Around Witten in a day — 58 kilometres from dawn till dusk
Why roam far afield? Around 58 kilometres in a loop around Witten, walked from sunrise to sunset — a good 1,200 metres of climbing over the heights above the Ruhr valley, a full day of walking right on the doorstep.
Sometimes the adventure is right on your doorstep. This loop stays in the Ruhr area — and is still a full day out: around 58 kilometres once around Witten, walked from dawn till dusk on an October day. Start and finish sit in the Ruhr valley; in between the route climbs over the wooded hills around the town, and the good 1,200 metres of ascent add up from many small ups and downs rather than one big mountain.
It was the longest hike of my life up to that point, and I wouldn't have wanted to walk much further. It was possible mainly because I was still in good shape from the summer — from training for the ascent of the Zugspitze through the Reintal, which had gone well a few weeks earlier. That fitness was there to be used: setting off in the dark just after six, back only at dusk, almost thirteen hours later.
The route keeps changing its face — sunken lanes between hedges, broad field tracks along the cropland, a stretch by the water down in the valley and woods up on the heights; in between, horses and ponies graze in the meadows. Without poles and well-broken-in boots a day like this would be hard to manage: the poles take the load off your knees, give you propulsion and steady you once your legs are long since tired. At kilometre 30 a blister plaster went on as a precaution — and the last ten kilometres were, for all the gear, not quite without effort after all.
The equipment that proved itself on this long day is collected on the recommendations page.
Setting off in the dark, just after half past six: the first lights reflected in the Ruhr — the long day begins.Sunrise over the first hills — a view across meadows and pasture fences into rolling country.A broad gravel track at the edge of a clearing; autumn has already coloured the trees.Between dense hedges the route climbs — the loop gains height, now in sunshine.A quiet little lane under old trees, dappled by the morning sun.The day's lowest point, down by the water in the Ruhr valley — soon the climbing resumes.A midday rest on a bench: backpack and poles set down, roughly halfway after a good thirty kilometres.Early afternoon, along broad tracks through open country.A path along the field edge beside the hedge; the sky clouds over.A small pond by the path, covered in duckweed.A field track along the cropland under a wide sky; it's still a good way back to Witten.Power lines above the fields — that, too, is part of the landscape around the town.A dappled-grey pony nibbling the leaves of a little fruit tree, in the soft evening light.A narrow path through the scrub; the light slowly turns golden.Through tall beech woods over rustling leaves, just before sunset.The last kilometres through the darkening forest — those did take it out of me after all.Arriving at dusk: the lit windows of a half-timbered house, the day is done.
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