Emil & Karl – Little Wheels, Big Mountains
Two fathers attempt an ambitious bikepacking journey across the Swiss Alps with their toddlers in tow, only to discover the real challenge is balancing adventure with parenthood.
“Emil & Karl – Small Tires, Big Mountains” follows Jakob and Konne, two adventurous fathers, on a six-day mountain bike tour through the Swiss Alps. Their two two-and-a-half-year-old “co-pilots” Karl and Emil are always by their side. The goal is a 180-kilometer tour with 6000 meters of altitude gain around the Swiss National Park.
What begins as an ideal plan quickly turns into a test of patience for all four. From rumbling stomachs and an unforeseen night in an emergency shelter to unavoidable tantrums during the autonomy phase – the challenges range from brutally steep climbs that turn pushing the heavy trailers into torture, to the everyday quirks of traveling with toddlers. And yet, the journey is also marked by childlike enthusiasm, astonished glances at marmots and mountains, collecting stones, and intimate moments in the tent. The tour offers not only physical exertion but, above all, a wealth of impressions, discoveries, and unforgettable fun for young and old.
Despite all adversities, such as the search for croissants in the Swiss backcountry or the battle for snack supplies, the fathers master daily life in the mountains with humor and astonishing endurance. The tour becomes a lesson in spontaneity, optimism, and maneuvering toddler needs under extreme conditions. When communication problems force them to turn back just before their destination, it becomes clear: the real adventure lies not in reaching the goal, but in the shared experience and the strengthening of the family bond. An authentic insight into the joys and hardships of a special father-child relationship amidst majestic nature.
