Through the Eckerloch to the Brocken

Dee Eckerlochstieg was much more demanding than usual under the current conditions. The path was partially invisible and you had to improvise. It was also damn slippery in places and without waterproof shoes it would soon have been no fun anymore. Nevertheless, we really liked it, e.g. since we were relatively alone and so could enjoy the hike more than in a group with numerous hiking-loving people The dent in the altitude profile was caused by the fact that I had no GPS reception in the restaurant (I forgot to interrupt the navigation during the meal) and so the phone played some prank :-)

With these temperatures we really took our time. Made many nice breaks and watched the changing nature.

I've never been... well not in New York, but also not on the Brocken. So I used my mother-in-law's drive home to take a little Sunday walk on the Brocken. Shortest journey according to Komoot planning 12 km hike and 500 HM from Schierke. The weather forecast was good and, apart from a small shower on the climb, it kept its promise. In the planning to have a little variety, ascent and descent on different routes, which were described as more natural. I found it relatively relaxed and easy to hike across the former bobsleigh track. Great views of the "green" nature were rather rare given the many dead trees, but it was still a great experience. Frequency of hikers rather manageable. That changed after about 5km when it went onto the paved Brockenstraße. Neat activity, many hikers and cyclists on the way up and cyclists on the way back at a decent speed. Be careful that nothing happens. At the top, with surprisingly clear weather for the Brocken, great views of the surrounding area and lots of proud summiteers. Small photo session and lunch break at the summit and then we went back via the Eckerlochstieg, which was described on the sign as close to nature and difficult to climb. How true, it went downhill over hill and dale at a significantly reduced speed, because in some places I first had to see what the best way was and I was rather careful with my legs. It was pretty exhausting and at the end of the tour I knew what I had done. In retrospect, it would probably have been easier to run the route in the opposite direction. But what the heck, I managed the almost 4 hour hike with, for my standards, an extremely large number of HM (I hardly ever did that on my bike tours). A wonderful tour that will be remembered for a long time, also thanks to the weather conditions.

A very interesting and exciting hike through an area that has undergone much in recent years and decades. The devastated forests, with their numerous dead spruce trees, characterize the landscape of the Harz Mountains everywhere. The drought and bark beetles have so severely damaged the forest that almost nothing remains. The many abandoned and dilapidated hotels in Schierke are reminders of times gone by. Traces of the past are also evident on the Brocken summit itself. Where the lookout point, café, and museum now stand, was formerly a restricted military area of the GDR.

A quick trip to the Brocken in fantastic weather. We had to overcome many ice sheets (dew on snow/ice) - a treacherous combination.

From Schierke to the Brocken, via the Eckerlochstieg, back via the new Brockenbennoweg and the old bobsleigh track A very nice hike. The Eckerlochstieg is very rocky. Some of the boulders are quite large, but climbing is a lot of fun. Especially with children.

A tour of extremes: First, unfortunately, an extremely large number of dead trees, very large areas of dead wood. Then a very high proportion of asphalt and many visitors. Also extremely long climbs, very nice, but also crowded. It even got stuck. Here's the highlight. : a teacher who wasn't particularly concerned about two students who had fallen behind. He said only as long as he could still hear them moaning and whining, everything would be fine 😂. And they could 😂😂: worst class trip ever. My conclusion: great area, the tour is recommended, but very trimmed for tourism.

We worked briefly and then got on our bikes to escape the heat. The Brocken was a pleasant 18 to 20 degrees. From Schierke we went up the Hexenstieg, a beautiful trail with great springs and watercourses on the trail. There were a few drops of rain at the top of the Brocken but we're not made of sugar. We went back along the old paths of the bobsleigh track to Schierke. Stayed stable. 🙋✌️🤗