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TAKE A HIKE — The Kaiserslautern Military Community’s monthly volksmarching feature.
Volksmarching Notes
• As of this writing, no travel restrictions are in place for neighboring countries. When considering participation at events outside of Germany, volksmarchers are advised to check with their command for any new travel restrictions.
• Interested in volksmarching but not sure how things work? Send an email message to volksmarch@gmail.com with the subject “Getting Started KA.”
• Many thanks to Spangdahlem’s volksmarchers Pat & Cheryl Patterson and Ramstein’s Lew Harrison & Johnette Scott for providing the event brochures that help make this feature possible.
• Take a moment to grab a set of brochures from the Werber table and send them via no-cost MPS to Donald Seltzer, PSC 2 Box 10684, APO AE 09012.
• Got a comment? Found something you’d like to correct? Want to change ‘unknown’ to a useful trail description? Write me at volksmarch@gmail.com with the subject “Feedback KA.”
• Would you like to receive Take a Hike at the same time as the newspaper 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 KA” in the subject line.
• Find additional event choices at http://www.herald-union.com/ and look for the Travel and Leisure section.
AUGUST:
Weekend of Aug. 6-7
Ettelbruck/Deich, Luxembourg (L-9012) — This event is north of Luxembourg City. Expect a drive of two hours from the KMC. From the KMC, use Autobahns 6 toward Saarbrücken, 62 and 1 toward Trier, and 64 toward Luxembourg. Cross the border and continue on Autoroute A1, then exit at Potaschbierg (13) to use N1 and N14 toward Diekirch. At Stegen, pick up CR347 to Schieren, and then N7 north to Ettelbruck and the start.
Start: Hall Omnisports du Deich Frankie Hansen on rue du Deich Sunday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (5 and 10 km) and 7 a.m. to noon (20 km) Trail: Unknown Award: None.
Hottenbach (55758) — This walk is north of Idar-Oberstein and should offer wanderers a scenic trail in a very pretty area. From Baumholder, head toward Neubrücke to pick up B41 north to Idar-Oberstein to connect with B422. Briefly continue north on B422 to Tiefenstein and then take minor roads through Herborn, Mörschied and Weiden in order to reach the start. From the KMC, use Autobahns 6 and 62 to the Birkenfeld exit (4), then take B41 north to B422 at Idar-Oberstein. Use B422 to Tiefenstein and then use minor roads through Herborn, Mörschied and Weiden to reach Hottenbach.
Start: Sportplatz Saturday and Sunday: 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (5, 10 and 20 km) Trail: Hilly, mostly woods Award: Mounted gemstone.
Kalhausen, France (F-57412) — This Marche Populaire event is south of Saarbrücken in France. Wanderers from the KMC area will have a bit of a drive (should be less than 90 minutes) to reach this walk. From the KMC, use Autobahn 6 to Saarbrücken and take the B51 exit toward Güdingen and the border. Continue onto D82, D919, and D33 as the secondary roads parallel the winding Sarre River. Connect with D83 and take it into Kalhausen and the start.
Start: Salle polyvalente on rue de la Liberation Sunday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (10 and 20 km) Trail: Unknown Award: None.
Weekend of Aug. 13-14
Auersmacher/Saar (66271) — This walk is south of Saarbrücken and a bit distant for wanderers from the KMC at just under an hour’s drive. Use Autobahn 6 toward Saarbrücken and briefly connect with A620 before taking the B51 exit. Use B51 toward Sarreguemines to connect with a minor road leading to the start at Auersmacher.
Start: Ruppertshof at Ruppertstr. 42 Saturday: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (5 and 10 km) and 7 a.m. to noon (15 km) Sunday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (5 and 10 km) and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (15 km) Trail: Unknown Award: None.
Consdorf, Luxembourg (L-6213) — The event is almost a two-hour drive from the KMC, and about midway between Bitburg and Luxembourg City. From the KMC, use Autobahns 6 toward Saarbrücken, 62 and 1 to Trier, and 602 and 64 to the Luxembourg border. Continue on Motorway A1 toward Luxembourg City, exit at Potaschbierg (13), and connect with N1 toward Larochette. Pick up N14 and CR136 to Brouch, then follow CR132, CR137, and CR118 to Consdorf and the start.
Start: Centre culturel Kuerzwénkel on route de Berdorf Sunday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (6 and 12 km) and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (20 km) Trail: Unknown Award: None.
Konz-Krettnach (54329) — This walk is due south of Trier with a drive that’s a bit under 90 minutes from Kaiserslautern and an hour from Baumholder. Its proximity to Trier makes a visit to that historic city very convenient. From the KMC, use Autobahns 6, 62, 1 and 602 to Trier. At the end of A602, continue on B49, B51, and B268 to Konz and follow IVV signs to the start at Krettnach. From Baumholder, head to Freisen to pick up with A62 toward Trier. Connect with Autobahns 1 and 602 to Trier, then use B49, B51, and B268 to reach Krettnach.
Start: Bürgerhaus at Hauptstraße 10 Saturday and Sunday: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (5, 10 and 20 km) and 7-11 a.m. (30 km) Trail: Flat (5 km) or hilly with scenic views, woods and fields Award: None.
Miesau (66892) — Just west of Landstuhl and home to an Army depot, this walk is easily reached via the autobahn. Pretty trails are offered by a friendly club that welcomes American membership. (For more information, ask for the club’s president, Heidi Jackson, whose English is excellent.) From the KMC, use the Autobahn 6 exit for Bruchmühlbach-Miesau (11) and follow IVV signs a short distance to the start hall.
Start: Turn- und Festhalle on Jahnstraße Saturday and Sunday: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (5 and 10 km) and 7 a.m. to noon (20 km) Trail: Hilly, wooded areas Award: None.
Weekend of Aug. 20-21
Brouch (Mersch), Luxembourg (L-7416) — This event, north-northwest of Luxembourg City, is roughly a two-hour drive from the KMC. From the KMC, use Autobahns 6 toward Saarbrücken, 62 and 1 to Trier, and 602 and 64 to the Luxembourg border. Continue on Motorway A1/E44 toward Luxembourg City, exit onto A7/E29 toward Echternach, exit onto CR126 and CR 125 to Walferdange. Connect with N7 north toward Lintgen, then pick up A7 toward Mersch. Use Exit 4 to pick up N8 toward Reckange/Saeul and follow that to the start at Brouch.
Start: Hall an der Koll (Stade Feidt Frères) Saturday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (6 and 12 km) and 7 a.m. to noon (20 km) Trail: Unknown Award: None.
Clausen (66978) — This event is south of Kaiserslautern and should be rather enjoyable. From Kaiserslautern, use B270 south toward Pirmasens. Connect with secondary roads at Waldfischbach-Burgalben leading to Donsieders and Clausen.
Start: Gräfensteinturnalle at Jahnweg 26 Saturday and Sunday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (6 and 10 km) and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (20 km) Trail: Unknown Award: None.
Schifflange, Luxembourg (L-3858) — This Saturday event is southwest of Luxembourg City and not far from the French border. Expect about a 90-minute drive from the KMC. From the KMC, use Autobahns 6 toward Saarbrücken and 8 toward Perl and the border. After crossing into Luxembourg, continue on Autoroute A13. Exit at Schifflange (6) and use CR169 to reach the start.
Start: Hall polyvalente at 12, rue Denis Netgen Sunday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (6 and 12 km) and 7 a.m. to noon (20 km) Trail: Unknown Award: None.
Tiefenbach/Hunsrück (55471) — Wanderers should enjoy this walk in the scenic Hunsrück area, and not just because a Saturday-afternoon beer wandering trail is offered. Tiefenbach is due west of Bingen and south of Simmern. From Baumholder, use minor roads northward through Ruschberg, Reichenbach, and Frauenberg to connect with B41 in Bad Kreuznach’s direction. At Simmertal, take B421 north to Gemünden to pick up a minor road to Tiefenbach.
Start: Wildburghalle on Im Gründchen Saturday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (5, 10 and 20 km) and 4-5:30 p.m. (5 km Bier-Abendwanderung) Sunday: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (5, 10 and 20 km) Trail: Hilly, woods Award: From previous events.
Weekend of Aug. 27-28
Bouzonville, France (F-57320) — This just-across-the-French-border volksmarch is northwest of Saarlouis. From the KMC, use Autobahns 6 and 8 past Saarbrücken and Saarlouis. Exit at Saarlouis-Mitte (3) and use B405 through Felsberg and Ittersdorf to reach the border. Continue on French road D918 to Bouzonville and the start.
Start: Gymnase Norbert Noël at 26 Rue st Hubert Sunday: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (10 and 20 km) Trail: Unknown Award: None.
Grosbliederstroff, France (F-57520) — This Sunday event is found due south of Saarbrücken and almost literally on the border. From the KMC, use Autobahns 6 to connect briefly with Autobahn 620 at Saarbrücken. Immediately take the exit for B51 south to Güdingen, cross the Saar River, and take B405 to the border. Continue southbound in France on N61 to Grosbliederstroff.
Start: Salle de Jeux et Loisires on rue des Fermes Sunday: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (10 km) and 7 a.m. to noon (20 km) Trail: Unknown Award: None.
Kayl, Luxembourg (L-3674) — This event is south-southwest of Luxembourg City with a drive of about 90 minutes from the KMC. From the KMC, use Autobahns 6 and 8 toward Saarbrücken, Saarlouis, Merzig and Perl. Continue across the border on Autoroute A13 west to the Kayl exit (7), then take CR165 to reach Kayl.
Start: Verainshaus um Widdem at 2, rue de l’Hotel de Ville Sunday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (6 and 12 km) and 7 a.m. to noon (20 km) Trail: Unknown Award: None.
Mainz-Gonsenheim (55124) — This walk, with new trails requiring attention to the color markings, is easily reached via autobahn and is just north of Mainz. From Wiesbaden, use Autobahn 643 to cross the Schiersteiner Bridge and exit at Mainz-Gonsenheim. Follow IVV signs or tape leading to the start.
Start: Karl-Geib-Haus at Kapellenstraße 44 Saturday and Sunday: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (6 km), 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. (10 km), and 8 a.m. to noon (15 km) Trail: Flat, mostly stroller-friendly trails, woods. Award: None.
Questions? Send email to volksmarch@gmail.com.
