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Muddy hiking trails on the Kohlhaukuppe: A nightmare for leisure enthusiasts!
Wolfgang Schindler reports on the poor hiking trail conditions in Saxon Switzerland after timber harvesting and rainfall.
Muddy hiking trails on the Kohlhaukuppe: A nightmare for leisure enthusiasts!
Hikers are currently having a hard time in the picturesque surroundings of the Kohlhaukuppe. Wolfgang Schindler, who has been running the mountain hut for 32 years, says: “The paths are hardly passable anymore.” The roads have been severely affected by timber harvesting and the associated truck journeys. Schindler reports tracks in the mud that are up to half a meter deep, making it almost impossible to avoid them. The asphalt access path from the Geisinger Hüttenteich has not been spared either - wide vehicles have disturbed the edge and thus created additional difficulties for walkers.
Schindler feels the negative effects directly in his business. “People turn back instead of coming to us,” he says, annoyed about the loss of sales caused by the poor conditions. At a recent council meeting in Altenberg, the possible damage that could result from thinning the forests was already pointed out.
Need for timber harvesting
However, the crawling is not without reason. As Kristina Funke, spokeswoman for the Bärenfels forestry district, explains, it is part of a larger plan to promote climate-stable forests. According to that Federal Agency for Nature Conservation It is crucial that forests need to adapt to climate change or be reorganized to maintain their ecological functions. This work is important to protect forest biodiversity and also maintain carbon sinks.
The wood removal will continue for another two weeks. The plan is then to clean and repair the paths. Schindler fervently hopes for a frost period soon, as this would be the ideal time for timber harvesting work. “Unfortunately you can’t plan that,” he says resignedly.
A look at the future of hiking trails
Hikers who want to visit the idyllic area currently need patience and a little sense of adventure. The city of Altenberg has already initiated measures to repair the paths after the timber harvest. The commitment to creating climate-stable forests could be beneficial for the region in the long term, but the current challenge is a concern for many concerned.
With the hope that the path conditions will improve as soon as possible, we can only hope that hikers will soon be able to enjoy the natural beauty of the Kohlhaukuppe again without any worries.