The Oderwald: Where the coffins have beards
The Oderwald is not for the faint-hearted, I said that already. This impression was confirmed this sunday. We are on a tour around the so called Hungerberg, the heighest heigh within the Oderwald. We kind of have an idea how the hill got its name. However the wooden coffin-like cases at the entrance of the forest with its brush-borders on top made us curious. We wonder: Do coffins in the Oderwald have beards?
Who knows the white way?
Our car is parked on the parking site at the Oderwald between WF-Halchter and Adersheim. From there we turn left into the forest. We follow the sign “Breiter Weg”. I am skeptical whether there are further signs to come. Normally there is little of it within the Oderwald. After a while we pass by the Posteichenweg. I am surprised by another sign. Do they have marks by now? Well, rejoyed too soon. At first the forest allures us inside and then it is cold-shouldered at the next crossing. We see a group of eager sportswomen in front of us making their warm-up rounds. We overtake them and ask for directions. We ask to the “White way” but nobody knows it. However the Hungerberg seems to be known: “Well, you have two options. You can go straight here and then turn right. Or you can turn right here towards Leinde.” Somehow this information does not sound reliable to us. As I do know the way to Leinde respectively Cramme from my cycle trips, we decide to turn right at the crossing.
Undesired advice
On the way we meet another couple but once again my questions do not lead anywhere. It seems that the Hungerberg is a real insider tip. In order not to expand the walk too much we decide to turn left at the next crossing. A man with Nordic Walking sticks walks towards us. I think to myself he might be familiar with this area. Well, he knows the hill in question but: “There is not much to see. I’ve been there once because I thought there something like a plattform, but there is not.” I think to myself, “thank you for that information. But I did not ask for it.” Once again he tries to engage us in a discussion but realizes that we are not interested. Finally he lets us know that we have to go in sinuous lines at first, then right and afterwards left. After that there will be a clearing. We have to walk alongside the edge of the forest, then the Hungerberg will show up sometime.
We accept this information and move on. Upon walking under the motorway bridge for a second time we see threem men, six dogs, one car and a bucket full of old rolls and bread in front of us. Once again I ask the same questions. The guys seem to be familiar with the forest. At first however, they smirk at us. The male circle does not take us serious. They tell us to move southbound. At the next crossing we shall turn right and then just walk straight. Well that does not sound too difficult. According to my information we should reach the memorial of forester Alfred Hampel. We actually reach the clearing and are confident. However, we cannot find that memorial and thus feel a little bit ackward. What, if we really got lost in here? From my last tour I know how quickly this can happen. But it is still bright outside, warm and we have enough supplies with us. Therefore we curageously move on. After a while we meet an elderly gentlemen on a bike. I ask the man whether this way leads to the parking lot of the oderwald. I must admit that I am happy to hear a positive answer. “But do not turn right at the crossing”, he warns us. “I did that once and the trail just finished after a while.”
Moving in cirlces
After a while we pass by the refuge FG Cramme. We think we are already close to the parking lot. Well this certainty only lasts until a car stops behind us. The driver unwind the window and says: “Oh, are you going in circles?” We look at each other in bewilderment. Isn’t that the guy we met before at the motorway bridge? Oh no, don’t tell me we are wrong! We put up a brave front and smile away the question.
Upon reaching the implied motorway bridge once again we are lucky again. A couple familiar with the place comes towards us. We ask for directions to the parking lot and get a very detailed description of the way. We are still insecure whether this is the right track. But after a while we recognize the hiking path and know that we are on the right path. Our destination is only a stone’s throw away. What a feeling, we conquered the Oderwald. And lucky enough we did not have to spend the night on top of the Hungerberg or make acquaintance with the coffin-like cases with brushes on top.
