1572 times up to Mount Stanserhorn

A mountain that has become home

Anyone who has hiked up the Stanserhorn 1,572 times probably knows the mountain better than most. Simon Müller has worked his way to this impressive number over the years. Today, the 83-year-old lives in Lucerne, but his connection to the Stanserhorn goes back a long way: he lived in Stansstad for 58 years and regularly set off from there on foot towards the summit.

He has been hiking to the Stanserhorn regularly since 2012. At the time, he was even able to follow the construction of the present-day CabriO cable car. Countless hikes have followed since then. Simon Müller has already stood on the summit 1,572 times. By the end of this season, he now wants to reach the 1,600 mark.

What keeps drawing him back to the mountain? “This is paradise,” he says. He is particularly captivated by the breathtaking panoramic views from the summit. For him, the 360-degree panorama is something truly special, and he can name every visible mountain peak. “This is the most beautiful place.”

Hiking instead of going to the gym

For Simon Müller, hiking is about far more than sport. “Other people go to the gym; I do my training on the mountain,” he says. His aim is not to reach the top as quickly as possible. He usually takes two and a half to three hours to complete the ascent. However, his fastest hike was in 2020, when he reached the summit in just 1 hour and 42 minutes.

Today, he consciously takes the time to enjoy nature. He usually hikes alone, as this allows him to set his own pace and stop along the way to take in nature and, in particular, observe wildlife. And there is almost always company to be found on the mountain anyway. Because he is out and about so often, Simon Müller knows many people on the Stanserhorn: “You always meet someone to have a chat with.”

His favourite route leads via Kalcherli and Ahornhütte. He particularly enjoys hiking in spring, at the end of May or beginning of June, when nature starts to bloom. “It is incredibly beautiful here.” But the Stanserhorn also has its charms when temperatures are cooler, as the views are often especially clear then.

Once he reaches the top, Simon Müller treats himself to a Quöllfrisch after every ascent. A small reward after the hike – and, as he says himself, it also leaves him feeling “fresh” again straight away.

Hiking responsibly

Anyone who hikes as much and as regularly as Simon Müller knows what matters. For him, wearing the right clothing adapted to the season is an essential part of every hike. Sure footing and good preparation are a matter of course. Perhaps that is why he has never had an accident over all these years.

But his connection to the Stanserhorn goes beyond hiking. Simon Müller has a special arrangement with the Alpine farmers: during his hikes, he checks on the cattle and makes sure they have enough water and that none of the animals is injured. If he notices anything, he immediately informs the farmers. In this way, on his many journeys, he not only keeps an eye on nature but also takes on, quite incidentally, a little responsibility for the mountain and its inhabitants.

Everyone knows him – and he knows everyone

The fact that Simon Müller is so often out and about on the Stanserhorn is no longer known only among regular hikers. He also knows the staff of the Stanserhorn cableways and the restaurant well. “It’s lovely how everyone always greets me. Everyone is so friendly.”

And by now, his fame extends beyond the Stanserhorn. Some tour guides who regularly bring groups up the mountain have also come to know Simon Müller. On one occasion, a tour guide happened to spot him in Lucerne. He immediately recognised the Stanserhorn hiker and promptly introduced him to his entire tour group. Thanks to his many hikes, Simon Müller has therefore become known well beyond the Stanserhorn itself.

The next goal is already in sight

He still has 28 ascents to go before reaching his personal seasonal goal of 1,600 Stanserhorn ascents. And listening to Simon Müller, you certainly do not get the impression that he will tire of hiking anytime soon. Quite the opposite: nature, the views, the feeling of being at home and the many encounters keep drawing him back up the mountain.

Simon Müller’s story is also a wonderful example of what lies behind our annual campaign “Together around the globe” and its motto “Every Step Counts”. This season alone, his 72 ascents and 48 descents have already contributed more than 1,300 kilometres to our campaign. Around 11 kilometres per journey, adding up step by step and ultimately contributing to something bigger: our shared journey around the world.

Enter your hikes too and become part of our shared goal, “Together around the globe”. As an extra incentive, there are many attractive prizes to be won – with a little luck, one of them could be yours.