Day 154: The Gorge

Riesenbühl to Buchenberg

Distance: 40km


I fell asleep before the concert came to an end but woke up again, when some French showed up and decided to make a fire and play the guitar. At midnight. I think they didn't notice me until I turned in my sleeping bag so I would face the sky. A busy sky. Full of stars, the milky-way, aircraft, shooting stars and I assume satellites traveling through the space at high speed. Even though I was a bit annoyed with the French in the beginning, the sky was well worth the disturbance. They eventually left and I fell asleep again soon after.


It's a chilly morning as I make my way down to Wutach Gorge. Especially, when the sun is hidden behind the trees. Following the Gorge would make the big chunk of today's hike. Initially, it's rugged, wild. I love it. The trail then gets wider and easier to walk as it climbs away from the river and out of the gorge. Not what I was expecting. Luckily, it descends back down again after a couple of kilometers. It's where the trail gets awfully busy. Old people, young people, scouts, sporty people, fat people. An interesting mix. Some seem to deal with blisters, some are struggling with the trail, which is narrow and steep at times. Overtaking and crossing is not easy, progress painfully slow. At one point, my second pair of Luna sandals bite the dust as well. An unfavorable moment to do that on a busy narrow section. Walking is hardly possible so in a quiet moment, I sit down, do a quick and dirty fix with a cord I have in one of my pockets. Takes me less than a minute but I am actually mildly impressed  with the outcome. Looks shity but works surprisingly well. I keep on going until I reach the end of the gorge trail. 15 kilometers of busy madness. And it's only a weekday. Weekend will be crazy.


The rest of the day I am mostly by myself. What seems like a multi-day hiker is walking with a cat on a leash, filming herself with a selfie stick. While I consider myself as a fairly open minded person, I don't really see the point if going for a multi-day hike with a cat.


After a last steep climb up some stairs (or rather a ladder, I'm not sure) I reach Blumberg, where I do resupply and afterwards tackle the last climb up to Buchenberg, only 5 kilometers from the Swiss border. It's mostly cloudy but the views are quite dramatic. I settle in the shelter, getting ready for bed.


It's been a tough day. The gorge was interesting. A welcome change, a interesting walk. Despite all people down there. 

Busy night sky with the milky-way (bottom right), an aircraft with its strobe lights and two satellites maybe
Busy night sky with the milky-way (bottom right), an aircraft with its strobe lights and two satellites maybe
Morning view from the tower
Morning view from the tower
The bright green Black Forest
The bright green Black Forest
Wild romantic Wutach Gorge
Wild romantic Wutach Gorge
Lovely waterfall
Lovely waterfall
Reflection on the Wutach River
Reflection on the Wutach River
Water everywhere
Water everywhere
Another waterfall
Another waterfall
My navigating the gorge
My navigating the gorge
Me on a shaky bridge with my broken and fixed sandal.
Me on a shaky bridge with my broken and fixed sandal.
Walking between the water and the rock
Walking between the water and the rock
Stairs or already a ladder? It sure is steep
Stairs or already a ladder? It sure is steep
Yummy
Yummy
My shelter
My shelter
... with a dramatic view
... with a dramatic view

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Comments: 1
  • #1

    George Mills (Friday, 08 July 2022 06:18)

    Sounds like a very interesting day. I fit two of your dislikes. Old and fat. Just as well you didn't come across me. Glad to hear your sandals took the repairs ok. Only 5kms to civilisation. The gorge sounds and looks fabulous. Just as well it wasn't the weekend though. Keep on tracking

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