter had other plans. What followed became a 66+ hour battle against cold, exhaustion, and the limits of willpower.

As night fell, temperatures dropped to −13°C. Nearly the entire trail disappeared beneath deep snow. Other sections turned into pure ice—without spikes, a fall was unavoidable. One fall did happen, but luckily, no injuries followed.

Every hour became a fight: against hypothermia, against snow that swallowed our steps, and against the creeping threat of frostbite. Progress was slow and relentless. Yet the suffering turned the journey into an adventure we will never forget.

My dear friend Sebastiaan van Tongeren traveled from the Netherlands to support me, joining all three nights in the coldest, darkest hours. Without a car or RV, we depended on bakeries for resupply and carried heavy 40-liter backpacks loaded with food to survive the nights. Our shoes froze solid. Our water turned to ice. Still, quitting was not an option.

Despite fatigue that pushed us to the edge, we chose to continue—driven by the determination to reach Passau. After nearly 67 hours, we arrived utterly drained, but fulfilled.

Under better conditions, this trail could be completed far faster. But the brutal winter transformed it into something we really cherished—it became a true survival challenge and a memory that will last forever.

One of the most surreal moments came under the night sky: the Northern Lights burned across the horizon—green and red on the first night, glowing bright red on the second (see pictures). A rare and unforgettable reward for enduring the cold.

The route was well-marked and highly recommended. A huge shout-out to Sebastiaan for standing beside me through the hardest, coldest, and darkest hours. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.