Nature instead of politics: Kevin Kühnert ends 1,000 kilometer hike

The former SPD general secretary Kevin Kühnert claimed around 1,000 kilometers through Austria. “Half a year ago I told a few people that I will hike the Nord Alpine path in summer. Because once it is pronounced, there is no back,” writes the 36-year-old on Instagram. The past few years have been challenging on many levels.

In the past two months in 50 stages, he had been able to fully live out his love for the mountains and Austria. “And no, hiking is of course not a magic potion against everything. But it creates space and time to think, sort, orientate,” he describes his experiences in solo hiking.

Lukewarm shower water as a day highlight

Kühnert shares a series of pictures with many mountain and animal motifs and the different weather conditions. In one picture he poses kneeling on a meadow that is based on the chin. Unlike in the Bundestag in the Bundestag, Kühnert is now wearing dark hiking pants, T-shirt and a cap.

“The standards move quickly on the way. Rain, wind, cold and even new snow soon lose importance when hiking the daily workload,” he describes his experiences on the tour. The oases in everyday long hiking life are about short encounters on the way or “three minutes of lukewarm shower water instead of cold cat linen.” “Under extreme conditions, it is the simplicity that enables the good moment.”

What is Kühnert plans now?

In October 2024, the Berliner surprisingly resigned as Secretary General and had not run again in the Bundestag election. At that time he cited health problems as the reason. In April, he justified his retreat from politics in the “time” with increasing concern for his personal security.

Kühnert was considered the political talent of the SPD. So far, he did not rule out a return to political business. The Instagram contribution does not show what professional ambitions he has. He only writes: “This challenge should be different. One for the body – and for the will. That is exactly now I had the time for it. Who knows when it will be the case again …”

According to the Austrian Alpine Association, the Nord Alpenweg was opened in 1975 as the first Austrian east-west wide hiking trail. The route leads around 1,000 kilometers from the Neusiedler See across the northern lime scenes to Bregenz on Lake Constance.