What the "Last Generation" has achieved with its protest actions in cities, a group called "Hike Generation" is now also aiming to achieve - to bring their concerns to the public through provocation. This loose group has organized itself across the Alps via the messenger service Telegram and has been under observation for some time due to its increasing radicalization.

The first actions are now planned for the summer of 2024, in which activists want to stick themselves to single trails and thus make it difficult for mountain bikers to pass through. According to insider sources, several coordinated actions are to take place throughout the Alps on 5 July.

Pragmatic reactions from mountain bikers

Who exactly is behind the "Hike Generation" remains uncertain, as the loose structure via Telegram means that no fixed organizational structures are discernible. The group has already achieved one goal: there is a great deal of excitement about the planned actions. Numerous organizations that campaign for mutual acceptance with fair-trail and tolerance campaigns criticize these sticker campaigns as counterproductive. Nature conservation organizations also fear that the adhesives could cause lasting damage to important microorganisms on the boulders.

Mountain bike organizations, on the other hand, are reacting pragmatically to the announced protest. Some bike schools are planning to include the skillful riding around stuck people in their training program, including the skillful bunny hop over large obstacles. Regions such as the Bike Kingdom Lenzerheide have announced that they will publish live data on the blockades in their mobile app and suggest alternative routes.

Who will rescue the activists?

How the stuck hikers will free themselves from their situation remains to be seen. Climate activists are always released from the asphalt by the police, but this "service" is not to be expected on hiking trails. The first rescue organizations are concerned about possible night-time rescue missions to save hypothermic and dehydrated glue activists. In contrast, some mountain bike organizations are being pragmatic: the guide organizations of Dimb and Swiss Cycling will give their guides small bottles of glue remover to free stuck hikers before dark and possibly persuade them to rethink their approach by gaining sympathy.
 

This article was published on 1 April 2021.