The Stuttgart German-American Wandering Club will host its 37th annual International Volksmarch on July 28-29 at the Heumaden Sports Club at Kemnater Strasse 50 in Heumaden-Sillenbuch, Germany.
Club president Ann Kathy Reed tells us the club is celebrating its 40th anniversary and is proud to be the oldest German-American volksmarching club.
This is the club’s sixth walk at Heumaden and will feature slightly modified trails from the past. There will be 6-, 13- and 23-kilometer options. A Young Walkers category is offered for the 6- and 13-km trails. Start card sales begin at 9:30 a.m. on July 28 and 7:30 a.m. on July 29.
Walkers will enjoy the refreshing beauty of the woods surrounding Stuttgart with trails overlooking the city and the TalKessel valley. To the south and east, the Schwäbische Alb can be seen on the skyline.
The stroller-friendly 6-km route explores Sillenbuch. The longer trails will lead walkers to the foot of Stuttgart’s TV Tower, which offers an intriguing view of the Swabian countryside as far as the Alps.
The 13- and 23-km control point overlooks the TalKessel valley and all of Stuttgart. You can also see Burgholzhof (Robinson Barracks) to the north.
The 23-km trail will take walkers past parks and through some of the upscale portions of town. Note the cog train tracks on the left side of the road as you go downhill just after the trail split. The trail goes past the Dornhaldenfriedhof (burial site of several Red Army Faction terrorists) and to the entrance of the Waldfriedhof, then parallels the cable car tracks to the Burgstall.
Then the trail returns upward from the valley through the Schwälbles-Klinge gorge. Before the final ascent back to the finish, take advantage of a local fruit stand just after you cross the valley road.
The individual prize is the boot-shaped hat/lapel pin with colored feathers from last year. This is a weekend you will not want to miss. For details on how to find the Starthalle, visit the SGAWC website at www.sgawc.org.
We thank Ann Kathy, for this information. We wish the SGAWC, a very successful weekend of waking.We would also like to add that, as at all volksmarches, volunteers are needed for the myriad tasks involved. The good news is, there are many ways to help and you don’t have to work all day. You could help at a control point in the morning and then do the walk in the afternoon. Or maybe walk in the morning and then help in the kitchen in the afternoon. Of course, donating some baked goods is always appreciated. If you can help in any way, please contact Melissa Rodeffer at Melissa.rodeffer@gmail.com.
Email volksmarch information to two.walkers@yahoo.com. Mail brochures to Bob and Lorraine Huffaker, CMR 460, Box 278, APO AE 09752.
