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Volksmarching Notes
» Interested in volksmarching but not sure how things work? Send an e-mail to volksmarch@gmail.com with the subject “Getting started.”
» The calendar for volksmarching in Germany, Terminliste 2012, is now available for €2.50 in the start hall at most events. This useful booklet lists dates, locations, points of contact and other information for each of the scheduled events in Germany. Also provided is an extensive list of permanent trails. Look for the international edition of the IVV calendar to be available soon.
» 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.
» The postal code is included in the listings below for those readers using navigation devices to reach an event.
WEEKEND OF FEB. 18-19
Schwalbach-Griesborn (66773) — 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, then follow secondary roads through Sprengen and Schwalbach to reach Griesborn.
Start: Gemeindesaalbau at Hauptstraße 90
Saturday: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (6 and 10 km)
Sunday: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. (6 and 10 km)
Trail: Unknown but expect somewhat hilly, woods
Award: None.
WEEKEND OF FEB. 25-26
Rothenburg ob der Tauber (91541) — This walk explores the medieval walled-city of Rothenburg. The Saturday-only old-town walk offers a mini-tour of its many shops and sights. The outside trails, including a half-marathon distance, are a great choice if you’ve already experienced the old-city trail. It’s crowded but not overwhelming; parking is plentiful. In conjunction with this special walk discounts on admission are offered by a number of museums and attractions by showing your IVV start card. Use Autobahns 6 and 7 past Heidelberg, Heilbronn and Crailsheim in order to reach Rothenburg.
Start: Sporthalle at Erlbacher Straße 5
Saturday: 7 a.m. to noon (6, 11 and 21 km outside of city) and noon to 4 p.m. (11 km old-city trail)
Sunday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (6 and 11 km) and 7 a.m. to noon (21 km)
Trails: Old-City routes are paved and have steps; trails in the surrounding area are hilly and wooded
Award: Cloth shopping bag.
Saarbrücken-Gersweiler (66128) — Just west of Saarbrücken, this event places wanderers in the area of the border with France and is easily reached by autobahn. Use Autobahns 6 and 620 past Saarbrücken and exit at Völklingen-Gersweiler. Take a secondary road a short distance to reach the start.
Start: Sportzentrum on Krughütter Straße
Saturday and Sunday: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (5 and 10 km)
Trail: Unknown
Award: None.
WEEKEND OF MARCH 3-4
Geislautern (66333) — This walk is west of Saarbrücken and should be within volksmarching range of wanderers in the Kaiserslautern Military Community. Use Autobahns 6 and 620 to Saarbrücken and Völklingen. Exit at Geislautern and follow directional signs to the start hall.
Start: Dorfgemainschaftshaus at the Schloßparkschule
Saturday: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. (6 and 10 km)
Sunday: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (6 and 10 km)
Trail: Unknown
Award: None.
Neufgrange, France (57910) — This French event is found due south of Saarbrücken and Sarreguemines. From the KMC, use Autobahns 6 to connect briefly with Autobahn 8 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 des Sports at 7 Rue du Stade
Sunday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (10 km) and 7 a.m. 1 p.m. (20 km)
Trail: Unknown
Award: None.
WEEKEND OF MARCH 10-11
Hemmersdorf (66780) — This Saarland event is west of Dillingen and only a few kilometers from the Luxemburg border, yet it’s easily reached by autobahn from the Landstuhl/Ramstein area. From Ramstein and Landstuhl, use Autobahns 6 and 8 toward Saarlouis and Merzig and exit at Rehlingen. Use secondary roads through Büren to reach Hemmersdorf.
Start: Grenzlandhalle on Niedaltdorfer Straße
Saturday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (6 and 10 km) and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (15 km)
Sunday: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (6 and 10 km) and 7 a.m. to noon (15 km)
Trail: Unknown
Award: None.
L’Hôpital, France (57490) — This event is on the French border southwest of Saarbrücken and north of St. Avold. Volksmarchers will find the event easily reached via Autobahn 6. From the KMC, use A-6 past Saarbrücken toward the border, continuing toward Metz using the French autobahns A320 and A4. Use the Carling exit and take N33 (Route de Carling) north a short distance. Exit onto Rue Principale and briefly follow it to a possible roundabout where you’ll pick up D26 which goes through a series of names to eventually become Rue de la Gare, upon which the start is located.
Start: Centre Sportif du Puits 2 on Rue de la Gare
Sunday: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (10 and 20 km)
Trail: Unknown, expect wooded areas
Award: None.
Queidersbach (66851) — This event is southeast of Ramstein and easily reached by autobahn. From Kaiserslautern, head south about 5 km on B-270 to connect with a minor road leading to the start at Queidersbach.
Start: Sport- und Mehrzweckhalle at Jahnstraße 11
Saturday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (5 and 10 km)
Sunday: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (5 and 10 km)
Trail: Unknown
Award: From previous events.
WEEKEND OF MARCH 17-18
Bitche, France (57230) — 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. In addition, challenge-seekers will find 42- and 50-kilometer routes offered Saturday. From the KMC, use Autobahns 6 and 8 toward Saarbrücken and Zweibrücken. Exit at Zweibrücken-Ixheim to take B-424 south where it becomes D 35A in France. Continue on using D 620 and D 35 to reach the start at Bitche.
Start: Collège St Augustin
Saturday: 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. (10 km), 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. (20 km), 6-9 a.m. (42 and 50 km)
Sunday: 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. (10 km) and 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. (20 km)
Trail: Unknown
Award: Certificate for 42- and 50-km trails.
Heusweiler (66265) — This event is north of Saarbrücken and just off of Autobahn 8, making it easily reached from the Kaiserslautern, Ramstein and Landstuhl. From the KMC area, use Autobahns 6 and 8 toward Saarlouis and exit at Heusweiler.
Start: Erweiterten Realschule at Schillerstr. 65
Saturday and Sunday: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (5, 10 and 15 km)
Trails: Unknown
Award: None.
Trier-Ehrang (54293) — Wanderers will walk in the area surrounding Germany’s oldest city of Trier as a reward for the time spent reaching this event. Volksmarchers in Kaiserslautern, Ramstein and Landstuhl will use Autobahns 62, 1 and 602 to Trier. Trier-Ehrang has its own exit off of Autobahn 602 as drivers approach Trier. Watch carefully for IVV directional signs.
Start: Turnhalle at Oberstraße 8 in the Trier suburb of Ehrang
Sunday: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (6, 11 and 20 km)
Trail: Hilly, woods and fields
Award: From previous events.
WEEKEND OF MARCH 24-25
Don’t forget to set your clocks ahead one hour before going to bed Saturday night!
Aschbach bei Lebach (66822) — This event, due north of Saarbrücken, is closest to wanderers in the KMC area. From Ramstein, use Autobahns 6, 8 and 1 toward Saarbrücken and Trier. Exit at Tholey to backtrack a few kilometers on B-269 to Aschbach.
Start: Mehrzweckhalle on Koblenzer Straße
Saturday and Sunday: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (5 and 10 km)
Trail: Hilly trails, woods and some fields
Award: None.
Petite Rosselle, France (57540) — This event is on the French border southwest of Saarbrücken and north of St. Avold. Volksmarchers will find the event easily reached via Autobahn 6. From the KMC, use A-6 past Saarbrücken toward the border, continuing toward Metz as it becomes A320 in France. Use Forbach exit #42 and follow D31E and D31 to the start at Petite Rosselle.
Start: Espace La Concorde
Sunday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (10 km)
Trail: Unknown
Award: None.
WEEKEND OF MARCH 31-APRIL 1
Düppenweiler (66701) — This walk is a bit distant, but still reachable, with its location northwest of Saarbrücken and northeast of Saarlouis. From the KMC and Ramstein areas, use Autobahns 6, 8 and 1 toward Saarbrücken and Trier. Exit at Eppelborn to use B-10 and B-269, then use a minor road at Bettstadt to reach Piesbach and Düppenweiler.
Start: Kulter- und Sporthalle on Pfarrer-Gierend-Straße
Saturday and Sunday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (6 km), 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (12 km) and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (16 km)
Trail: Unknown, but expect hilly trails, woods
Award: None.
Hermesdorf (54636) — If you have a reason to drive to Bitburg, then consider participating in this event northwest of the base housing area and near Stausee Bitburg (Bitburg Reservoir). Readers making the drive will find the area quite picturesque. From the KMC, use Autobahns 6, 62, 1 and 60 toward Trier and Wittlich. Exit at Landscheid, use B-50 through Bitburg and connect with a road toward Wißmannsdorf and Hermesdorf.
Start: Westeifelwerke at Unter den Birken 1
Saturday and Sunday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (6 and 11 km) and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (15 and 20 km)
Trail: Expect hilly, wooded areas
Award: None.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11
Hohenöllen/Pfalz (67744) — Too distant for most readers, this midweek event is closest 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
Wednesday: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. (5 and 10 km), 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. (cycling) and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (20 km)
Trail: Hilly walking trails, woods and fields; 30-km asphalt cycling trail
Award: None.
WEEKEND OF APRIL 14-15
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 or Kaiserslautern-West 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 21-22
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 6 and 8 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.
(For more events in your area, visit www.wiesbaden.army.mil/hunion/Takeahike.htm.)
