Take a hike

» Interested in volksmarching but not sure how things work? Send an e-mail to volksmarch@gmail.com with the subject “Getting Started.”

» Readers participating in

volksmarching events in France are reminded to bring their passports in case of a border check.

» The postal code is included in the listings for readers using navigation devices to reach an event.

» Readers are asked to pick up extra event brochures and to mail them via MPS to Donald Seltzer, CMR 467 Box 5533, APO AE 09096.

» Readers are reminded summertime ends in Europe on Oct. 29. Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour before going to bed.

Thalexweiler (66822) — This event is southwest of Baumholder and north of Saarbrücken in the Saarland area. From the Kaiserslautern/Ramstein area, use autobahns A6 and A8 toward Saarlouis and autobahn A1 toward Trier. Exit at Tholey, take B-269 a short distance to Thalexweiler.

Start: Don-Bosco-Halle at Don-Bosco-Straße 6

Saturday and Sunday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (5 and 10 km) and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (20 km)

Trails: Unknown

Award: None, but 95 cents of your €1.50 start fee goes to cystic fibrosis research

Auersmacher/Saar (66271) ― This walk is south of Saarbrücken and a bit distant for wanderers from the KMC. Use autobahn A6 toward Saarbrücken and exit at Dreieck Saarbrücken. Use B-51 toward Sarreguemines to connect with a minor road leading to the start at Auersmacher.

Start: Ruppertshof

Saturday: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (5 and 10 km) and

7 a.m. to noon (20 km)

Sunday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (5 and 10 km) and

7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (20 km)

Trail: Unknown

Award: None

Primstal (66620) ― Not far from Neubrücke is the event in Primstal. Baumholder’s wanderers should find this walk easy to reach. From the KMC, use autobahns A6 and A62 toward Trier, and A1 south toward Saarbrücken. Exit at Nonnweiler-Braunshausen to follow a minor road to Primstal.

Start: Mehrzweckhalle on Kannenberg Straße

Saturday: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. (6 and 11 km) and

7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (20 km)

Sunday: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (6, 11 and 20 km)

Trail: Expected to be hilly, woods and fields

Award: None

Völklingen-Heidstock (66333) ― This walk, west of Saarbrücken, offers a marathon to wanderers from the KMC. Use autobahns A6 and A620 past Saarbrücken. Exit at Völklingen-City and follow directional signs to the start.

Start: Hermann-Neuberger-Halle at Stadion Völklingen

Saturday and Sunday: 7 a.m. to

2 p.m. (5, 10 and 20 km) and 7 to

9 a.m. (42 km)

Trail: Unknown

Award: None (shorter trails) or patch and certificate (marathon)

Hohenöllen/Pfalz (67744) ― This midweek event is closer to Baumholder and Kaiserslautern. The start times may accommodate workers. From Kaiserslautern, use B-420 north toward Lauterecken to Heinzenhausen and the minor road to the start.

Start: Radsporthalle at Am Heidchen 6

Saturday: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (5, 10 and 20 km)

Sunday: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. (5, 10 and 20 km)

Trail: Hilly, woods and fields

Award: None

Neufgrange, France (57910) ― This French event is found due south of Saarbrücken and Sarreguemines. From the KMC, use autobahns A6 to connect briefly with A8 at Saarbrücken. Exit at Saarbrücken-Unner to head south on a minor road that becomes N 61 in France. Use N 62

toward Sarreguemines a short distance to connect with minor roads leading to the start at Neufgrange.

Start: Salle Socio-Culturelle on Rue St. Joseph

Sunday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (10 km) and 7 a.m.

1 p.m. (20 km)

Trail: Unknown

Award: None

Neunkirchen-lès-Bouzonville, France (57320) ― This just-across-the-French-border volksmarch is northwest of Saarlouis. From the KMC, use autobahns A6 and A8 past Saarbrücken and Saarlouis. Exit at Rehlingen to use minor roads to cross into France. Drive through Siersburg and toward Bouzonville until you can connect with a minor road leading to Neunkirchen-lès-Bouzonville and the start.

Start: Salle des Fêtes du Foyer

Sunday: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (10 km)

Trail: Unknown

Award: None

Waldweistroff, France (57320) ― This French walk is west-northwest of Saarbrücken and will be a bit of a drive. From the KMC, use autobahns A6 and A8 past Saarbrücken and toward Saarlouis. Exit at Saarlouis-Mitte and take B-405 toward France. Continue on it to Bouzonville as it becomes D 918. Take D 19 to Colmen and connect with a minor road to Waldweistroff and the start.

Start: Salle des Fêtes

Sunday: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (10 km)

Trail: Unknown

Award: None.

(For details, e-mail the writer at volksmarch@gmail.com.)