European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 2, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Cabin fever got you go take a hike recent mild weather in Central Europe seems finally to have broken the Back of Winter Awakening people from their Semi hibernation. With the Days getting longer and Spring less than three weeks away the Woods and Fields begin to seem More inviting. Except for mountainous areas most of Central Europe has experienced a typical Winter with lots of Gray skies but Only Brief cold spells and Little Snow. The ground is Bare nearly everywhere below 2,000 feet. One of the Best ways of starting to get Back into the swing of outdoor activities and in shape for the upcoming year is hiking. Brisk walking has been proved to be one of the most beneficial forms of exercise with special advantages for the cardiovascular system. It is a relaxing uncomplicated activity that the whole family can take part in. Hiking can be As simple As a walk through the Fields near your Home or As arduous and Complex As a trek through the Alps. At its most Basic level it requires Little in the Way of specialized gear and no special training. In Germany where the majority of service members Are stationed hiking is something of a National pastime. Together with its More gregarious vacation Volks marching and its outer limit extreme Mountain climbing it attracts people of All Ages and social strata. Even the Small patches of Woods near Urban centers in Germany usually have walking or hiking paths and vacation regions often have Trail networks that rival the . Interstate Highway system in complexity. A Good Way to get started is at a local tourist office or Bookstore. One or both usually will be Able to provide information about hiking including a Wande Karte hiking map of the nearby area. They can also help you get in touch with the local hiking club. The most important gear for hiking or walking is of course footwear. Though sneakers or running shoes Are Fine for strolling on smooth terrain in Good weather hiking boots provide a wider Range of options. The past 20 years have seen Many new developments in hiking footwear. These Days the simplest hiking boots Are really Only sneakers with created soles. At the other end of the spectrum Are the rigid plastic climbing boots favored by some mountaineers. Between these two extremes Are Many Good choices for the recreational hiker or Walker. Local cafes sports shops often have a person on the staff who can advise customers what is right for them. The Rule of thumb the rougher the terrain and the style of hiking the heavier and More rigid the boots should be. It is nearly always an advantage to have boots that Are Waterproof. Many hiking boots these Days Are constructed partly of Gore Tex a space age material that is flexible Tough and water resistant. It allows perspiration to pass out but hinders rain and Stream water from soaking in. As with any physical activity the enjoyment of hiking depends on conditioning. If you have spent most of your free time this Winter on the Couch Don t strike off on a 10-mile trek your first Day out. Begin with Short walks and build up to greater distances and tougher terrain. Likewise if you Are not experienced at Cross country navigation you should Start off close to Home with Short walks to familiarize yourself with Trail markers and orientation. Once you Are confident that your legs Are in shape and you can find your Way from one place to another you can proceed to More challenging hikes. In keeping with the regions reputation for efficiency trails in Germany Austria and Switzerland Are generally clean Well marked and accurately mapped. Only the most experienced hikers should head into the mountains in Winter. But in the summer the High peaks offer some of the most spectacular hiking. Throughout the Alps there Are Mountain huts set up to accommodate hikers. Many Are Well above the tree line. They Are usually rustic Cabins with bunk rooms. These Are not primitive lean tos. Some can sleep upwards of 50 people. They charge a modest fee for a bed and most also sell food and beverages. In Germany hikers can get the benefits of exercise without roughing it at night. In Many regions hotels have banded together to offer special wan darn Ohne repack Quot hiking without Luggage Quot packages. Generally they must be booked for three Days or More. Guests plan their hiking route so that at the end of each Day s leg they arrive at a different hotel. Luggage is automatically transferred sparing the hikers a big Burden. Excellent areas for this style of hiking vacation Are the Black Forest the Franzische Schweiz franconian Switzerland Region East of Bamberg the Odenwald Between Frankfurt and Heidelberg and the Moselle River Valley near the French Border. In some areas it is possible stay overnight at a Castle hotel. Hiking is also popular in Britain where a number of companies specialize in setting up Quot walking Quot vacations. These group treks Are led by experienced guides. In certain sections such As the scottish Highlands this approach provides Welcome Comfort and safety factors. Here Are a few useful addresses for information about hiking a verb and Deutscher Geber is und Wande Vereine e. V. Association of German Mountain and hiking club Reich Strasse 4, 6600 Saa Brucken Germany Telephone 0681-390070 a Odenwald Klub e.v., Postrach 1270, 6128 Hochst Odenwald Germany Telephone 06163-4785 a tourism Szentpale Fri Kische Schweiz Oberes Tor 1, 8553 Ebermann Stadt Germany Telephone 091948101 a English wanderer 6 George Street Ferryhill station county Durham dl17 0dt, England Telephone 0740653169. A greens Cape Mil away Lane Croyde Devon sex 33 1ng, England Telephone 0271-890677 a walking holidays in Britain of holidays limited 142/144 great North Way London nw4 1eg, England the we Brucken Rod and gun cub will hold a German Hunting certificate course from March 4 through april 18. The course will be conducted wednesday evenings and saturdays. For More information Contact maj. Gary Payne 200th Tammy Box 1177, Apo a 09052, Telephone ets 494-6611 or 06332-18120. This column can be a useful tool for sharing information among outdoor enthusiasts from Hunters and fishermen to hikers sailors and kayaker. If you have questions or information about outdoor activities in your area or just want to talk about your particular interest Contact Norm Zeigler stars and stripes unit 29480, Box 265, Apo a 09211, Telephone ets 348-8230 or civilian 06155-601230 in Germany readers action line settling the confusion about varied benefits recently several letters have been printed discussing the different benefits received by soldiers participating in operations desert shield desert storm and provide Comfort. This is an Effort to Settle some of the discussion and confusion. Soldiers assigned to both desert shield storm and provide Comfort were try temporary duty to the respective areas. Their status was try because the assignment was temporary in nature i.e., not a pcs a permanent change of station and the intention of the army was for soldiers to return to their permanent duty stations. There was a difference in per diem try payments. The commander in chief Central command made the decision Early in the deployment to desert shield that Field conditions would apply in his area of operation. His decision was based on the fact that he could provide meals lodging and laundry for soldiers. Therefore a Zero per diem rate applies. The commander joint task Force provide Comfort was unable to provide meals and lodging at every location for everyone participating in provide Comfort. Additionally the commander did not want a situation where different groups of soldiers or airmen sailors would be paid differently while assigned to the same Mission. Therefore the decision was made not to declare Field conditions but to pay per diem. Because soldiers were in a per diem status they were required to pay for their meals including res or have the Cost of meals deducted from their travel voucher. In most cases the soldiers were left with $3.50 per Day and their subsistence allowance. Family separation allowance Fra was paid to All married soldiers participating in operations desert shield desert storm and provide Comfort because they were separated from their families for More than 30 Days. Fra is always paid when soldiers Are involuntarily separated from their families for 30 Days or More. The Secretary of defense authorized imminent danger pay for soldiers in desert shield desert storm according to Public Law. Imminent danger pay was authorized for soldiers in operation provide Comfort under the same provisions. While it is True that soldiers on provide Comfort received the new higher amounts authorized by Congress the soldiers in desert shield storm were retroactively paid the difference after Congress increased the allowances. Wear of the former wartime service shoulder sleeve insignia often called a combat Patch was a Complex Issue for the army a leadership because operation provide Comfort began on april 6, 1991, As a purely humanitarian Effort and therefore did not qualify for a combat Patch. But because of circumstances that evolved later Many units engaged in defensive combat operations. A recommendation submitted by the commander operation provide Comfort outlining these operations led to the decision by the army chief of staff to Grant the Cincu Sarteur authority to award the Patch to units and individuals who performed or directly supported defensive combat operations. Soldiers who performed a strictly humanitarian Mission Are not eligible to Wear the Patch. The Usa eur Deputy chief of staff personnel Disper issued a policy message outlining the eligibility requirements and listing units that meet the criteria the Patch to be worn and the approving authority. Sgt. 1 St class Michael f. Donohue office of the Deputy chief of Stafl resource management sgt. 1st class Lance r. Walker office of the Deputy chief of staff personnel Heidelberg Germany to write us readers action line is the readers Quot court of last resort Quot striving to answer some of the questions about life overseas in a military environment or quest bus about policies and guidelines when other avenues for answers Are not readily available. If you have a question and Don t know where to turn for the answer write to readers action line co the stars and stripes unit 29480, Apo a 09211. All letters must be signed and preference will be Given to those seeking information of general interest to our readers. Page 16 a the stars and stripes monday March 2, 1992