Ultralight Hike
What a beautiful weekend! Morti invited a few selected forum members over to his region for a small overnight tour. Unfortunately not everyone could make that date, so we were only a small circle. Besides the host, Konradsky, his wife and I were along. Even before the tour began, Morti warned us that we would have to tackle some steep slopes. We were also supposed to carry water for both days, since there would be no opportunity to refill along the way.
So we met at the agreed parking lot and set out into nature. The route guidance was kept very simple - always uphill. This basic route guidance was only deviated from when a narrower or worse-to-walk trail crossed our path.
This routing suited Konradsky just fine, because that way he could put the borrowed hiking cart to the test in the terrain right away.
After we successfully got the climbs behind us, we were rewarded with a great view over the valley. Morti had not promised us too much. We enjoyed the view during a short break.
After we had reached our first stage goal, Morti immediately showed us his next beautiful spot. We did not meet any hikers on this path either. So we had the forest all to ourselves. Once we arrived at the next spot, we prepared our lunch and enjoyed a long break.
For some that meant tasty pan-fried potatoes, the others made do with a cold snack and I - well, I accidentally packed Bimbi's mushroom noodles and “enjoyed” a dish that didn't appeal to me at all - ugh. I simply don't like mushrooms.
Afterwards we headed back to the trail to get from there to an old burial mound. But the hiking cart showed first signs of wear and lost spokes. The previous owner had never re-tensioned the spokes. We took another break, put the lost spokes back in and tightened them all once more.
After this unplanned break we could set off again towards the burial mound. The trail was very beautiful and kept offering breathtaking views down into the valley.
Contrary to our guide's assumptions, the burial mound was rather unspectacular. In the forest it revealed itself as a slight elevation compared to the surrounding ground. It was so inconspicuous that we almost walked right past it.
So we continued from there to our sleeping spot.
But the way there was well worth it - Morti led us that night to an old, secluded slate quarry.
After we set up camp, we let the evening wind down relaxed over food and drink.
The weather god was very well disposed towards us. On the other side of the mountain it was thundering while we enjoyed the brilliant sunshine. Konradsky expressed the wish to sleep the night without a tarp. When it thundered a few moments later, he accepted the heavenly veto and pitched the tarp over his hammock after all.
Over the last few weeks, Morti had discovered whittling as a new evening pastime. Accordingly, he also whittled a dwarf this evening, which is henceforth supposed to guard a cave entrance.
The next morning we set off back in the best of weather.
Thank you all for this wonderful weekend - consider this my request for a repeat!
