Take a hike

by Donald Seltzer
Contributing writer

» Interested in Volksmarching but not sure how things work? A basic guide to getting started in the sport is available in PDF by sending an e-mail to volksmarch@gmail.com with “Getting Started” written in the subject line.
» Sending an envelope full of brochures, reader B. Lopez reminds us that a variety of Volksmarch events are available in France. Several of these walks are included in this Take a Hike for those wishing to enjoy a walk on the other side of the border.
» Also providing brochures for this feature, and deserving of thanks, are regular contributors Richard and Donna Glenn, and Pat
Patterson.
» Walking in the Saarland area southwest of Baumholder and west of Ramstein? Send your short, firsthand descriptions of the trails (flat, hilly, wooded, fields, etc.) via e-mail to this writer.
» The Postleitzahl, or 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 whenever possible and to mail them via MPS to Donald Seltzer, CMR 467 Box 5533, APO AE 09096.
» Would you like to receive Take a Hike at the same time as the newspaper’s editor? You may specify to have the complete, unedited version with events in the Hessen, Rheinland-Pfalz and Saarland areas that’s sent to the Herald Union, or just the Saarland version designed for the Kaiserslautern American. Send an e-mail to
volksmarch@gmail.com with “subscribe” and either “HU” or “KA” written in the subject line.
» Look for additional event choices at www.wiesbaden.army.mil/hunion/Takeahike.htm.

Saturday and Sunday
Montbronn, France (57415)
This Marche Populaire event is south of Zweibrücken in France. Wanderers from the KMC area willing to make the drive will enjoy something a little different, yet very familiar, from the usual events in Germany. From the KMC, use autobahns A6 and A8 toward Saarbrücken and Zweibrücken. Exit at Zweibrücken-Ixheim to take B-424 south where it becomes D 35A in France. Connect with a secondary road near Bitche to follow it through Lemberg and Enchenberg to reach Montbronn.
Start: Salle polyvalente
Sunday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (11 km) and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (20 km)
Trail: Unknown
Award: None

Orscholz (66693)
This Saarland event is midway between Trier and Saarlouis. It may be a long drive but it’s mostly on autobahns from the KMC area. From Ramstein and Landstuhl, use autobahns A6 and A8 toward Saarlouis and Merzig and exit at Wellingen. Use secondary roads through Wellingen and Tünsdorf to reach the start at Orscholz.
Start: Cloefhalle at Saarbrücker Straße 17
Saturday and Sunday: 7 a.m. to
1 p.m. (5, 10 and 20 km)
Trail: Unknown
Award: None

Wustweiler (66557)
This event is southwest of Baumholder and west of Kaiserslautern in the Saarland area. From Kaiserslautern/Ramstein area, use autobahns A6, A8 and A1 toward Trier and exit at Eppelborn. Follow secondary roads to Dirmingen and Wustweiler.
Start: Seelbachhalle on Lebacher Straße
Saturday and Sunday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (6 and 10 km) and 7 a.m. to noon (15 km)
Trails: Unknown
Award: None

Easter weekend, April 22 to 25
Namborn-Eisweiler (66640)
A Good Friday walk and one that’s a relatively short distance down the road from Neubrücke. From Landstuhl, take Autobahn 62 toward Trier, exit at Freisen to use a secondary road through Eitzweiler, then connect with B-41 south to Namborn and
Eisweiler.
Start: Liebenburghalle on Liebenburgstraße
Friday: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. (6 and 10 km) and
7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (20 km)
Trail: Unknown, expect fairly hilly, woods
Award: From previous events

Urexweiler (66646)
This Good Friday event in the Saarland area west of Ramstein will require a lunchtime departure from work in order to make the start window. From Ramstein, use autobahns A6, A8 and A1 to reach the Eppelborn exit, then use a minor road through Dirmingen to reach the start.
Start: Mehrzweckhalle on Im Brühl
Friday: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (5, 11 and 20 km)
Trail: Unknown but expect fairly hilly, woods and fields; short trail is family-friendly
Award: From previous events

Weekend of April 30 to May 1
Dudweiler (66125)
This event, with its variety of trails, is northeast of Saarbrücken and easily reachable from Ramstein and Kaiserslautern. From those communities, use autobahns A6, A8 and A623 toward Saarbrücken and exit at Saarbrücken-Dudweiler. Follow IVV directional signs to the start.
Start: Bürgerhaus at Am Markt 115
Saturday and Sunday: 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
(5 km), 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (10 km) and 7 a.m. to noon (15 and 20 km)
Trails: Unknown
Award: None

Kalhausen, France (57412)
This Marche Populaire event is south of Saarbrücken in France. Wanderers from the KMC area will have a bit of a drive to reach this walk. From the KMC, use autobahn A6 past Saarbrücken and into France where it becomes A32. Connect with the A4 toward Strasbourg and use the Sarreguemines exit. Use N 61 to Sarralbe and minor roads Herbitzheim and Oermingen to reach Kalhausen.
Start: Salle polyvalente
Sunday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (10 km)
Trail: Unknown
Award: None

Saarlouis-Roden (66740)
Although distant from American bases, this Saarland walk is easily reached via autobahn. From the KMC area, use autobahns A6 and A8 toward Neunkirchen and Saarlouis. Exit at Dillingen-Süd and follow signs to the start.
Start: Römerberg-Kulturhalle on Hochstraße
Saturday and Sunday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (5 and 11 km) and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (20 km)
Trail: Unknown
Award: None

Weekend of May 7 and 6
Landsweiler-Reden (66578)
This event can be found just northwest of Neunkirchen in the Saarland area. From the Kaiserslautern/Ramstein area, use autobahn A6 toward Saarbrücken and autobahn A8 toward Saarlouis. Exit at Neunkirchen-Spiesen to connect with B-41 toward Schiffweiler and a minor road to Reden.
Start: Klinkenthalhalle at Marktstraße 11
Saturday and Sunday: 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. (5 and 10 km) and 6 a.m. to noon (20 km)
Trails: Unknown
Award: From previous events

Ramstein-Miesenbach (66877)
The Ramstein Roadrunners club plays host to this
event and celebrates 35 years in the German Volkssport Association with a new 15-km trail as well as a new start hall location. Wanderers will find the event to be a friendly and relaxing family activity. Of course, this is a hometown event that’s not to be missed for Volksmarchers in Kaiserslautern, Landstuhl and Ramstein.
Use the back roads (or Autobahn 6 and the Landstuhl/Air Base exit) and follow the IVV directional signs to reach the town of Miesenbach.
Start: Mehrzweckhalle at Am Kiefernkopf 20
Saturday and Sunday: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. (5 km), 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (10 km), 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (15 km) and 7 a.m. to noon (20 km)
Trail: Slightly hilly, fields and forests
Award: Engraved drinking glass

To see the full version of this month’s edition of “Take a Hike,” visit the KA online at www.kaiserslauternamerican.com.

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