How trekking saved my life
About Selftrails
Origin Story
I felt tired. Tired of everything. My own life made not a real sense anymore, my relationship crumbled after 13 years and my dream job at national airline sucked. I felt useless.
I didn’t know what to do. I am not a suicidal candidate, this extreme was never an option to me, but I ran out of ideas – and power. I just knew I have to do something radical. I needed to find a reason to live, find myself after I got lost. So I packed my backpack, gave up my flat, sold my car – and started to hike. I recalled that I was always happiest when I hit the trail since I was a kid.
I covered 1600 km across the lands, mountains and rivers and finally found the peace I was seeking. I found new home, new job and I became satisfied with what I achieved. Maybe even a little proud. Now I can turn back, see the ways I have walked and feel the traces they left. And I look forward with self confidence. Because now it is me who chooses the directions I go further.
The experience I made, the lows I suffered, the challenges I overcame and the achievements I gained are making me to share it with others. There are thousands of people who are feeling down or losing themselves. Or those, who already realised, that there is something to be done to prevent such development. All of you are invited.
This website is not just another trekking blog full of itineraries, glorious locations for Instagram reels or affiliate gear reviews. This place is personal, intimate and direct experience first.
Every piece published here starts on a trail. I don’t review gear I haven’t carried over real terrain, don’t recommend routes I haven’t walked in their entirety, and don’t write about wellness benefits I haven’t experienced firsthand. The commitment is simple: if it’s on Selftrails, it’s been tested with trail dust on it.
What This Site Is About
Selftrails grew out of that decision to walk myself into life that feels worth living and determination to share my experience to help others to recover their lives and support the mental health.
Selftrails sits at the intersection of three kinds of writing that don’t often share a home.
First, there is the Horizon – travel and trekking blog with description of hikes I did and how it went. Everything from practical information to lessons learned, campsite reviews, gear used and the logistical details that separate good day in the mountains from survival story.
Second, the Summit – narrative travel writing focused on psychological aspects of trekking and outdoor activities and how they may help you to prevent and recover from fatigue, burn-out and emptiness. The kind of attentive, atmospheric but psychologically informed blog about why and how getting on the trail helps to not only to get your life balance, but also how to keep and evolve it.
Third, there will be the WanderClub soon – a personal offering of tailor made, specifically curated hikes, treks and expeditions. All personally guided, either one to one or in carefully selected small groups. I focus my adventures around direct personal approach, no ambitions attitude, real life experience and digital detox.
Selftrails is not usual travel and trekking blog. There are no recommended spots for glorious Instagram images and TikTok videos, you will find no vendor paid reviews or affiliate links. There are no package tours or esoteric yoga glamping wellness stays.
And last but not least – perhaps most importantly – Selftrails is not a therapy. The experiences I share are personal and what have worked for me may or may not work for you. I am not a personal development coach or even a professional psychologist – I supply no diagnosis and no cure. What you will find instead are demanding but accessible journeys, honest writing, and space to think, free from feeds and performance.
Personal Touch
Ondrej Varoscak
Roots
I was born in mid 70’s in Prague, then Czechoslovakia, and of Czech and Slovak origin as mixed marriages have been very common at the time being. I spent a part of my childhood abroad, namely in Bangladesh and Argentina due to my father’s job. My grandmother was avid hiker and thanks to her I remembered to walk after I stumbled. When I was about 5 years old, my aunt took me to the High Tatra mountains that left me speechless and I return to this magnificent scenery every now and then.
Education and job
I have studied electrical engineering in a high school, but decided against university when offered job at Siemens at 19, stepping directly into big corporate businesses. Xerox, Sparkasse, EDS and at last Czech Airlines to name a few. Grew up from technician into sales and moved to procurement, got fed with corporate culture and finally left for emergency medical services. Currently I work in a communal medical emergency service on a border between Germany, Belgium and Netherlands.
Alpine affinity
As much as I enjoy mountains, I do not climb unless I absolutely have to. Never had that kick hanging on a rope and prefer walking on my feet than using arms to keep on a rock face. And never had the ambition to reach the highest summits, because I much more enjoy the view of those, maybe from a hill just opposite. I quite enjoy all landscapes, be it a deep forest or a desert, but yes – mountains are my favourite. An obvious terrain for majority of my treks.
Personality
Easygoing, open minded and straightforward. I am very curious since I was a child and like to know how the world clocks. I have learned to be friendly but not trying to please everyone. Stubborn at times and fighting with my perfectionism planted in me from my father who always said “do it right or let it be”. Efficient in planning and always have a plan B.
The trail doesn’t care about your gear list or your pace. It only asks that you show up, pay attention, and carry out what you carried in.
Let’s Talk Trails
If you recognize parts of my story – feeling like your life stopped belonging to you, or noticing that you are becoming more of a profile than a person – you are welcome here. If you are simply curious about serious trails and what they do to people, you are welcome too.
Start wherever you feel drawn: a personal story in Summit of Self, a route in Beyond your Horizon, or just wander through the photos until you feel the itch to step outside. Then head directly to WanderClub and see if any of the journeys catches your attention – or let me create one specifically for you.