• To the bottom of the Black Forest

    Aug 25–26, 2024 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    While the trail going further north is only 10 km away I am doing a 150 km loop to the south west corner before I get to that point again.
    I started later after calling my sister and friends and once the rain stopped. I came to a beautiful lookout above lake Schluch, which is the biggest hydropower complex in Germany. I walked around half the lake and ventured off into the next valley. One valley later I came to a small village but with a big cathedral and I bought lunch at a cafe. The trail followed up the mountain again and after a few small ups and downs I came to the Wehra spring, where the trail led down into the valley again. I found a toilet with a power outlet at a bus station, so I stayed for dinner nearby. The trail led me into the Wehra gorge and I ended up walking in the dark on narrow paths along the steep mountainside until I got to a hut.

    In the morning I got up at 7 and continued down the Wehra valley. I really liked the paths except for the road next to the river the whole time. At least there was no traffic until I got to the end. In the next town I got a big breakfast, but the vegan mango yoghurt I tried, wasn't my favourite. Before I had breakfast I left town and on my way I saw a mobile wood saw and splitter from the 1960s which they still used. The trail led gently up and down through forest and fields and in the next village I was really lucky. When I was at a small self serving street shop the owner just passed and he allowed me to use the bathroom, which I urgently needed.
    At 4 pm I arrived in Lörrach to the most south western point of the trail. After resupplying I had a snack break at a bus stop before leaving the town. There a man told me about a shortcut to the next castle skipping the hill in front of me and I thought for myself, I'll walk up anyway because that's the trail. At least I had a good view of the surrounding mountain ranges in Switzerland and France. Once at the castle I ate my dinner and after a while three women and two dogs sat nearby. One dog came to me multiple times sniffing but couldn't find anything.
    I continued to the next village trying to find a sleeping place close to a power outlet. The only easily accessible one didn't work so I kept walking to the next hut where I stayed for the night.
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