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Nord Süd Trail

April – October 2024
  • Georg Hellmann
After finishing my first "Thru Hike" I also want to hike the length of my home country.
Starting at my parents place in Rhineland Palatinate walking north bound to Sylt and then back by train walking south bound to Oberstdorf. Read more
  • Georg Hellmann

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  • Denmark Denmark
  • Austria Austria
  • Germany Germany
Categories
Backpacking, Camping, Hiking, Nature, Solo travel, Sports
  • 3.0kkilometers traveled
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  • 47footprints
  • 166days
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  • Georg HellmannTravelerNord Süd Trail
    maybe a Sulfur Porling or "chicken of the woods" because of the chicken flavour
    a common darter relaxed on my backpackFor the next Thru Hike...beautiful little housings with thatched roofsalmost missed out this beautiful path by skipping a few metersAmazing scenery with the boats and the old buildings of Gothmundalmost feels like the sea and I am only a few days away

    Lets go to Lübeck...or not

    September 27, 2024 in Germany ⋅ 🌬 13 °C

    Today I came close to Lübeck, a town with a beautiful historic city center, but I never entered it...

    Leaving the water channel I walked through fields and forests with small villages in between into the east. I was really surprised to see a town sign saying Lübeck even though I wasn't anywhere near Lübeck. Right behind it was another sign with the actual name of this small village called Beidendorf about 9 km south of Lübeck.
    Well, I entered Lübeck, at least for a moment. I followed the trail until I came to a supermarket in a suburb of Lübeck. I came to a small but beautiful heather field where I met a woman with a dog two times, because she took the smarter way. A few minutes later I stopped to talk with a couple and they gave me energy and motivated me. There the woman with the dog walked past me only to overtake her a minute later again. A long and dense forest stretch with small trees and many day hikers as well as cyclists enjoying the nature.
    Once out of the forest I crossed a street and reached a water edge. I knew I had to get to the other side and on my map there was a big road connecting both sides. There I had to realize it is a tunnel for the highway, but no crossing for pedestrians or even cyclists. I could've taken a shuttle bus to get to the other side but I am still on all by foot mission. I checked the map for the next bridge and saw I am almost going to the old part of Lübeck. At least the distance was almost the same and it looked like a nice trail for the first part.
    A gorgeous old village right at the start of the detour, which I almost wanted to skip unknowingly what to expect. I followed the river until the trail led me along a big riverside lake. I checked my map while walking and got surprised by a cyclist. I said sorry, the man only laughed and right after we parted I thought I saw a sign with a crossed out bicycle. On the other side I saw the same sign which made me angry for saying sorry even though the man didn't follow the rules.
    The next hours I walked streets to get to the bridge and back to the trail again. The old town center was only 650 m away but there is so much to see in Lübeck and the landmark would've been at least 2+ km (+ time taking pictures) so I decided to do a trip from Hamburg in the future one day.
    In the evening it got windy and started to rain but I kept walking into the night until I came to a community building with a shelter. First I thought, I'll leave early the next morning until I realized it is saturday the next day so there'll be no one there. Once the rain stopped I was able to charge my power bank at an outside power outlet. I was really happy after a long day of walking. I made it to the spot I guessed earlier.    Read more

  • Georg HellmannTravelerNord Süd Trail
    Harbour of Neustadt
    1Elisabeth Towertelevision tower Bungsbergthe Great Bear over the radio towerMy scarf is also useful as sleeping back liner

    The highest point of northern Germany

    September 28, 2024 in Germany ⋅ 🌙 8 °C

    The goal of the day was the highest elevation of northern Germany. I felt confident even though the distance was quite high with more than 45 km + elevation.

    I started at around 7.15 am and the trail led me on long straight forest roads further north. My sister called me after the first mile still half asleep and we talked for an hour while my fingers got really cold. At one point I put her on speaker and wore gloves. Listening to my sister I walked into the wrong direction until I felt something was off after 500 m.
    Beautiful lakes for swimming...in the summer unless you don't fear the cold, but not for me. I would've done it with a warm house and a hot chocolate awaiting me afterwards. Heading straight north I made good progress distance wise on the map.
    In the next town I headed for the supermarket to resupply the rest of the day and breakfast. I also went to a post office for an identity check which I would usually do online as most people do. After a mile I stopped for lunch on a bench with more people than expected passing by. A rain cloud surprised me and I packed my stuff in a hurry. A little sheltered under a tree I stayed at the bench and kept eating after the rain stopped again. This happened multiple times so I covered myself with the poncho completely which left a passing woman worried asking me if I am alright. Well, even my head was hidden underneath the poncho so it must've looked weird.
    I started walking only to stop at the next shelter to answer an email related to my job offer and to avoid the rain. Two skaters tried out wet skating after the rain stopped and I tried to figure out where and how to get the different certificates I needed before I started the new job.
    I finally continued with 4 hours to go until I reached the highest elevation. I followed mainly roads from one village to the next and took wrong turns to walk past a couple again or get told about a dead end by another couple arriving with the car at that moment.
    In the last village before the steep climb I was glad to find a public toilet, also to refill my bottle. I stayed there for a while having dinner and checking the next day. I left once the sky turned dark and the first stars came out.
    Following up and downhill through fields I entered a dark forest with barely any sight. At least it was a wide forest road easy to follow until the next junction. The last village at an altitude of 100 m there was no big climb with the hill being 167,4 m high. I arrived at the Elisabeth tower with a beautiful night sky and was surprised by the lighting still on. I climbed the stairs and enjoyed the view seeing the light pollution of Kiel, the next city on the trail.
    I decided to stay in the tower overnight with hopes not to be bothered.    Read more

  • Georg HellmannTravelerNord Süd Trail
    the beautiful Schwentine river between the lakes
    swimming cows on lake DiekWhen people decide to close the trail...At the ferry terminalThe other ferry terminal after 1 h 12 minThe Kiel Canal with a cargo ship entering the Baltic SeaThe next ferry terminal with the Prinz-Heinrich-bridge in sightAfter the bridge only an hour away from the 100 kmstill in a good mood after 80 kmIt doesn't look that far on a map

    3rd time 100+ km...

    September 29, 2024 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    Since I've done my first 2 times 100 km in 24 hours in New Zealand I wanted to try it on the NST at least once and this is how it happened.

    I woke up in the Elisabeth tower on the Bungsberg with 168 m the highest elevation in the northern part of Germany. Now in daylight I saw the sea in the distance and many wind turbines across the country. I packed the stuff and had to realize I left my water bottle in the last village I came through the evening before. As an interim solution I filled a small sealable box with water until I found another bottle.
    At 8.24 am I started tracking on komoot with the intention to walk at least 100 km and maybe 24 hours. The first hours went really smooth with an average speed of 6.1 km/h. I felt really confident with perfect weather conditions and a good mood to start with. Dwelling in memories of the 100 km in New Zealand I even started to cry missing the time with my friends there.
    The trail led through fields, small villages and alongside many lakes (15+). A lot of cyclists and dog owners came past and some of the cyclists I saw multiple times.
    Every 2 hours I had at least a short break to take off my shoes and stretch myself a little bit. In Plön I stopped for lunch and bought a falafel dürüm at lake Great Plön. It wasn't the greatest, falling apart while eating, but it served its purpose.
    With a full stomach I continued to Kiel, the only city on this challenge still many hours away. My mood was fantastic, my legs felt great and I listened to the Alpensinfonie, which a friend of mine is going to play in an orchestra. On the trail a small part was blocked by a fence claiming private property no entry. I climbed the fence, walked at the edge of a small field and got out on the other side. I took a screenshot of the spot on my map for then later sharing it with the community to avoid unnecessary detours. The next town I already entered in the dark. There I got a falafel döner with nothing else open on a sunday night. At the town's monastery I found a toilet where I put on all my clothes for the night, but took off my puffer jacket after I started to sweat again. The trail followed the river Schwentine all the way to Kiel where it flows into the Baltic Sea. While writing this I realized I started just north of the source of the river, which itself flows through all the lakes I walked alongside. On this part I had to use the flashlight of my phone with the trail leading through really dark forest areas.
    In Kiel I got to where you usually take the ferry across avoiding the city center but there was no ferry at midnight, so I took the shortest way about 7 km around. Then the trail followed the promenade along the water until it was blocked by a military area. I realized I had to cross the Kiel Canal (Nord-Ostsee-Kanal) and the trail led me to another ferry. Luckily there is a bridge not far from the ferry terminal, but the bridge was way taller than normal bridges would be, because cargo ships are passing underneath it as there was one passing by when I got to the terminal. I climbed all the stairs, crossed the canal with only one car on this highway at 2.30 am and got down on the other side back onto the trail.
    Now on a direct way north to the shoreline of the Baltic Sea I came across a graveyard where I refilled my bottle. My legs hurt but I wanted to reach 100 km within 20 hours, so I kept up my pace. I finally got there at 3.48 am and was really surprised about how good I felt compared to the first and second time. The conditions were different the first time but even with almost perfect conditions at my second attempt, this one felt way easier. After a short break due to the cold I continued to achieve my next goal, the 24 hours...    Read more

  • Georg HellmannTravelerNord Süd Trail
    Hm...an interesting stairway...my way!?!?
    The dawn right before I get to the 24 ha total of 3 1/2 h of break time in 24 han average speed of 5.8 km/h without the break time

    24 hours and then?

    September 30, 2024 in Germany ⋅ 🌬 14 °C

    I already knew I wanted to walk for 24 hours but I didn't expect to make it this far...

    At 4 am I continued with 4 hours and 24 minutes left to go. I figured out 120 km is definitely possible with an average of 6 km/h. The trail led me to the shore line of the Baltic Sea and followed the promenade up north to a light house. Still in the dark turning westwards I entered a small forest area with a cliff coast where I used my flashlight for the last time of this night. Leaving the forest onto the beach my mental health started to crumble. Why on earth would you walk on a soft sandy beach for miles??? (I've done it for over 40 km in the past 2 times on Sylt)
    Well the first time wasn't too bad, but I wasn't fond of it. Leaving the beach I came into a small village where I tried to get rid of the sand. The sky turned into beautiful colours and the last hour has begun. The trail followed the cliff coast on a beautiful single trail only with a few sandy patches. I went off the trail into a village to the supermarket where I finally reached the 24 hours.

    During the last 24 hours I kept thinking about 100 miles ~ 161 km and figured out 40 km in 12 hours could be possible. After a decent break I started with my final challenge. At first following a beautiful single trail at the cliff coast land inwards and enjoying the rising sun my mood was good. I did know there was another 3 km beach walk ahead and once I got there I took off my shoes and started walking barefoot.
    The sand was cold which didn't really bother me, but there were so many small stones and rocks mixed with shells and green stuff from the sea. My mental health crumbled to nothing and I got really mad about this part. I tried to walk with sandals turning out to be way worse with sand and small stones stuck between my feet and the sole. I was crying, no way someone would enjoy walking on soft sand for miles. I put on my shoes without socks and tried to walk as fast as possible to get off this beach.
    Well, I was tired, my feet and legs hurt and my mental health was crushed, so it was probably the worst time to walk on a beach where even a calming sound like waves just annoyed me. I do know how beautiful a walk on a beach can be, but not after 125 km...
    Off the beach the trail followed easier paths along the coast line until I got to Eckernförde. I stopped at a supermarket, got some (a lot) food for my nerves and stopped on a grassy area at the next lake. There I had a long break until I realised, I still needed to walk 19 km and wanted to arrive before nightfall.
    Walking around the lake all the food started to lay heavy in my stomach and I checked the map for the next restaurant/hotel or public toilet. It showed me a restaurant in the next village but in google maps there was nothing. I hurried into the village and asked some locals who offered to use their bathroom with the restaurant closed for years already. I was really happy and thanked them for their hospitality.
    While continuing I checked the map for sleeping places close to the trail but in a relatively close distance to where I reach the 161 km. I found a nice place in a little village with toilets, power outlets and a big shelter next to a lake about 2 km off the trail. I could've walked further but my whole body told me to stop and I decided to set it as my goal with a supermarket also not far away. Right before I arrived there, I completed the 100 miles and was so relieved to have finally accomplished the challenge. With some ups and downs I was really astonished about my own body and how I felt. Of course the following days will be hard and I felt like resting for a week but with my finish line so close now I also wanted to get to the most northern point of Germany in the next week.    Read more

  • Georg HellmannTravelerNord Süd Trail
    my buddy found a friend
    1a jet flying really close over my heada beautiful lake near Schleswigthe bridge surrounded by water4the trail leading through the water on the other side...it almost doesn't endthe bridge in the distance between the two lakes

    Almost at the top

    Oct 2–3, 2024 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    The last city on the border to denmark two days away and the weather stable until the end of the week. From there the only way to get further north is the island Sylt on the other side in the North Sea.

    After a rest day at the lake, where it was really cold I joined the trail again with sore muscles and all my clothes on. I kept walking for hours through fields and forests. Right before I came to the next larger town the trail led me over a small bridge between two lakes. When I was there the water level was higher and at my side it was 20 cm deep 3 meters from the waters edge away. I took off my shoes, pulled up my pants and went over the bridge. On the other side I stepped into the water again and a moment later I saw the whole way flooded for at least 100 m. At the next sitting area I dried my feet and warned some other people about it.
    In Schleswig I had a long break next to a castle and just missed the opening hours of the toilet. So I walked a detour to a supermarket and kept walking in the darkness of the night until I got to a shelter.

    This day I wanted to get all the way to Flensburg, which is the most northern town of Germany and next to the border of Denmark. On my way there I came across some vikings heritage sites, which looked interesting, but I didn't take the time to explore much. I kept walking all the way up until I came to the edge of Flensburg, where I called the trail angel, whom I asked for accommodation the day before. Once I arrived at his place, I relaxed for a while and we chatted. Then after a shower he asked me about dinner, which took me a while to answer, not knowing what I really wanted. In the end we ordered indian food, which was delicious. Later I was so happy about a bed and I slept in on the next day.    Read more

  • Georg HellmannTravelerNord Süd Trail
    The morning of my second last day
    the wind turbines almost hidden in the dense fogI love the light setting with the fog and other elementsfreezing but beautiful2the one moment where I need my arms instead of my legs2A beautiful little camping area with a pond, a tiny island and a raft to get thereLooks like the dune landscape on Sylt2beautiful setting with a swarm of birds gathering in the field to the rightThe first sight of Sylt?!the first lights at the east end of Sylt

    Baltic Sea to North Sea

    Oct 4–5, 2024 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    Now following the border of denmark to the North Sea in two days and one final day on the most northern island of Germany called Sylt I tried to finish earlier with the weather changing afterwards.

    I started the day after the trail angel came back from his morning shift at around 10 am. A long breakfast stop in a quiet alley and only 1 hour later I stopped for lunch on a bench just outside of Flensburg. There I talked with a mother with her son and dog and on her way back she invited me for a cup of tea. I played with the son and the dog while she cooked pasta with pesto for me. I was really happy about this surprising meeting and I am so grateful for the time I spent with them. I left the secret trail angel and finally made some progress on the day. 3 hours later I arrived in a small village where I bought dinner and stayed at the graveyard with public toilets nearby.
    Late in the evening the lights turned on due to a motion sensor and I was a bit tense about someone walking past my sleeping place. I relaxed when I saw a cat creeping into the bushes a few meters away.

    Leaving early in the morning on a cold and foggy day I kept walking until the sun got out. In the next village I had a long break for breakfast and a few km later a woman asked if I knew where I was going. A little bit confused I explained to her I am hiking the NST the other way around. The trail followed forest roads until I got to a stunning beautiful camping area hidden in the forest with a little pond. The next stop was Süderlügum, a small town 3 km from the danish border. There I bought dinner and continued out of town back to the border.
    While listening to a podcast I walked up a road where a lot of cars were parked on the side and a moment later I saw many people standing on a dike. At first I was really surprised and couldn't figure out what they were watching. Once I got closer I saw swarms of birds all gathering at the same spot in a field on the other side of the dike. I tried to listen to their conversations but with barely any knowledge of danish I couldn't understand a word. I stayed for a while and watched more and more birds gathering in a tiny area hidden in high grass.
    For the last hour I followed the road in the dark until I got to Klanxbüll, which is the last stop for the train before it crosses the dam to get on the island. I stayed there in a graveyard again, where I always have water and mostly a sheltered space.    Read more

  • Georg HellmannTravelerNord Süd Trail
    Starting the last day with a happy smile
    2typical housing on Sylt for probably 1 million eurosa car train on its way to the main hubon the left the little black vertical line is the light house at the south endthe view from the Uwe dune facing southfacing north, the last part of my trailthe North Sea on the last sunny day33700 km, 167 days since I started4It has been an incredible journey!

    The final day on Sylt

    October 6, 2024 in Denmark ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C

    I woke up in the morning in the graveyard, packed my stuff and got ready to start the final day. Leaving Morsum the trail led me through the fields southwards to the main dike. There I had to turn around because it was closed due to a disease. Back to the railway I followed roads close to it until I got to the main hub of the island called Westerland. I bought new shoes for the time after I finished the trail.
    Now only 15 km to the end of the island, a blue sky with a few clouds, a light breeze in the air and a great view from the Uwe dune, with 52 m the highest point of the island, a perfect final for the NST. Suddenly a friend, who is living on the island, called me and asked if he could join me for the rest of my hike. First I tried to answer ironically but immediately agreed happily.
    Instead of walking on the soft sand at the beach we took a gorgeous path between the dunes. The pictorial landscape with sand dunes partially covered in heather rounded up with a few clouds and the blue sky, just beautiful. The last bit following a road on a thin stretch of the island called "elbow" as it looks like an arm half bend. There leaving the road a sandy path in the dunes led us to the beach where we saw the sign a bit further up north. My legs were already hurting and walking in the soft sand was really hard.

    We finally made it to the most northern point of Germany and therefore for me to the end of my journey on the NST. It felt unreal and it was a weird feeling after a year of hiking to have an end for now.

    I had an amazing time on the Nord Süd Trail and I am really grateful for all the amazing people I met. Thank you for all your kind and warm hearted words which gave me energy. Much love to all the trail angels who supported me!

    Thank you Soulboy for sharing your passion with the hiking community and also thank you all who support Soulboy in establishing the trail, so future NST hikers can also have an amazing experience while exploring different parts of Germany.    Read more

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