The weather today was pleasant. All of the snow from yesterday melted overnight, and the sun peaked out behind weak clouds to add some brightness to the landscape. Perfect day to go for a hike!

A local had recommended that I could turn left from the hotel and hit some nice walking and hiking trails close by. I decided to be ambitious and head to a spot Google pointed out on my map called “easy trail” about 3.3km away.

Warm in my brand new jacket and hat, I set off.

The first part of the trail was accessible through a small neighborhood opening not too far away from the hotel in Ramstein. It cut across a small river to hit the next village over (Miesenbach of joint-town Ramstein-Miesenbach fame), and then set off North East into a bird sanctuary (Vogelschutzgebeit).

There was a lake there with tall reeds, and the trail went off into an old-looking pine and oak forest. It sounded like autumn and smelled like the soft sweet early decay of fallen leaves that didn’t quick crunch beneath my feet. Trails were often lined with wild blackberries, some still bearing their late fruit, a nice snack for some of the song birds flitting in the canopy.

The trail I took was an educational (Lehrpfad) trail, so there were signs here and there outlining the flora and fauna of this forest. I saw no mammals outside of the occasional other Saturday hiker (“Hallooo, Gu’Tag”), but saw and heard several species of bird. There were crows and blackbirds that I saw, and at one point I heard the alarm calls going up from around me for a flock of blackbirds. Then, lumberingly flying low not too far away from me, there came a huge hawk; I understood the alarm.

I wound up making the trail a full loop and approached Ramstein from the South East on the way back. Overall, an excellent hike in a gorgeous countryside.