European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 9, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Volks marching on the Trail of a German pastime a hiker makes his Way through the Woods top photo. Above walkers Stop by i checkpoint to have their registration cards it Imperf. Stones and photos by Joseph Owen Slu Lugari Bureau As we watched 3 panoply of fireworks punctuating the new year outside our living room window i was thinking of unfinished tasks and misled opportunities. Our tired Renault station Wagon still needs major surgery 1 recalled. Dozens of people Back Home Are awaiting responses to their letters. And after five months of living in southwestern Germany i Slid Haven t been on a vol Smarch. Quick to recognize a priority 1 awakened my two sons Early the next morning and set out in the dark from Leonberg for the nearby town of Magstadt where the second Day of an annual vol Smarch was in Progress just what prompts this National passion for hiking soon perhaps its secret would unfold before me. We arrived at the Magstadt gymnasium Only minutes after the  event began. The parking not was filled nearly to capacity but the Hall was nearly deserted. Most participants already were on the Trail. A Small knot of men had stayed behind drinking Beer and smoking at two of the Many folding tables that filled the room. Women staffing the Concession stands chatted with one another in the absence of customers. Can we gel going i m getting hot said Joseph my a year old. The Promise of a medal at the end of the id Kilometre hike fuelled his enthusiasm. A Man carrying an elaborately decorated walking Slick went out to the lobby. He was the first of Many people we would Sec wearing Short pants and colourful stockings which met at the Knees. We followed him to the registration tables. I paid 6.50 Marks for each of the boys so they could collect medals later. Then we went Back outside and set off under a dim brooding sky. Across the Street we found the first in a series of red directional arrows marked  it pointed to the left. We walked along Magstadt s main artery or a few dozen meters then followed a succession of arrows which led us quickly through a couple of quiet residential streets. The sidewalk passed a Long Row of Snow covered Hedges a silent line of shampooed Heads awaiting a rinse. We turned suddenly to the Easi following a path which foil like a discarded whip across a tract of misty Snow covered agricultural Fields. This deflated my primary theory about Why people participate in a  1 had thought it might serve As a walking tour of the Host town. Our prescribed route led us directly away from Magstadt however and we found ourselves looking Only at the stubble of the last Harvest against a hazy backdrop of Distant evergreens. We could see people far ahead on the undulating path. They seemed to be walking on Clouds. Others who had started behind us caught up and passed us wearing an amazing assortment of clothing for such cold weather. Jogging suits shorts and sneakers were As common As hooded parkas earmuffs and boots there was a continuous procession in the passing Lane Small boys do not move quickly in the morning. While other people strode on ahead purposefully the boys dragged their boots a Chuff a Chuff until we struck upon each occasional smear of pitted ice. Then they ran happily Slid on Slippery Boot treads and fell Down on purpose. My feet were really tired but i did t complain said Brendan my 6-year-old, to my wife later. I wanted to get thai  when we arrived at the two Kilometre checkpoint the boys turned in their registration cards for a validation stamp. A Vendor distributed Tea and sold pretzels and cold Cut sandwiches. Some hikers seemed More interested in his Cognac and Obstler a fruit liqueur. Brendan a a 3 pretzel then bemoaned the absence of a toilet. I Tiu shot c have thought of that before we left i said fully aware that i was the one who should have remembered it. The Trail hooked to the right then left skimming the Edge of the Trees. Organizers from  the local hiking club had strewn a line of sawdust across a Side Road leading into the Woods so hikers would t stray accidentally from the Trail. Brendan scrambled up the Road and disappeared momentarily behind a woodpile to answer the Call of nature. Joseph and i watched More of the passing Parade. A lot of bearded men walked by. A woman jogged along looking somewhat Haggard. Some people Stripe Magazine a inquiry 3,ims