Have you ever wondered how much of what you perceive as your ‘reality’ is created in your mind? How much of it is controlled by your instincts? Hubs asked himself this question and came to the conclusion that much of what we perceive as ‘reality’ is an illusion and that true life takes place within us. He is the only person in the world to offer mountain tours with huskies, accompanied by his team colleague Hannes Hinterseer with a camera. We are more than pleased to be able to support Mountainhusky with our products. In the interview, he talks about his spectacular adventures and what inspires him to climb the peaks with his huskies.
Outdoor power: Zanier gloves are an essential companion for Mountainhusky
The long-standing partnership between Zanier and Mountainhusky is based on a shared understanding of quality and sustainability. For many years, we have been supporting Mountainhusky with our gloves, which provide ultimate protection and comfort in all weather conditions. Indispensable for Hubs' adventure: the “Mymountainpassion” and “Wildspitze.Tw” models. This collaboration allows us to combine the values of both brands: functionality, quality and a tireless commitment to conserving resources. Our products are the result of passion. They are developed with attention to detail and put through their paces in nature.
How Hubs Lindner followed his passion for nature and huskies
As a young boy, Hubs developed a close connection to animals and nature. “I grew up with animals on a mountain farm and the relationship with the animals on the farm was always very close and loving.” Later, he studied business informatics and worked for many years as a member of the management board of a corporation with 20,000 employees. Despite his professional success, his love for nature and animals never left him. He made a courageous decision and quit his job. He took a leap into the unknown and began training to become a ski and mountain guide. He and his wife settled in the smallest municipality in Austria, Gramais in the Lechtal, where he now pursues his profession as a ski and mountain guide.
Hubs' philosophy: why we often overlook the true essence of life
As a mountain guide, Hubs repeatedly sees people climb mountains to confront nature. However, many of them don't realise that the real journey takes place within them. Hubs makes clear what is important to him: not reaching a summit, but forging a deeper connection with himself, the animals and his surroundings. “People are totally mind-driven, culturally or somehow religiously driven. They believe in crazy things and don't realise that everything is actually an illusion, and that real life takes place within ourselves.” Guests of the Lechtal mountain school can experience what it means to be at one with nature. In these moments, they feel life in all its intensity and are part of a greater whole. The huskies, in particular, are deeply connected to themselves and their surroundings. On the tours, guests are faced with eight huskies with an enormous amount of instinct.
„We breathe every day, our hearts pump every day, all our organs function, and nobody wonders why? This is in fact an extremely complex matter for which we should be grateful every day.”
We caught up with Hubs Lindner shortly before his next summit attempt to find out what inspired him to go mountaineering with huskies.
How did you come up with the idea of combining mountain tours with huskies?
“It was a very subtle development. My wife surprised me a birthday present for my 40th birthday. We went to Martin Eigentler's husky ranch in Kufstein and spent the night there. Until then, I had never taken a closer look at huskies because the animal was never an option for me. The actual task we originally had thought up – that the dog would come home if something happened to me – doesn't work with a husky. However, we gained such tremendous impressions of the pack that my wife chose my first husky as a Christmas present from a well-chosen breeder.”
How long have you been running husky tours?
“The first guided tour was in 2019. In 2022, we decided to professionalise the whole thing and increase the pack to eight so that we can let them go in pairs. This way, the animals are not confronted 1:1 with our guests, some of whom are tall and powerfully built people. All the dogs get from me is respect. That's the most important thing, and then comes love.”
What is so special about huskies? Do they have special characteristics that make them the perfect companions for mountain tours?
“The husky is not domesticated. It is basically a wild animal because the breed has been bred in such a way that the hunting instinct and the actual instincts of these animals are not lost. In all dog breeds, certain characteristics have been bred out, so certain instincts are no longer as strong. With the husky, you need the hunting instinct so that it does what it does best, and that is pulling. The animals are very attracted to people; a husky would never attack a human. But a hare, for example, simply because huskies are small-game hunters. When I go out with them, I give them a setting to hunt, which means they live out their instincts and thus start to pull. When I took them on a guided tour for the first time, the physically weaker guests with the leashed huskies were so fast that I couldn't keep up myself. In winter, they run downhill off leash. Due to the mostly north-facing terrain, where there is no wind in winter, and due to the deep snow, there is no hunting behaviour.”
Huskies have enormous stamina and need a lot of exercise. How do you make sure your animals get it?
“Exactly, although it has to be said that the needs that the animals have are instinctive. The instincts they have are primal, it's about survival. If these basic needs are met, the animal is satisfied. So yes, exercise is important, but that's not enough. Exercise does not replace the basic instinctive need hunt and to ensure the survival.”
What is essential for your equipment when you are out and about in the mountains?
“I wear gloves from Zanier. Especially the ones with goatskin. These are ideal for tactility, i.e. dexterity, in winter. As a mountain guide, you are constantly working with tools. You are always handling carabiners, harnesses and ropes. When it's cold, I need a good glove that I can't just take off at -20°C. The work you do is very delicate. The most important thing is the fit and the goatskin, because it simply supports the tactility. That way, you don't have a baggy glove at the front of your fingers. The glove closes with your finger. This allows you to work with your fingers. The greatest appreciation for the products, and if you ask me what shouldn't be missing, it's the gloves and the shoes. That's what I value the most.”
Which is your favourite Zanier model?
“For me, the ‘Mymountainpassion’ model is a universal glove. It's made of pure goatskin and performs perfectly for me in temperatures down to -5°C. I don't need it warmer than that, and the glove fits snugly. I also think the ‘Wildspitze’ model is really cool, which can be worn in temperatures from -5°C to -15°C. And if it gets even colder, I start to move my arms in circles and keep my fingers warm. As a young lad, I froze my fingers off during cross-country skiing training in Sweden, so I'm particularly sensitive to the cold. That's why I make sure I have a good pair of gloves.”
What are the plans for the future?
“The future looks like this: the time has now come when the first animals are already getting old. Vallu is 9, Lilli will be 11. Vallu will surely run along for another 2-3 years. The female Lilli will be dropped this winter. I am now working with two Ukrainian huskies that are quite well integrated. That brings us back to 9 huskies in the pack. I will phase out my pack and in five years I will only be travelling with four huskies. I think I will be ready for a change by then. I want to keep changing. That is a very, very important value in my life. I also want to have more time for my family. And a pack like that is a lot of responsibility and requires a lot of attention and time.”
What message would you like to give to your guests?
“I would like people to start to be more aware of their instincts. It is important to me that we are raised openly and that we are not only taught mathematics, language, history, etc. Our culture teaches us to think in pigeonholes and to follow an egocentric view of the world. But humans have set out to explore the world, to be scientifically active and not to limit themselves to a religion or a particular higher being. We have a lot in our own hands. We consist of atoms, of electrons, of photons. In the end, we are like a stone lying next to us. That is why we have to put everything we learn into perspective. Our existence, our humanisation and the universe are more diverse than we all believe.”
For us, Mountainhusky is not only an experienced partner with valuable know-how, but also a company that shares our values and works with us to drive innovation.
Photo Credit: Michael Fischbacher, Johannes Hinterseer
