European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - June 30, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Mountain hiking it s Worth the Effort the liter putt to in of histories and photos by Leah Larkin features editor Gruss Colt they said smiling As they i 1- Neir Way Down inc Trail. We were on our Way up the Mountain mostly we weren t smiling. Getting to the lop is hard work thai tires one quickly zaps inc body of Energy drains he lungs of air. Why do people like All those Happy hikers we met Many of them Well Over 60 years old walk up mountains for fun is ii just masochists who Lake up Iii sport Wilh .1 passion no Al All. Along with the pain there is gain the scenery and surroundings he seme of accomplishment and satisfaction the Camj Madorie these Are some of the rewards. Over the memorial Day weekend three of us hiked a Mountain Trail in the Ullersberg Range near Buchte Braden West Germany. Our designation was Hie Slu Herhaus a hut Al an Elevation of 6,250 feet. Most hikers make the irek to the a Mohrhaus and Back in one Day. Not being mountaineers we opted to spend the night at the hut and head Down the Trail the next Day. Besides we wanted to see what a Mountain Hul was All about. Weighted Down Wilh Small backpacks stuffed Wilh rain gear extra to shirts and sweaters socks food drinks and camera equipment we Sel Oul through the Fields near the tiny town of Maria Gern. Will Lin minutes we were Oul of the cow pastures and into the Woods climbing the Ernil grew steeper and steeper. We walked More and More slowly. After Aboul a half hour we came to a Clearing and looked up it the monstrous mountains. "1 ii a that s our hut Way up  look it s surrounded by  no thai could t be it. That s much too faraway it would take nil Day to get that High. Ii Musl be that other building Over  continuing up up up we wondered aloud does t this Trail Ever flatten out after Anol Hur half hour of Uphill Drudgery we slopped for liquid refreshment. It was warm and sunny and the exertion had left our Mouths parched. Onward. As we left the Trees behind and came to an open , the Trail cooperated. Ii wound around Wilh no exhausting inclines. The easy walking was t to last however. Not far ahead was a Trail that  a  and Forth to the lop of a Steep Peak. We had Hopes thai our Trail would Lake in easier route. We did notice thai the far away hut finally ski tried not so far away. Soon we were hiking Over patches of Snow some deep and soft others precariously icy. We came to the twinning of inc Switchback Section. The Sun had melted us Snow but the Trail was narrow and Rocky. We rewarded ourselves Wilh lunch and a photo taking session after conquering this grueling stretch. It was obvious that the hut Al the top was ours. Now we were anxious to get Uherc. The last part was the Kilter. We kept gelling closer and closer we assumed but the hut did t. We d round a Bend and it would be out of sight for awhile i Hen it would reappear always still off in the distance like a teasing Mirage. Ii was real thank god and we finally made it collapsing into the chairs on the Terrace. Pack off. Bools off. Someone got some Beers and water. Now it was Lime to relax and savor the experience. Somehow there s More to Marvel at when it has been your own efforts nol a Cable car that have brought you to the top. Rows and rows of mountains some higher some lower is trod All around in awesome splendor. Inside the Hul a group of hikers enjoyed Beers and laughter. We along with some bold and hungry Blackbird were the Only ones on the Terrace. Ii was about 3 . Our hike including rest slops had taken about three and a half hours. After quenching our thirst and relaxing in the Sun we had fun feeding the Birds stalking two Mountain goals Wilh a camera and taking pictures of wildflowers 26 kinds had been counted on the Way up then it was Lime for More climbing to the lop of the Hoch Thron at 6.510 feel Over a Moon like landscape of Snow and Rock. At the lop of Many Alpine mountains is a Cross with a Box containing a Mountain Book. We found the Hochl Hron Book. It was full of signatures and hometowns of others who had preceded us. Few americans had been there. We signed then stretched out under the Sunshine at the lop of the world. This is More than i Little bit of heaven reason enough to climb a Mountain. Back Down Al the hut we Learned i hat we were the Only guests and the first overnight guests of the season. We had our Choice of steeping in 1 he  a Long dark room lined on each Side Wilh a Wall to Wall platform on top of which were mattresses or a Liny room with two bunks. We chose the Laller. Someone said the mattress room reminded him of a concentration Camp. Bathroom facilities at this hut consisted of an indoor outhouse and a room with a Row of sinks with cold running water. However the water would Only run is Long As a Button was held Down Wilh one hand that left one hand for washing brushing Teeth Etc. Well we had t expected luxury. Since All the supplies have to be transported from the Valley huts offer a limited selection of food. In the evening there is always a Mountain climber s plate something warm and Hearty Al a reasonable Price. We were famished and quickly consumed a huge portion of bratwurst and sauerkraut. A Long evening stretched Are full of hikers. Friendship adventure Are shared Over t enjoyed a conversation will watched a spectacular Moui hit our bunks Early. Colorado what s a Nice woman lil the Middle of nowhere it s a natural question to who spends some five Mon the bavarian Alps. She and. Mountain hut for the germ. People Are surprised to the Denver native says. Be hut just about five or six it their Hul the sufi Herhaus Rocky plateau 0,250 feet a neighbors Are More Mounlee civilization is a two hour i Robin and her daughters make a trip Down to Berchul Rote Somme nuts and her it Ipei ii Flint june 30, 1988