Tobias Schlegl: pilgrimage with mom - a way full of challenges!

Tobias Schlegl: pilgrimage with mom - a way full of challenges!

The Jakobsweg has many stories to tell, but that of Tobias Schlegl and his 73-year-old mother is particularly touching. After a career in the media world, the former moderator of Viva and "Extra 3" has now devoted himself to the emergency paramedic, and, in this context, also processes his experience on the famous pilgrimage path. In his current book, light heart and heavy legs: with mom on the Jakobsweg , which was published in early April 2025, he takes the readers: on the inside with an adventurous journey from Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela. The two covered over 700 kilometers in 34 days on foot, which was not only a physical but also an emotional challenge. This experience combined his view of life and relationship with the mother in a new way. ARD reports on the longing connection that the mother-son duo could outline.

The hike was by no means a walk for Tobias Schlegl. Even if he is not considered an experienced hiker, he was drawn out to be there for his mother. According to T-Online hospitable hostels, changeable weather and rough paths were just a few of the challenges. Clear ups and downs accompanied Schlegl and his mother with every step, but he believed in the positive feeling of hiking. "The challenges welded us together," he describes, and his mother's thirst for adventure also surprised him very much. The Jakobsweg, one of the most famous pilgrimage routes in Europe, attracts numerous hikers every year, and the increase in arrival certificates in recent years has been proof.

a new beginning for the relationship

The intimate journey of the two brought them closer together and gave their relationship a new depth. The exchange on the route, shaped by painful but also uplifting moments, opened new perspectives. Tobias experienced the strength of his mother in an impressive way, which helped him to recharge his own battery and leave dark thoughts behind. "You only notice how little time is still when you spend time with older parents," he reflects. The message of his book that it is important to create such moments before it is too late sounds loud and clear.

His experiences during the hike not only include physical exertion, but also daily life on the way: sleep, eat and suffer. Schlegl mainly died of chocolate croissants and pasta, which gave him the necessary energy for the next steps. He also led a diary that was processed in his book. The often touching, but also exhausting stories were over the sides to a Qatarsis for the author and countless readers: inside looking for an inspiring message. Like lilo reads , the book not only conveys the experiences of the hike, but also an important lesson: parents and children should encourage themselves to be active together.

Tobias Schlegl not only documented his personal experience, but also gave an impetus to think about old relationships. His journey on the Jakobsweg shows that it is never too late to learn new things and to renew old gangs. This work brings the courage to cross your own limits and celebrates the thirst for adventure of the older generation, coupled with the curiosity of the younger ones. An appeal to everyone who may still have countless hikes and conversations with their parents.