After a long wait of almost an year, we finally met in Karlsruhe. It was a mixed clutter of people; therefore, it was quite difficult to find the best outdoor activity that would suit everyone. In such situations, trekking usually comes to one’s rescue. I think, it is the only sport aka outdoor activity that has appeals to every age group and taste. Not only does it liberate yourself from the daily mundane routine but also helps you discover your true self at its best. Unlike any other sport, it is quite difficult (almost impossible) to predict what is in store for you at the next step. But, this fact also makes it an equally exciting and rewarding experience.
So, after a lot of failed plans (Schloss Lichtenstein, Strasbourg), we, unanimously, decided to trek the Westweg from Lake Titisee to the Feldberg Mountain. The plan was to start early, trek to the top and try our hands at some skiing and snowboarding. Unlike other trails in Germany, which are quite well-marked and elaborately explained, this particular hike is not yet explored. To summarise the trek from a geographical perspective, we were supposed to trek the tallest mountain in the Black Forest region of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Lake Titisee, one of the many pristine water bodies in this region, was our starting point. We began our journey at 7:30 AM in the morning from Karlsruhe Main Station. After a pretty relaxing ride of almost four hours through dense forests (sometimes, shrouded with a thick blanket of snow) and meandering tracks, we finally reached Lake Titisee. The lake in itself was a very satisfying experience. The entire lake was covered with a layer of thin ice; perhaps, nature’s own way of protecting the life beneath it from the freezing cold. A dense layer of snow-white fog, illuminated by some snippets of sunshine, enveloped the surface of the lake. It was a perfect place to relax and that is exactly what we did. We grabbed a cup of hot, mulled wine (also called as Glühwein) from a nearby eatery to beat the chill and gobbled upon some french fries and hot-dogs to satisfy our hunger pangs.
Soon, we were enroute our way to scale Feldberg. In no time, we realised that, we were wearing the wrong gear. We began our journey, walking on thin nice which definitely resembled an ice skating rink. We slid, we fell but above all, we had fun. Until now, the sun was shining at its peak and thus, offered a clear sight of the lake and the neighbouring settlements. One fifth of the total trail is along the lake after which we lose its sight as we continue our hike in the neighbouring mountain. After scaling a few metres, we were greeted with infinite stretches of snow in all directions. Sometimes, the layer of snow was knee deep and thus, managed to wet our shoes and socks. However, the trail had just began. Thick layer of snow on the ground and high rising pine trees accompanied us all throughout. After a long walk of approximately two hours with several group photo sessions on the way, we reached our intermediate destination, Feldberg-Bärental with wet socks and shoes. Despite a heavy brunch close to the lake, the trek had taken a toll on us and thus, we decided to take a public transport to trail the remaining journey. We reached Feldbergerhof (the nearest cable car station from Feldberg Bärental) at 4 PM only to know that the last ascent and descent is at 5 PM. By then, a blizzard had also struck the mountain and it was quite difficult to even see what lay next to us; let alone our plans of trekking to the top and skiing. We enjoyed a scrumptious lunch in a nearby restaurant at the top and returned to the base only with a resurgent promise to nail the trail, next time. Though we did not get to the top this time, we enjoyed the trail to our heart’s content and understood that the key to happiness only lies in living the journey and relishing the company; not in running behind destiny.