Take a hike

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

» The postal code is included in the listings for readers using navigation devices; exit numbers are provided for those without navigation.

»  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.

» Many thanks to readers Richard and Donna Glenn, Pat and Cheryl Patterson, and (no first name on the envelope) Lynch for sending brochures. Almost all of the French volksmarch events listed came courtesy of Lynch — merci beaucoup!

» Would you like to receive Take a Hike at the same time as the editor? The complete, unedited version of the monthly volksmarching feature is available in its original Word document format by sending an email message to volksmarch@gmail.com with ‘subscribe’ in the subject line. You may choose from the KA version or the Herald Union (HU) version which lists events in and between Wiesbaden and Baumholder.

» Look for additional event choices at www.wiesbaden.army.mil/hunion/Takeahike.htm.

Weekend of April 14 and 15
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 6 and 8 toward Saarbrücken and Zweibrücken. Exit at Zweibrücken-Ixheim (33) 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: Stade Municipal
Sunday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (10 km)
and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (20 km)
Trail: Unknown
Award: None

Rodenbach (67688)
This walk is just east of Ramstein AB. Consider participating in this event and then visiting the base afterward for shopping, a movie or dinner. From Autobahn 6, use the Einsiedlerhof (14) or Kaiserslautern-West (15) exits and minor roads to Rodenbach.
Start: Bürgerhaus
Saturday and Sunday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
(6 and 11 km) and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (21 km)
Trail: Unknown, but expect wooded trails
Award: From previous events

Weekend of April 21 and 22
Bexbach (66450)
This Saarland event is in the area roughly between Ramstein and Saarbrücken. From Ramstein and Landstuhl, use Autobahn 6 to reach the Homburg exit (9), then use secondary roads to the start at Bexbach.
Start: Sportheim Sportplatz “Auf der Heide”
Saturday: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. (6 and 10 km) and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (20 km)
Sunday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (6 and 10 km) and 7 a.m. to noon (20 km)
Trail: Unknown
Award: None

Orscholz (66693)
Event cancelled.

Rohrwiller, France (67410)
This French volksmarch event is southeast of Zweibrücken and a bit distant. Participants will find themselves fairly near Haguenau, Soufflenheim and Strasbourg — all of which are worth exploring. From the KMC, use Autobahns 6 and 8 toward Saarbrücken and Zweibrücken. Exit at Zweibrücken-Ixheim (33) to take B-424 south where it becomes D 35A in France. Connect with N 62 to Haguenau and D 29 to reach Rohrwiller and the start.
Start: Salle des Fêtes
Sunday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (10 and 20 km)
Trail: Unknown
Award: None

Weekend of April 28 and 29
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 6 past Saarbrücken and into France where it becomes A 32. Connect with the A 4 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 and 20 km)
Trail: Unknown
Award: None

Köllerbach (66346)
Wanderers will find this Saarland event northwest of Saarbrücken and easily reached by autobahn from the Landstuhl/Ramstein area. From Ramstein and Landstuhl, use Autobahns 6 and 8 toward Saarlouis to reach the Schwalbach/Schwarzenholz exit (15), then use secondary roads to Sprengen and Köllerbach.
Start: Kyllbergschulhalle, Zur Sporthalle 1
Saturday and Sunday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
(5 and 10 km) and 7 a.m. to noon (20 km)
Trail: Unknown but expect somewhat
hilly, woods
Award: From previous events

Quierschied-Göttelborn (66287)
This event is in the Saarland area west of Ramstein and should offer scenic trails. From Ramstein, use Autobahns 6 and 8 to reach the Merchweiler exit (18), then use secondary roads to reach the start at Göttelborn.
Start: Mehrzweckhalle on Hauptstraße
Saturday and Sunday: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
(6, 10 and 20 km)
Trail: Unknown but expect somewhat
hilly, woods
Award: None

Monday and Tuesday, April 30 to May 1
La Petite Pierre, France (67290)
Another French volksmarch that requires a bit of driving but lends itself to the exploration of Strasbourg or Haguenau.  The event is south Zweibrücken and roughly midway between that city and Strasbourg. From the KMC, use Autobahn 6 past Saarbrücken and into France where it becomes A 32. Connect with the A 4 (a toll road, I believe) toward Strasbourg and use the Phalsbourg exit. Follow N 4 and D 604 to Phalsbourg and pickup D 104G and D 133 to Oberhof. Continue on D 122 and D 178  to the start at La Petite Pierre.
Start: Centre Culturel
Sunday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (10 and 20 km)
Trail: Unknown
Award: None

Reinsfeld (54421)
This beginning-of-the-week event is west-northwest of Baumholder and requires an afternoon’s leave from work. From the KMC, use Autobahns 6, 62 and 1 toward Trier to reach the Reinsfeld exit (132). Follow IVV directional signs to the start.
Start: Kulturhalle on Friedhofstraße
Monday: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (5 and 10 km) and
8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (20 km)
Tuesday: 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. (5, 10 and 20 km)
Trail: Fairly hilly, woods
Award: None

Weekend of May 5 and 6
Landsweiler-Reden (66578)
This event can be found just northwest of Neunkirchen in the Saarland area. In the interest of healthy living, the club invites you to check your blood pressure before and after walking its trails. From the Kaiserslautern/Ramstein area, use Autobahn 6 toward Saarbrücken and Autobahn 8 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: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
(5 and 10 km) and 7 a.m. to noon (20 km)
Trail: Unknown
Award: From previous events.

(There were more volksmarching events than we could print here. To see a full list, visit the KA online at www.kaiserslauternamerican.com. Or, for more events in your area, visit www.wiesbaden.army.mil/hunion/Takeahike.htm.)