Day 129: Burning Legs

Alte Taufe to Shelter near Ahorn

Distance: 50km

Sleeping in or without my sleeping bag - that's the question. The temperatures don't make it easy to decide. While sleeping without a sleeping is too chilly, sleeping in the bag is too warm and I ended up waking up several times, either to slide in or out of my sleeping bag.

A bit tired I continue my hike along the shallow, wide ridge. While the sun is out, the trees are blocking the views. The ridge is scattered with all kind of antennas and measuring equipment. Of them all mainly the radar used for Air Traffic Control catches my attention. Eventually, I climb down the Deister ridge and enter Münden. A small but charming town. Again I enter forest and climb the next hill.

Throughout the day it is a constant up and down. Especially, the climb after Hameln, yet another nice town, is steep. The 3 liters of water doesn't make it easier (I deviated from the trail earlier to pass through a cemetery. And sure enough they had a water tab there).

By this time I already have 40 kilometers in my legs with most of the energy gone. Still, I manage to continue for another 10 kilometers through undulating terrain when I spot the shelter, which I looked up beforehand. Since it's never really clear if they are suitable to sleep in, I am delighted to see this one is.

And the view is lovely. Probably the best view I have had so far in Germany.

It's also been the toughest day in Germany. 50 kilometers on flat terrain is one thing but 50 kilometers with more than 1000 vertical meters another. I'm glad to feel that, even though I am pretty tired and my legs are burning as I'm writing these lines, my legs and lungs still have power for all this climbs. With this in my mind, I am actually looking forward to tackle the hillier terrain ahead of me.