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The friends spend a weekend in the Alps

C1 · 22 words

The friends spend a weekend in the Alps

Berlin is flat, so Kalle has planned a weekend in the Bavarian Alps - a hut at 1800 metres and a summit at sunrise. Learn to talk about the mountains - altitude, the climb, the view from the top, a sudden change in the weather - and to turn back when that is the wiser choice.

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Dialogue

A short conversation with the words of this scenario. Tap "Translation" under a line to see what it means.

  1. Kalle

    Aufwachen, ihr zwei! Es ist halb fünf. Wenn wir den Gipfel bei Sonnenaufgang erreichen wollen, müssen wir jetzt von der Berghütte los.

    Translation

    Wake up, you two! It's half past four. If we want to reach the summit at sunrise, we have to leave the hut now.

  2. Otti

    Halb fünf? In Berlin nennt man das mitten in der Nacht. Hier oben auf 1800 Metern hätte ich gern noch drei Stunden geschlafen.

    Translation

    Half past four? In Berlin that's called the middle of the night. Up here at 1,800 metres I'd gladly have slept another three hours.

  3. Emil

    Translation

    Come on, Otti, break a leg! It's only 600 metres of ascent to the summit cross. Taking the cable car would be cheating.

  4. Otti

    Sagt der, der völlig schwindelfrei ist. Ich habe Höhenangst, und dieses Geröll rutscht mir bei jedem Schritt weg.

    Translation

    Says the one with a perfect head for heights. I'm afraid of heights, and this scree slides away under me with every step.

  5. Kalle

    Ganz ruhig, das ist ganz normales alpines Gelände. Trittsicherheit lernt man: kleine Schritte, Blick nach vorn, nicht ins Tal.

    Translation

    Easy now, this is perfectly normal alpine terrain. Sure-footedness can be learnt: small steps, eyes ahead, not down into the valley.

  6. Emil

    Leute, diese dunklen Wolken da drüben waren vorhin noch nicht da.

    Translation

    Guys, those dark clouds over there weren't there a moment ago.

  7. Kalle

    Translation

    I don't like that at all. In the mountains a change in the weather often comes faster than you'd like, and a thunderstorm is forecast for midday.

  8. Emil

    Translation

    But we're almost at the top! The view is supposed to be breathtaking.

  9. Kalle

    Mag sein, aber kein Berg ist es wert, im Gewitter auf dem Grat zu stehen. Wir kehren um - der Gipfel läuft uns nicht davon.

    Translation

    Maybe, but no mountain is worth standing on a ridge in a thunderstorm. We're turning back - the summit isn't going anywhere.

  10. Otti

    Ausnahmsweise bin ich froh über eine Planänderung. Der Abstieg ist mir allemal lieber als ein Blitz.

    Translation

    For once I'm glad about a change of plan. I'd take the descent over a lightning bolt any day.

  11. Emil

    Na gut. Dann besteigen wir ihn eben morgen - und auf der Alm gibt es zum Trost Kaiserschmarrn.

    Translation

    All right. Then we'll just climb it tomorrow - and on the alpine pasture there's Kaiserschmarrn to cheer us up.

  12. Kalle

    So gefällt mir das. Wer in den Bergen wandert, muss eben auch umkehren können.

    Translation

    That's the spirit. Anyone who hikes in the mountains has to be able to turn back, too.

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