Regions-Originale: Christine Ackermann and the Scharnitzer Alm

When you arrive at the Scharnitzer Alm, you might think you have landed in a different century. It lies so rustic, so original at the beginning of the Hinterautal and warmly invites you to linger. However, this old shine did not always radiate from the Alm. When Christine Ackermann and her partner Roland took it over in 2004, it was in a bad state. "It was a half-ruined barn," Christine recalls. They painstakingly rebuilt the Alm to what it once was. "Nowadays, so much originality is lost. We wanted to restore this piece of history.", the innkeeper recounts. It was supposed to be as authentic as possible. This applies not only to the exterior of the Alm but also to its philosophy: the Alm experience is the main focus, and the serving of drinks is "only" complementary – just as it used to be.

"We want to convey a genuine sense of alpine life to people," says Christine. This also applies to the food she offers. Her menu is therefore rather small. "We don't have a huge selection – but what we do have is really good, homemade, and local." And she is truly right about that: you eat so well at her place like hardly anywhere else in the Alps. She makes the goat cheese herself, and she also ensures that all products come from nearby and are of the highest quality. Less is more, it is said – with Christine, you truly understand what this saying means.

Since time immemorial, livestock has been the heart of every alpine pasture. There is plenty of it at the Scharnitzer Alm: Shepherd Roland takes care of 60 to 70 cattle. There are also goats, pigs, chickens, cats, and the dog Amber – and a bull who believes he is a human. "This is our cuddle bull!" laughs Christine. "He was raised with a bottle and since then probably no longer thinks that he is a bull." This was a problem in the pasture: He constantly followed the hikers and couldn’t find his way back to the herd. That’s why he now lives with the "Goasen" (goats) in the pasture, where he is better off – and receives regular cuddling sessions from Christine.

The rest of the cattle, all from farmers in Scharnitz, are spread out across the alpine area. The Scharnitzer Alm is special: "The building is very small, but the area is very large," explains Christine. The livestock is distributed across 3 areas (the Hinterautal, the Gleirschtal, and the Hochwald). There are no classic grazing areas with green alpine meadows. This makes the work challenging for shepherd Roland. It is a challenge to always find the livestock in such a large area. However, in recent years he has had an unusual helper: an e-bike! With this, he can reach his cattle quickly, quietly, and environmentally friendly. So life at the Scharnitzer Alm is not quite like it used to be… 😉

Life on the alpine pastures always holds a surprise – that’s what Christine and Roland have learned during their years at the Scharnitzer Alm. "You just have to be flexible!" she laughs, shrugging her shoulders. The schedule is tight, and sometimes things happen that you can't really plan for. "Just last week, a calf got separated from the herd," Christine recounts. Then she has to go into the mountains to support Roland. "Then you just run after the calf for 2.5 hours," she chuckles. But: "The livestock comes first!" Over the years, the two of them have experienced all sorts of things anyway. "Every time you think, this can't be true, something new happens!" But for Christine, the alpine pasture is a school of life for exactly this reason: "You should take things as they come." Christine radiates a calmness and contentment that is infectious. She doesn't worry about "would have, could have, should have" – perhaps that is the key to her serenity.

The workday on the alpine pasture begins early in the morning. Around 6 a.m. it's time to get up: The goats need to be milked. After that, the hostess takes care of the rest of the livestock, makes goat cheese, or bakes fresh cakes until the first guests arrive. Her workday can last until half past 11 p.m., and she can only take a break if the opportunity arises in between. This goes on all summer, 7 days a week. Weekend or vacation? There isn't one in summer. Yet: "It's beautiful work, I really enjoy it!", adds Christine. They work diligently until autumn. Before the snow moves in on the mountains, the livestock is herded back into the valley. The moment when all the cows have safely returned to the barn is a very emotional one for Roland and Christine: "Then tears come to your eyes! Everything comes together. You feel relieved and sad, the summer is over. This moment when you close the gate is a rollercoaster of emotions!" But they know: Summer will come again!

In winter, the athletic hostess can recharge her energy. During ski tours, she relaxes from the busy summer and enjoys the peace in the mountains.

But besides all the work, Christine is concerned about something much bigger, more important: "It's not just about making a living for me, but also about conveying and preserving something that is increasingly endangered." That is my intention behind everything." You can tell that she runs the Scharnitzer Alm with great love, evident in every little detail. Perhaps that's why one feels so comfortable and at home in the little hut at the beginning of the valley.

The life path of the alpine innkeeper is marked by happy detours: She actually studied art and was a freelance artist. But she was drawn back to nature, and so she first worked at the Pleisenhütte and the Oberbrunnalm before renovating the Scharnitzer Alm. Not only does the Alm benefit from her good eye for beauty, but so does every single meal she prepares. "I try to make a little work of art out of every snack platter!", she says with a sparkle in her eyes. She succeeds – the snacks are not only a hit in terms of taste but also almost too beautiful to eat! In the end, of course, taste prevails.