Extreme Hiking for Beginners: How to Get Started with 50km+ Marches

Our personal experience

We had no idea. Really, no idea at all. So we did what you do when you start something completely new: Google it and go with a safe bet—the MegaMarsch.
Clear rules, clear distances, clear time limits. A format that says: This is the challenge, these are the guardrails—let’s go. Perfect for getting started.

Encouraged by fellow walkers—and, honestly, also a little by stories about the special atmosphere—we then tried the MammutMarsch. And yes: Once you’ve crossed the finish line at a Mammut, you know exactly what people mean.
The start. The finish. The aid stations. That sheer power of community. That feeling of being part of something bigger. It’s different. Noticeably different.

But after many marches, another realisation eventually comes:
The crowds simply become too much.
The events grow, participant numbers rise—and the routes increasingly turn into asphalt battles through major cities. Probably because many people like to combine a march with a city break: see Hamburg, experience Berlin, make a weekend of it.

As Berliners, we feel exactly the opposite.
We want fewer people, less city, more nature. More peace. More flow. More trail and less backdrop.

And that is exactly the point where you inevitably end up looking at smaller organisers.
And that’s where it really starts to get… jungle-like.

Spoiler: we’ll be taking a deliberate look at a few of these smaller events in one of our upcoming posts.

Finding your way through the jungle: an overview of the major organisers

Before we go deeper into the niche, it helps to have a map. Four names come up again and again when it comes to extreme and long-distance marches in Germany:

• MegaMarsch
• MammutMarsch
• UltraMarsch
• NordMarsch

1) Routes & surroundings

• MegaMarsch
  Often urban or close to cities, clearly structured and easy to plan. Ideal if you are looking for a straightforward challenge and want the guidance of a fixed framework.
• MammutMarsch
  Also often held in cities and metropolitan areas, with a focus on large start and finish zones. The route is part of the event—but not always the star.
• UltraMarsch
  A clear focus on distance, pace and athletic challenge. Less sightseeing, more trail. Often appealing to anyone deliberately looking to step away from big events.
• NordMarsch
  Much more focused on nature and the region. More rural routes, less metropolitan spectacle, often with a genuine feeling of being outdoors.

2) Benefits & event atmosphere

3) Catering & aid stations

Something that feels unimportant over the first 20 kilometres—and suddenly becomes crucial after kilometre 35:
How many aid stations are there—and what do I actually get there?

This is where differences become apparent, but so do plenty of similarities.

MegaMarsch

• Number of aid stations:
  Usually every ~10 km (e.g. 4 aid stations over 50 km, 9–10 over 100 km).
• What’s provided:
  • Water & isotonic drinks
  • Fruit, bars, pretzel sticks
  • often broth or soup at later aid stations
• Character:
  Very standardised and predictable.
  Ideal if you want to tailor your own nutrition precisely to the distances between aid stations.

MammutMarsch

• Number of aid stations:
  A similar density to MegaMarsch, usually every 8–12 km.
• What’s provided:
  • Drinks (water, isotonic)
  • Fruit & snacks
  • often hot food options
• Character:
  The aid stations are an emotional meeting point.
  Lots of interaction, lots of atmosphere—great for morale, with a slight risk to time management.

NordMarsch

• Number of aid stations:
  Depends on the event, but generally fewer and deliberately placed.
• What’s provided:
  • Drinks
  • often coffee, tea, broth
  • sometimes permanent facilities (clubhouses, inns)
• Character:
  Less sports nutrition, more comfort food.
  Especially at night or in bad weather, that can be incredibly valuable psychologically.

UltraMarsch

• Number of aid stations:
  Well spaced out, but not excessively frequent—a focus on quality rather than quantity.
• What’s provided:
  • very extensive, high-quality catering
  • hot, savoury, sweet—often far more than you expect
• Character:
  Surprisingly generous.
  Here, the greater risk is going home fuller than when you set off. 🙂

In general

Despite all the differences, one thing is very clear:

The major organisers are consistently very good at equipping their aid stations.

Apart from a drinking vessel, a hydration bladder and, if necessary, some lightweight tableware, you can rely on proper catering at MegaMarsch, MammutMarsch, NordMarsch and UltraMarsch.

👉 In concrete terms, that means:
You can plan your own kit without any significant food weight—
a lighter backpack, less ballast, more focus on the trail.

4) Size & target group

• MegaMarsch & MammutMarsch
  Perfect for beginners, first-timers and anyone who draws motivation from the crowd. If you love large start fields, this is the place for you.
• NordMarsch & UltraMarsch
  Appealing to anyone who realises after a few marches: I don’t need more people—I need more trail.

Our conclusion

For many people, the journey follows a similar path:

1. A safe start (MegaMarsch)
2. Experience community (MammutMarsch)
3. Too much crowd and asphalt
4. The search for smaller, quieter events closer to nature

And that’s exactly where even more jungle begins—but
we’ll tackle it piece by piece, too. 🌲🥾

One more step—but please not shoulder to shoulder through the city centre.