2016-07 Hexenstieg for the Second Time
Since on my tour on the Hexenstieg I had to skip the Bode valley, I wanted to walk this stretch once more. I couldn’t ignore the rave reviews of the hiking couple I had walked with as far as Königshütte.
So for me it started on a beautiful Sunday morning in Thale.
The weather was changeable and I hoped for a few sunbeams on the way. The Bode already shows its most beautiful side in Thale at the start.
So off we go - just briefly off the trail and down to the Bode. In this area of the Bode I wasn’t walking alone, quite the opposite, because hordes of hikers set off in Thale at the start. Rarely have I been so glad that the weather wasn’t even better!
Luckily, the stream of hikers got smaller and smaller the further I moved from Thale into the Bode valley. Otherwise I would really have had to think about how to find some time for myself on the trail. The Bode valley is a breathtakingly beautiful spot in the Harz; in this gorge you first become aware again of how small you are and how magnificent the nature surrounding you is.
The trail through the Bode valley offers quite a few meters of elevation, because it kept going up from the Bode onto the cliffs and back down to the Bode. All of this with a fantastic and varied view. I will walk these paths again in the future.
No sooner had I crossed the Bode than it went up onto the cliffs. If you want a view, you have to go up! At first the paths were still secured with railings.
A few switchbacks later, the railings were also dispensed with. Now the trail was exactly as I had hoped the Hexenstieg would be. Surrounded by nature on narrow paths and with few people around.
Every meter of elevation climbed had been worth it - the view over the Bode valley was simply breathtaking. The Bode babbled quietly along and was covered by a sea of leaves.
A quick look down let you sense the height and the gradient. A sensational view! The trail had already been worth it just for this!
After I had enjoyed the view and greatly reduced my water supply, I continued. Next, the trail went back down to the river. Here I was able to further reduce my weight thanks to various swarms of mosquitoes. Who needs blood anyway when you can have dozens of bites?!
At the beginning of the trail there was a sign warning of rockfall. Many signs have a story - I think I found the first boulders that were responsible for this sign.
Since I was already so close to the Bode again, I couldn’t resist hiking the next path down to the Bode and enjoying the rushing of the water during a break.
A few steps further, the trail was already over, because Treseburg lay ahead of me. The Bode valley left a lasting, extremely positive impression on me. I won’t have been hanging around here for the last time!
For the way back I had planned a different route. The White Stag is said to be a beautiful viewpoint, and from there it was supposed to go on to the Hexentanzplatz.
The weather got better by the minute and I couldn’t help but enjoy the view of the Harz.
Unfortunately, the trails from the White Stag to the Hexentanzplatz were very wide and unspectacular. Just a hiking highway without many visitors, too bad. At least the last hours were very nice and relaxing - so the trail had fulfilled its purpose. A quick look at the map made the Prinzensicht smile at me. Just a few kilometers of detour for a beautiful view? Let’s go!
The view didn’t disappoint me. Mentally strengthened like this, I should also be able to endure the hustle and bustle at the Hexentanzplatz.
From there I wanted to catch a glimpse of the Brocken before turning back to my starting and ending point - Thale!
Once I had Thale back in sight, I only had to follow a few switchbacks to get down from the Hexentanzplatz again.
In Thale I met a highly valued acquaintance and spent the rest of the day with him over coffee, cake and cookies.
An absolutely worthwhile day trip!
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