From the hotel to the hut
Anja Nehrenheim
From the hotel to the hut
My journey with MS, huskies & cabin magic
Between washboard & washing machine
If you had told me 10 years ago that I would be living in a mountain pasture without electricity with 16 huskies - I would probably have smiled politely and secretly thought "Oh dear, she's crazy".
But hey, here I am.
With MS.
With a washing machine that I love more than my first boyfriend.
And with a pack of huskies that warms my heart every day at a gallop.
This blog is about exactly that: a life with MS, in the middle of the Alps, between dog sleds, web design and the Milky Way.
Back to the beginning - from hotel breakfast to hut coffee
I originally come from the beautiful south of Germany - where people say "Mahlzeit" at breakfast. After my training as a hotel manageress, it was time to pack my bags and head off to Ireland. Dublin, new city, new hotel, new chaos.
Then after a year: a change of scenery.
I wanted to discover Switzerland - and ended up first in a fine restaurant on Lake Zurich and then... in the Zurich bar scene. Yes, it was wild - but hey, everyone should know what five espresso martinis in one shot feels like.
And as life goes, I met my future husband - in a shared flat that was actually just a stopover. Well, the stopover turned into a home.
Our Maiensäss in the Christmas light
At the beginning, sprint races with a team of three
Husky fever & pack love
Along with the family planning came the desire for a dog. But not a pocket dog, please. We wanted something active - something sporty - something with stamina.
Then we went to a sled dog race.
The rest is Husky history.
We adopted a 2-year-old male who was urgently looking for a new home. Phil, my husband, got straight into the sport of pulling dogs - and soon realised that a husky is like an espresso - good, but even better with two.
So came number two. Then three. Then four. Then... you know where this leads. Today we have 16 huskies living with us - and I love every single ball of fur, even though they show me every day that I'm not the leader of the pack.
Goodbye Zurich - Hello Valais
Zurich with a pack of huskies is... let's say... interesting. Neighbours aren't so "Yay!" when a husky concert starts at six in the morning.
So we looked for the distance.
We found our paradise in Valais - an ancient Maiensäss with lots of surrounding land, zero direct neighbours and a bus stop right on the doorstep (which is about as rare in Valais as a quiet husky).
When we moved in, there was no electricity. Charge your mobile phone? Only with a generator. Laundry? By hand. Netflix? Haha, no.
But bit by bit we rebuilt it - today we have electricity, a proper washing machine (HALLELUJA!) and a large exercise area for the huskies.
Mountain hut, Milky Way & furry noses
In summer I work in a mountain hut at 3200 metres.
It's... breathtaking - and not just because of the height.
Mountaineers, nature, the Mischabel mountain range at sunrise - and the Milky Way at night. No Photoshop necessary, I swear.
In winter, skiers come - and I serve them soup, raclette and stories about my huskies.
Phil, my husband, is in IT - he works remotely most of the time, which is perfect for our furry noses. There's always someone monitoring the treat ration.
Washing day without electricity
Sleeping area / kennel for the huskies
Diagnosis of MS - and suddenly it gets serious
Then a year ago: MS diagnosis.
First a punch in the face. Me? MS? What now?
But after the initial shock, it was clear: I'm not staying down - except to cuddle with the huskies. We'll carry on. I keep going.
I don't want to spend my life on hold. So I thought about it: What can I do if things get worse?
Answer: Web design, content, social media. Things that I can do sitting down or with breaks. And at the same time: to further expand Wild Swiss Adventure - as an experience for others, as an opportunity for me.
What you can expect here on the blog
This blog is my place to share.
Not just my story - but ours. Maybe you are also chronically ill. Or you're looking for a different life. Maybe you have huskies. Or maybe you just want to know how to pee in the snow without killing yourself.
This is about:
- Living with MS in nature
- Husky trekking & draught dog sport
- Maiensäss moments & wood-fired oven love
- Tourism with heart - and without barriers
- Building a new foothold with humour & a dog's eye view
And yes - sometimes it gets honest. Sometimes chaotic. But always with heart.
Husky stories
Existing contributions
Anja Nehrenehim
Anja is the founder of Wild Swiss Adventure and lives with 16 huskies in Eisten in Valais.
