From the hospital to the Alm: Bernadette enjoys life as a dairy

From the hospital to the Alm: Bernadette enjoys life as a dairy

What is happening in the mountains of Austria? Bernadette Säuer has decided to spend their life in the sign of the Alm. The trained nurse has been doing its job for over 20 years, but dared to take the step in May 2023 and retired to the mountains to work as a dairy. Since childhood, she has had the desire to live on an alpine pasture for a while - and now she has put her dreams into practice. The everyday life for Bernadette, which works in the Erlbachhütte at 1,400 meters above sea level*, is characterized by a completely different world that is shaped by beauty, silence and simplicity, as the courier reports.

Together with Andrea Sams, the owner of the hut, and another dairy, she takes care of the daily tasks. The daily routine traditionally begins early: from 5.30 a.m. it gets up, enjoys her coffee and is ready to get the cows from the meadow to the hut, where they are milked. From the fresh milk, it produces alms, buttermilk, curd cheese and cream cheese, which are then served the guests at the hut. This enjoyment not only benefits tourists, but also locals who appreciate the hut as the ideal starting point for hikes.

traditions and challenges on the Alm

The Erlbachhütte, which is already 300 years old, attracts visitors with their home cooking and the popular homemade pastries. In the recent past, warehousing on the alpine pasture became easier. Jakob Wasensteiner, an experienced shepherd, tells of the changes over the decades. In the past, everything had to be brought to the alpine pasture, while today streets were expanded that enable better access. Modern amenities such as battery -operated radios for weather information have also been added.

Bernadette also recently started learning guitar, with the plan to make music in the future and thus make life on the Alm even more beautiful. As she ponderes, she would like to continue to enjoy many summer on the Postalm as long as it gives her joy. Almleben not only offers a return to nature, but also a departure from the hectic everyday life - a welcome gift, especially for those who come from the health sector like Bernadette and appreciate silence and seclusion.

The fascination for alpine life

The experiences of Bernadette are not isolated. Other women, such as Maria Aicher, Julia Blüml and Claudia Horn, also dared to take their life as a dairy. Together with the alpine cooperative, you look forward to working in nature and contact with the visitors. This reflects a growing fascination that exerts alpine pasture in our region. A life that unfolds a nostalgic charm in many and promotes a return to the roots.

whether as a dairy or as a hiker - the authentic experiences in the Austrian Alps offer a piece of home and connected to nature that is often lost today.