At night in the forest: shirtless hiking, running and an ice bath

Why go out into the cold at night

During the day you see the cold. At night you only feel it: the forest is dark, your breath becomes the only thing to focus on and every step needs attention. That’s why, during our winters at the Landhotel Altes Zollhaus in Germany, we came up with three small night challenges – and filmed them for our YouTube channel.

The Zollhaus sits at around 800 metres above sea level, in a forest clearing close to the Czech border. In winter there is snow, ice and two natural lakes right next to the house: the perfect place to train body and mind in the cold.

3. A midnight ice bath

The third video is the simplest and maybe the most beautiful: an ice bath in the middle of the forest, in the dark, surrounded by silence. No race, no stopwatch. Just your breath and the cold.

What we learned

• Your head decides before your body does. The first seconds are the hardest; if you can breathe out long and slow, the panic passes.
• Moving helps. Walking or running makes cold air much easier to handle.
• Afterwards matters as much as before. Warm clothes ready, a hot drink and – if there is one – the sauna.
• Never alone. Even more so at night: someone always stays on the shore with a light.

Before you try it

This is our own experience, not medical advice. Cold puts strain on your heart and circulation: if you have any health issues, talk to your doctor first. Start with cold showers and short daytime dips, only go into water where you know the bottom, and never do intense breathing exercises in or near water. Here is our guide on how to start ice swimming safely.

And if you want to see the Zollhaus lake at its most competitive, come to the Zollhaus Open 2027, the German Ice Swimming Championships, on 19–20 February 2027.

Frequently asked questions