European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 22, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                For an Alpine Mountain High go take a hike Europe outdoors Norm Zeta Fer one of the simplest and most enjoyable forms of outdoor exercise is a Good walk Combine this activity with Beautiful scenery varied terrain and clean air and you Call it hiking one of the More popular outdoor pastimes. Summer is the main hiking season and in parts of Western Europe a especially the Alpine regions a the trails Are packed from june through september. Hiking is also popular in the states but for those of us who have wandered the Rockies the appalachians and other North american ranges note some differences in the sport on this Side of the Atlantic. Hiking in the Alps is not a solitary wilderness experience. Europe s population density and the resulting numbers of bikers mean that you will meet others. Backpacking does not mean a. Picking an attractive spot to pitch a tent. Large sections of the Alpine environment would be quickly destroyed if this were allowed. Instead backpackers in the Alps Are generally restricted to spending their nights in the extensive network of Alpine huts. This system has been refined to its highest in the German speaking countries a Germany Switzerland and Austria. The word Quot huts Quot Hutten is something of a Misnomer in this Case. The facilities Are not Mere shelters like those maintained by the appalachian Mountain club. These Are not rough lean tos. They Are Cabins offering Beds meals beverages and often bathroom facilities with running water. Here you can hike All Day and enjoy a Cool Beer and a hot meal without having to carry the ingredients up into the mountains. A number of Alpine huts sleep upwards of 50 people in bunk room style and More than a few also offer one or two rooms for those who prefer More privacy. This makes hut to hut camping in the Alps an excellent Way to meet people but an unlikely Way to get away from them. But the apparently genteel nature of Mountain hiking in the Alps does not mean that it is a cakewalk. As anywhere hiking on the Heights is different from a stroll at sea level and it Calls for certain precautions. A plan your hikes with reasonable distance goals so that you can reach your intended overnight lodging spot Well before exhaustion becomes a Factor and before Sunset. A remember that Mountain weather is unpredictable and unforgiving. Pack clothing for All weather possibilities. A Day that starts out sunny and in the 70s in the Valley can bring Snow before Day s end at 10,000 feet. A make sure your equipment especially your hiking boots is in Good order before heading for the Hills. This includes breaking in new boots before starting a Long trek. Hiking in the Alps offers spectacular vistas and clean Mountain air but usually not Solitude. A remember that your condition May not be Ideal for High altitudes. Pace yourself and watch for signs of attitude sickness. A sunlight is More intense the greater the Elevation above sea level. Carry sunscreen and use it. A if you take along the kids remember it s easier for you to keep to their Pace than for them to keep to yours. Slow Down. In general reverse this advice if your Are late Middle age or beyond and your kids Are older than their late teens. A. A the Alpine environment looks harsh but it is actually very fragile. Stay on the trails and Don t pick the Flowers or damage the other vegetation. Pack out what you pack in. A a an excellent source of information about hiking in the Alps is the Deutscher alpe Verein headquartered in Munich. This organization with Over a half million members operates or cooperates in the operation of 243 huts and manages or takes part in the management of More than 12,000 Miles of trails in Bavaria Austria and Switzerland. Members receive a membership card entitling them to preference on accommodations and reduced prices for i overnight stays food and drink. Membership Cost varies from 65-90 Marks $40-$56 per year depending on what regional Branch you join. Members also get the club Magazine six times a year. The membership Cost is Well Worth it for the maps and information As Well As the safety Factor of knowing that you cannot be bumped out of a bunk. Information is in German but a lot of it is tabular and can be deciphered Quot with the help of a German English dictionary. Non members Are allowed to stay at Dav member huts on a space available basis. For information Contact. Deutscher alpe Verein , von Kahr Strasse. 2-4, 80997 Munchen fax 089-1400311. A the South Hessen Fly Fishers will meet at 7 . June 29 at the Darmstadt Rod and gun club. This is a club for All ability Levels from beginner to expert. Topics of discussion will include Fly tying and upcoming club trips. For More information Contact Victor Edwards Dan 337-6416 or civilian 0611-9570004, David Lewis Dan 348-3835 or civilian 06073-4510, or Norm Zeigler Dan 348-8230 or civilian 06155-2354. A the Wiesbaden Germany outdoor recreation Center is sponsoring group fishing trips to a Trout fishing Pond on july 16 land 30 and August 6. The trips Cost $10 plus 25 Marks. Equipment transportation and fishing permit Are included in the Price. The Wiesbaden Center is also arranging camping canoeing trips on the Nahe River for july 9-10, and 23-24 As Well As aug. 27-28 and sept. 17-18. For More details Call the outdoor recreation Center at Dan 337-5760. Thea column can a a a aft tool Lor a hiring information among outdoor a . If you Hava Quad tons or information about outdoor Active Tiaa in your Araa or jut want to talk about your particular Inta Raat Contact Norm Salehar Start and Stripe a unit 29480, Boa 285, Apo a 09211, Tala Phona Dan 348-8230 or civilian 08155-801230 in Garmany or fax 348-8483.  Tala Phona number in  dead California River gets a new lease on life by Tom ste1nstra san Francisco examiner Trout anglers said hello recently to an old lost Friend the upper Sacramento River in Dunsmuir Sisk you county calif., and most received a generous reply. The River was opened to the Public for the first time since the Southern Pacific toxic spill in july of 1991, which wiped out every living thing in the River from Dunsmuir to Shasta Lake. Anglers not Only discovered a Stream flowing again with natural Beauty and aquatic life but Rainbow Trout that had never been introduced to a Hook. Quot it s emotional to tie Here to see a rebirth of the River Quot said Tom Gong of Richmond who was fishing right below the train Bridge at Cantara Loop where a Tanker was derailed and went sailing wheels up into the River on july 14, 1991. Quot my great Grandfather Grandfather father and now myself have fished this River Quot said Tom Cranston of nearby Castella. Quot in the three years it has been closed 1 almost got numb to it. I had forgotten How wonderful it is to get in the water  it flow past and to try and fool a smart  at Daybreak the upper Sacramento was a Beautiful sight tumbling its Way for Miles Over boulders despite being cold and a bit High the latter the product of a hard rain late. The Early morning was cold in the Low 30s, with a layer of Gray cumulus spanning Over the upper Sacramento River Canyon but by noon the temperature warmed to the 60s. Just like the Good old Days the Best Success came for those willing to hike to the More Remote lesser known spots. That was the strategy for Lee Richards 1 5, and Clint Tetens 1 7, both of Redding who fished about six Miles downstream of Dunsmuir. After hiking for a half hour to a secret spot they used spinners and had 20 hookups in a few hours Landing and a releasing nine Trout ranging to 16 inches. Quot it was actually quite awesome to see the River and to fish for Trout that have never seen a lure Quot Richards said. Quot i used to fish Here with my dad. When the spill happened we stopped at a Bridge and watched 200 dead fish float by it made me  Jeff Conant of it. Shasta who was Fly fishing California Trout s new 2-mile wild Trout Section upstream of Cantara Loop said the spill Quot was like losing a  Quot my dad and i were fishing under the Cantara Bridge the Day before the spill a Conant said. Quot we wondered if we would Ever fish Here again. Today Vas like getting reacquainted and i Dan on coming Back Here every Day i  like other Fly Fishers Conant quickly discovered that the water was too cold for the Trout to Rise to a dry Fly that is an insect replica offered on the River surface. Instead he used a weighted Nymph Drifting it Over the algae covered boulders on the River Bottom and landed five Trout to 14 inches in three hours and Quot had two big ones break  the Day was More like a Celebration than perhaps any other Trout opener with anglers ecstatic Over the Beauty of the River regardless of their catch or Lack of just thankful their favorite Stream has been revived from the dead. Quot it just feels Good to be Back Here Quot said Ned Smith of san Francisco. Quot we w Ere Here the Day of the spill. We caught some Nice fish that Day and i never forget distributed by scrupps Howard news service 20 the stars and stripes wednesday june 22, 1994