TAKE A HIKE – July, 2016

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.

JULY:

Tuesday, July 26

Guiderkirch, France (F-57720) — This Tuesday walk is south-southwest of Zweibrücken and about an hour’s drive from Kaiserslautern. From the KMC, use Autobahns 6 toward Saarbrücken and 8 toward Zweibrücken. Exit at Zweibrücken-Ixheim (33) to very briefly use B424 toward Rimschweiler. Connect with a minor road (L465) through Mittelbach, Altheim, and Peppenkum to reach the border. Cross into France and continue on D84 to the start at Geiderkirch.

Start: Chapiteau Place des Fêtes on Chapelle Sainte Anne Tuesday: 6 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (10 and 20 km) Trail: Unknown Award: None.

Weekend of July 30-31

Beinheim, France (F-67930) — This event is on the border east of Haguenau and northwest of Baden-Baden, Germany. Yes, it’s quite distant from the KMC at almost 90 minutes, but offers the opportunity to visit Haguenau, Soufflenheim and Strasbourg in France as well as Baden-Baden. From the KMC, use Autobahns 6 toward Mannheim, 61 toward Karlsruhe, and 65 toward Neustadt. Exit at Kandel-Süd (22) to take B9 south toward Strasbourg and the border. Once in France, continue on Autoroute A35 and exit at Forstfeld (56). Use D4 and D468 to Beinheim and the start.

Start: Salle Polyvalente at 4, rue du Foyer Sunday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (10 km) and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (20 km) Trail: Unknown Award: None.

Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg (L-4114) — This event is southwest of Luxembourg City with the drive slightly more than 90 minutes from Kaiserslautern. From the KMC, use Autobahns 6 and 8 toward Saarbrücken, Saarlouis, Merzig and Perl. Continue across the border onto Autoroute A13 west toward Luxembourg City, then exit at Schifflange (5) and pick up N5 to Esch-sur-Alzette.

Start: Ellergronn (Centre d’accueil nature et forêt) Sunday: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (5, 10 and 20 km) Trail: Unknown Award: None.

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.

Sarralbe, France (F-57430) — This event is south of Saarbrücken and Sarreguemines, France. The drive from the KMC area is about 70 minutes. From the KMC, use Autobahn 6 toward Saarbrücken, then briefly use A620 to exit onto B51 south toward Kleinblittersdorf and the border. At Kleinblittersdorf, take a minor road across the Saar River into France. Pick up N61 past Sarreguemines and D661 to reach Sarralbe.

Start: Complexe François Mitterrand on Rue de la Sarre Sunday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (10 km) and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (20 km) Trail: Unknown Award: None.

Seibersbach (55444) — This event is west of Bingen and adjacent to the scenic Hunsrück region. The town and its walk are easily reached. From the KMC, use Autobahns 6 and 63 toward Mainz and 61 toward Koblenz, then exit at Stromberg (46). Follow a minor road toward Rheinböllen to pick up the road to Seibersbach.

Start: Dorfgemeinschaftshaus on Soonwaldstraße Saturday and Sunday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (5 and 10 km) and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (20 km) Trail: Fairly hilly, fields and woods Award: From previous events.

Stuttgart-Heumaden (70619) — Sponsored by the Stuttgart German-American Wandering Club, this event attracts wanderers from all over Germany. Getting to the start may require GPS navigation, however. From the KMC, use Autobahn 6 toward Mannheim and continue south past Heidelberg toward Stuttgart to connect with Autobahns 81 and 8 toward Ulm. Take the Esslingen exit (54) and follow signs for Neuhausen, Ostfildern and Sillenbuch-Heumaden.

Start: Heinz-Glauner-Halle at Kemnater Straße 50 Saturday: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (6 and 12 km) and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (20 km) Sunday: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. (6, 12 and 20 km) Trail: Hilly, woods Award: From previous events.

Questions? Send email to volksmarch@gmail.com.